Slash Workers and the Current State of Affairs in Freelancing - CareerMetis.com

Slash Workers and the Current State of Affairs in Freelancing With the job market in a volatile state, many people look to freelance opportunities to make ends meet. Unfortunately, in most cases, freelancing can be quite a difficult journey that may involve dealing with shady contracts, gig scarcity, and employers who give you the runaround when payment is due.While a few have the mindset that freelancing is only viable until the next full-time job opportunity comes around, most see it as an opportunity to gain independence from more traditional job structures.Taking the step to freelance full time is not easy, but better comprehending the ins and outs of the new workforce makes that transition considerably more manageable.evalGet on board with a better freelance career by understanding the current state of affairs for “The Slash Workers,” a future of work-study commissioned by AND CO.Who Are Slash Workers?Slash workers are independent workers who offer different services or skills depending on the client or project. Most have cultivated at least 2 or 3 related skill-sets to help attract more clients.This is becoming increasingly common and is an example of how modern career is evolving.While our grandparent’s generation may have stayed at one job for the entirety of their working lives, and our parents might have moved around a handful of times, the new generation is looking to work on multiple projects and generate different income streams.Only 5% of freelancers interviewed said they accept work around one skill, and only 13% work for just one client.Only 7% said that they wanted to freelance primarily for financial gain. 40% of freelancers in the study claimed that “personal growth” was the primary factor; “flexibility” came in second.Key Things to Know About Slash Workers1) Freedom v. WealthevalSome say that wealth is a form of freedom, but most say happiness is achieved regardless of money.evalAs much as 43% of freelancers say they are worse off since moving away from more traditional employment, but 34 % argue that things have largely stayed the same for them since the switch.The major difference, regardless of success, is that 68% feel happier about what they’re doing.There’s certainly a trade-off when it comes to picking between happiness or wealth. But at least according to the results of this study, when one has a higher quality of life, they are better off overall.For some, working a permanent position intrudes on their work-life balance.evalAccording to a study from McKinsey Global Institute In any form of business, it’s important to protect yourself from harm. Unfortunately, the average freelancer will have a hard time getting a proper respect for the work they do or being protected in the correct manner.Here are a few reasons why freelancers get stiffed:1) Bad ContractsA bad contract will give you limited rights or say-so over the content you create, potentially coming back to bite you later down the line. Also, a bad contract may force an exclusivity clause, which d eters you from working with others.There are times where a client may not need your content for a while, which may result in weeks or months of lost income if they pay on publication. As a result of situations such as these, 35% of freelancers claimed that vague or shady contracts resulted in them not getting paid.2) Not Taken SeriouslyevalThere’s often a bad stigma associated with working with freelancers, especially when employers are faced with shady Craigslist ads or content mills offering ridiculously cheap prices for deliverables.For many, working as a freelancer has an unfair connotation of unseriousness; those that work independently know how unearned and unjust such an assumption is. Nevertheless, situations like these can bias employers from giving freelancers fair treatment from the start.evalLOOKING AHEADWe are very much at the beginning of the freelance wave with considerable growth and complexity expected over the next few years.Indeed, many estimates suggest that by 2020, 40% of the US workforce will be freelance, engaging a range of different careers and redefining what it means to be an independent worker.That doesn’t mean that it’s too soon to begin your career as a “Slash Worker.”Though there will be continued dynamism in this space, and the economy more broadly, there is nevertheless a strong opportunity to get ahead of the curve and generate multiple income streams, build a range of diverse, marketable skills, and begin to embrace a life of flexibility and freedom.