Tired of heading to the office every day? You could try your hand in the gig economy.
That’s where a growing number of workers who have ditched their 9-to-5 jobs are making a living. Rather than working one job, these people provide on-demand services or work a series of short-term, freelance assignments. You’re probably familiar with Uber drivers — the poster children of the gig economy — but you can do anything from create websites to man a front desk as a gig.
People like the gig economy not only because of the freedom to pick and choose work, but also because it diversifies their income. “It takes away all the vulnerability of putting all your eggs in one basket,” says Ash Exantus, director of financial education at BankMobile.
[See: 10 Offbeat Ways to Earn Extra Money.]
For those intrigued with the idea, the holiday season offers plenty of opportunities to try out this line of work. “It’s a great way to pile up some hours and pay off debt,” says Steve Azoury, owner of Azoury Financial in Troy, Michigan.
Gigs for the holiday season include everything from driving people to the mall for shopping to creating sale graphics for stores. Here are five ways to find these jobs in the coming months.
Sign up with an on-demand service. The easiest way to get into the gig economy is also probably the best-known. That is to sign up for an app or website that provides services on demand. Examples include Uber and Lyft to provide rides, Shipt to shop for and deliver groceries and TaskRabbit to complete odd jobs.
These positions don’t always pay much, and some sites charge significant fees. Internal data from Uber, leaked to the press in 2016, found drivers in Detroit made only $8.77 an hour after expenses. Meanwhile, TaskRabbit lets workers set their own hourly rate but takes a 30 percent service fee from that amount. The trade-off for low pay and high fees is access to a platform which makes it relatively easy to find work.
Use online jobs sites. Another popular way to find freelance or gig work is through online jobs sites. Websites like Upwork and Freelancer let businesses and people post jobs. Workers registered on the site put together proposals with their price for the work, and buyers can select the bid that best meets their needs. Other sites, like Fiverr, skip the bidding process and simply allow people to offer their services online.
Chris Daniele, a freelance IT network specialist, says these sites not only offer a place to find jobs, they provide tools for feedback, invoicing and payment. Daniele offers his services on WorkMarket and cautions that it may take some time to find steady work. “It’s almost like eBay with feedback,” he says. “[Clients] are going to buy from the guy with 1,000 [positive reviews].” That may mean a slow start for those who don’t have any ratings yet.
However, job opportunities may be more plentiful in the coming months, providing a greater chance to break into gig work. Natalie Zfat, a social media entrepreneur, has used WorkMarket to hire extra help, particularly in busy seasons. “Anything that takes work off my plate,” Zfat says, “I’m all for it.”
[See: 12 Best Part-Time Jobs to Pay the Bills.]
Fill in for workers on leave. During the holidays, many full-time workers take time off, which opens the door for freelancers to step in and fill the gaps.
“If you’re going to do something like that, do it in a field you’re in,” Azoury advises. Employers aren’t going to want to spend time training someone for a temporary position. Plus, working within your field — whether that’s graphic design, IT or data entry — can help create professional connections that may be valuable later.
Businesses may cover on-leave workers by posting jobs on an online site, or they may find someone through word-of-mouth. “Don’t discount the more traditional ways [of finding work], like networking events,” Exantus says.
Apply for temporary positions. Although not as flexible as other side gigs, working in retail is another easy way to pick up extra money during the holiday season. “There’s a ton of holiday traffic in stores,” Zfat says. “A lot of customer service workers are hired temporarily.” Retailers may post job openings through sites like Snagajob, advertise through more traditional means or simply post a “now hiring” sign in their storefront.
For those who don’t want to work in the gig economy full time, these seasonal positions offer another perk. “Some companies may use it as a way to find full-time workers,” Azoury says. It’s a win-win as workers get a chance to try out a job first to make sure it’s a good fit. “It’s a great opportunity to get a good look without the commitment,” he says.
Look for seasonal opportunities. Another way to get into the gig economy is to look for seasonal opportunities. Almost every field has them. Businesses may need additional graphic designers for holiday ads, while handymen and women might find extra work by offering to string holiday lights. “There are a lot of network upgrades right now,” Daniele says of the seasonal work in his field.
[See: 14 Best Jobs for Work-Life Balance.]
Exantus urges people to be proactive about seeking seasonal work. “There are unconventional ways to get gigs,” he says. For instance, Exantus notes he hired someone to transcribe the audio from his radio program after the person emailed to propose the service. It wasn’t something he had considered until it was suggested.
Seasonal gigs can be found in much the same way. People who aren’t afraid to suggest work arrangements — such as wrapping gifts for a small fee — may find the gig economy provides plenty of opportunity to earn extra cash this holiday season.
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5 Ways to Get Into the Gig Economy This Holiday Season originally appeared on usnews.com
