A new generation rises: how micro-jobs are on their side
Looking for a job? Someone out there wants you to design websites, write an app for mobile phones, maybe troubleshoot their network remotely, or just do PC support, either on-site or over the Internet. And they don’t want to do it all formally. It’s more like “You do this for me and I’ll give you money.”
Our world has become extremely small. No, we won’t be running out of space anytime soon, but as far as computing goes, very small. We are able to control a computer on the other side of the world remotely (with the permission of the owners, of course) and fix or modify it effortlessly.
Whether you call this consulting, freelancing, or “Micro Jobs,” according to Kristin Cardinale, more of us are going down that path. The author of The 9-to-5 Cure, Cardinale cites US Department of Labor projections that “millions of workers are needed in the short term.”
Short-term jobs can help programmers meet specific goals, like paying for college, saving for a new car, or just having some spare cash.
Many people just don’t want to tick a clock, according to Odd Jobs: How to Have Fun and Earn Money in a Bad Economy “Usually, you decide when you work and when you take the morning off to sleep or the week off to go skiing,” writes author Abigail R. Gehring. “And the variety of people you’ll meet, the places you’ll meet, and the skills you’ll discover are sure to keep life interesting.”
Pros and cons.
Well, before you walk away and quit your day job, there are (always) a few things to remember: Working for yourself is challenging.
If you think that being self-employed equals endless free time, think again, that’s not always the case.
However, this work lifestyle may be perfect for people who:
- They are not Office Johnnies and prefer to work alone, at their own pace,
- People who travel long distances and find that the time and cost of commuting to work is sometimes not worth it.
- You have a special skill and you want to make it known to a large audience of clients.
Other advantages of being your own boss?
- work according to its own schedule.
- Every day is Casual Friday!
- Take the holidays whenever you want, as long as, of course, you are on time.
- Meetings between you and the client are really easy to organize.
However, there are (always) possible disadvantages:
- Work-play balance control. There is an amount of dedication involved.
- You need to keep your administration under control.
- No insurance or retirement. (Some full-time jobs don’t provide these either.)
- You work alone. There are no other colleagues to chat with. (can be an advantage)
- Unpredictable, and fluctuations in income. It will be important to budget properly.
Right, so how do I do this?
The Internet has always been your friend. There are many sites that offer freelancers the ability to post their listing, often for free. Clients react to these posts quite quickly, obviously depending on the type of work you have to offer.
Some sites even allow clients to bid on your work, and you can then accept the person or company you want to work with.
Google the net for reputable sites and work with them. Give Micro Jobs a try and see how it works for you. There is a lot of money to be made in this wonderful new money-making haven, and the whole concept makes a lot of sense.