Reasons why the future of work is closer to the Gig Economy than what you think
Microsoft announced Linkedin Marketplace, turning the network into a service exchange platform
I have been talking about the potential of service exchange for poverty reduction, economic recovery and helping solve unemployment for years
16 Reasons why this is bigger than you may think, and why we need to accept and embrace that the future of work is gravitating towards the gig economy
It is more likely to find clients for your services than finding an employer
It is easier to get the income you need from several clients than only from an employer
It is much more likely that you have organizations or individuals interested in your services outside of your city than in the city you live. It cannot be the optimal solution for resource and talent allocation to look for a job that is in your city and within a reasonable commute range
5 million Africans are already selling services online and finding better prosperity thanks to it. They provide valuable work in exchange of an income that is very difficult to create in their local market
Every individual does many different services during the course of their career. Those different types of actions or tasks are “gigs”, skills or services that can be sold directly in the market
Providing services as an independent professional, or having several people working for you, does not mean that you have quit your job or stop being open for jobs. It just means that you can find more opportunities
It is more likely to work for organizations you like if you provide services externally than if they have to hire you for long periods of time
Fiverr, Upwork, freelancer, zhubajie... are growing at an incredible speed, and with Linkedin on the game, everything is going to accelerate
It has become obvious that we can work remotely. Spotify, Salesforce and other companies have already decided permanent work wherever you want policies, and it is just the beginning
An individual is capable of much more than the tasks that are defined in a particular job description or the actual practice of a role.
The technological disruption we face is going to change most industries, and flexibility will be key
50 percent of jobs will change in the next decade, and we will need fast ways to fill gaps in the needed tasks. We will be able to fill the new positions faster if we hire tasks and we offer services
More than 1.8 billion people are going to need upskilling or reskilling in the coming years, most employers agree that they cannot find the talent and skills that they need now, let alone what they will need in a market in constant change
Regardless of your position, you are a valuable professional that has a unique set of skills, expertise and capabilities. You grow every day, and your portfolio, case studies and achievements keep growing. You cannot depend on your current employer or a specific position to sustain your family. You are a company. You can provide services and products. You can find clients. You do not depend on others.
Personal branding is exploding, you can sell more and have better opportunities with a powerful brand.
Entrepreneurship and freelancing depend on you. Employment not. I have been teaching my students that having your own business card, and being your brand and your company, gives you the confidence that you are always ready and capable of seizing opportunities and growing. And if you find a job that pays you better and that you like more than your own project, then go for it. But having your own project is always going to be valuable for you, and even for your employer.
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