Deep social, economic and technological changes rocking the world, transforming how people live and work are also prioritising certain adaptive skill sets.
These changes have given birth to a form of economy, which experts have called the gig economy. The true ‘Gig Worker or Freelancer’ is a contingent worker with no formal contract who earns compensation on per job, or per gig, basis.
Whatis.com, an online glossary website defines a gig economy as an environment in which “temporary positions are common and organisations contract with independent workers for short-term engagements. The trend toward a gig economy has begun.” A study by Intuit predicted that by 2020, 40 percent of American workers would be independent contractors.
In a gig economy, temporary, flexible jobs are commonplace and companies tend toward hiring independent contractors and freelancers instead of full-time employees. A gig economy undermines the traditional economy of full-time workers who rarely change positions and instead focus on a lifetime career.
The gig economy allows people do multiple jobs in non-related fields at the same time. For instance, someone can be a content developer for a software firm in Lagos, a webmaster for blog hosted in Ghana, while working as an Uber driver in his spare time in Lagos and managing a startup’s social media accounts.
When properly managed, it gives the person multiple streams of income. Therefore, more gigs a person gets, the more money they will make. This also means the person has no health insurance or company organised pension scheme. This could be dealt with by hiring a competent personal financial planner.
Haven described what the gig economy is. Here are skills sets that can help keep individuals on top of their games as gig workers or freelancers.
Critical thinking and logic
In order to keep up with a changing marketplace, gig workers need to learn how to ask better questions. Nigeria’s current education system is traditionally all about getting the right answer, rather than the process of experimentation and what that teaches the students. A gig worker needs to become comfortable with uncertainty.
A class on critical thinking or logic will provide the basis for thinking about problems in a different way. Gig workers need to be able to ask the right questions, and develop different ways to view data, issues, and solutions.
Human resources
While gig workers are independent contractors, they need to understand what a company needs from someone they hire, and few students come out of school with an understanding of what it takes to be a good employee.
In the gig economy, you need to know what a good employee looks like, and be able to emulate those traits to be successful in your career.
Classes in human resources, team building, and hiring will offer exposure to the insights that can help you become a preferred contractor.
Finance
Gig workers need to understand finance and taxes. They also need to create financial flexibility, and be able to look at monthly capital and revenue statements to determine if they are profitable or not.
You need to understand your personal burn rate, which is about cash flow management.
Marketing and communication
No matter what their core skill set or area of expertise might be; freelancers or gig workers need to be able to understand the needs of the customers and communicate with them in a compelling way. You cannot just focus on being good at delivering your core product or service. You also have to be in charge of sales, branding, marketing, and new product development. Classes in marketing or communication will help you convey your value, and build relationships with your clients.
STEPHEN ONYEKWELU
