Have you considered “gig work”? Did you know that “gig workers” now represent 13% of Canadian adults and that 37% of Canadian businesses employ gig workers? Gig workers are also known as temps, temporary workers, contractors, or platform workers and they’re expanding into several industries.

Tom Gorman’s “Multipreneuring”, which was published in 1996, forever changed the way I worked and looked at work. Barely halfway through my 20s, I had been “downsized” or “right-sized” out of 2 careers and I was going onto my third. The world was changing fast, technology was a run-away train and everything my “Baby Boomer” parents had taught me about work and a career path was becoming less relevant. Multiprenuering provided techniques and insight on how to develop multiple sources of income and pursue multiple careers. Although this concept was quite revolutionary for the mid-90s, it seems almost quaint now.  And 25+ years later, we are seeing the impact and opportunities of the “gig economy”.

So… What is the gig economy? Well, it’s not multi-level marketing. It’s temporary, flexible jobs where the workers are freelancers or independent contractors.  These are not full-time permanent positions. It’s also important to note that the gig economy is not just about doing menial tasks or driving an Uber; there are many well-paying freelance opportunities.

It’s not for everyone, you have to be organized and disciplined. Many gig workers probably spend an average of 8 – 10 hours per day working on various projects but they may also be reaching their financial goals sooner so many consider it worth the investment of time and energy.   Speaking of finance, you need to figure out how you will invoice for your services, how to report your sources of income, will you need to collect GST, take into consideration insurance, a business license, and how will you collect payment from clients.

On the plus side, Gig workers set their own hours, have no employees, and the only equipment most require are a laptop, an internet connection, phone and occasionally a car.

Here are a few examples of gig economy jobs that you can do here on Vancouver Island;

1. Graphic Design & Branding

Are you good at creating print materials, logos, ads, flyers, etc.? Check out some of the resources at the end of this article.

2. Digital Marketing

Technology is hard for some people and they are willing to pay someone to deal with it. There is much demand for people who know how to do things like social media, google ads, paid advertising (like Facebook and Instagram), SEO, etc. The great thing about this one is that your own Social Media can be your portfolio.

3. Freelance Writing

Even today in a much more visual world, writing is still valuable and important. Not only do businesses need good content writers, but there are many online publications that hire freelance writers. In addition to articles, you may be tasked with writing advertisements, instructions, billboards, website copy, or other forms of writing.

4. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking

This is a common one. A lot of people adopted dogs during the COVID-19 shutdown and now that they’re heading back to the office, they need people to help take care of them. House-sitting is another we can add to this category and that gig just requires your presence.

Check out Rover.

5. Food Delivery

Food delivery services became wildly popular in the last few years, especially during COVID-19. This gave more people opportunities to make money on their schedules. You can be flexible as to when and how often you accept deliveries.

Some of the popular food delivery apps include SkiptheDishes and DoorDash.

The above examples of gig economy jobs should help you get the wheels turning about potential work. This is by no means an exhaustive list.

While you can use some of the apps listed above, you might be wondering where you can find these types of gigs.  Here is a list to check out:

Flexjobs

Fiverr

Upwork

Flexjobs

LinkedIn

99Designs

CrowdSpring

Don’t forget to scan your local Craiglist’s “Gigs” section, promote yourself to friends and family, and do a search on Indeed with “Remote” in the location bar as these may also turn up gig work.

How much you earn depends on what you choose to do and the amount of effort you want to put into it.

The gig economy is getting more competitive as it interests a wider audience range, and like anyone who is self-employed will tell you, you have to hustle. It’s a great way to make extra money, help build your savings or pay down debt, increase your skills, and could potentially lead to a full-time income.

September is Disability Employment month in British Columbia, and the Career Centre is celebrating our inclusive employers and the important contributions individuals with disabilities are making in the workplace. Watch for our employer panel discussion that will be airing in the second half of September where we speak with three local employers about their experiences with, and the benefits of, having an inclusive and diverse workplace. More than a half million British Columbians live with some form of disability including physical, mental and emotional. Individuals in the workforce may still face discriminatory and/or illegal business practices and/or policies.

Numerous studies indicate hiring strategies that include a diverse and inclusive workforce have proven beneficial. Businesses have seen measured increases in relevance, innovation and adaptability, among other areas, by proactively creating a culture of inclusion, which also extends to workers with disabilities. Companies and organizations that have a diverse workforce are often perceived as better employers and enjoy a more positive reputation in their community.

Employers often have questions around supporting employees with disabilities and what job accommodations look like. Many times there is funding available for select accommodations.

Questions for businesses to consider include:

• What limitations is the employee experiencing?
• How do these limitations affect the employee and the employee’s job performance?
• What specific job tasks are problematic as a result of these limitations?
• What accommodations are available to reduce or eliminate these problems? Are all possible resources being used to determine possible accommodations?
• Has the employee been consulted regarding possible accommodations?
• Once accommodations are in place, would it be useful to meet with the employee to evaluate the effectiveness of the accommodations and to determine whether additional accommodations are needed?
• Do supervisory personnel and employees need training?

(Job Accommodation Network, askjan.org)

Job accommodations can be something as simple as modifying job tasks or work schedules. Sometimes accommodations can include assistive technologies, such as telephone headsets or adjustable height desks. We work with the Neil Squire Society who provides services designed to assist individuals stay or re-enter the workforce with suitable accommodations.

Questions? We can help. If you are an individual with a disability wondering about your options or pathway into the workforce, give us a call. Are you an employer who would like to learn more about programs available to assist you in supporting workers with disabilities? We want to hear from you!

Skills for Success – Adaptability

The Government of Canada has launched a new initiative called Skills for Success that focusses on nine skills essential for people to develop for success in learning, work and everyday life.

Anyone can visit this website to find out more and access the resources. There are quizzes, workbooks and programs in order to assess, build and hone your skills.

The first skill presented is extremely relevant to everyone these days, adaptability.

Over the past eighteen months, we have faced constant change in all areas of our lives ranging from social norms, to the ways people attend school, job search, carry out the duties of their jobs and operate a business. It is important that we have the ability to develop new skills and behaviours in order to make modifications to respond to our changing circumstances.  Being adaptable means that you possess traits such as resourcefulness, open-mindedness, responsiveness and creativity. Adaptability includes problem solving, teamwork, stress management and communication skills. It also means that you are aware of, acknowledge and accept change and are able to manage expectations, cope and recover in times when change may not be positive; this is known as resiliency.

When faced with impending change, all of the above components of adaptability may seem overwhelming to embody. Therefore, here are some simple tips to start cultivating your ability to adapt:

• Learn from others and seek new ways to do things
• Be willing to make mistakes; acknowledge that it is an opportunity to learn and grow
• Think positively and realistically; use positive self talk
• Ask questions and seek understanding
• Don’t be afraid to ask for support
• Reflect on your experiences – what went well and what could be done differently

If you are able to increase your adaptability, then the next time there is a change in your personal life or career path, you will find it easier to adjust or figure out an effective way to respond and cope.

If you are curious about assessing and developing your adaptability skills and exploring the other Skills for Success, visit this site:

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/training/initiatives/skills-success.html

Make the Most of your Pandemic Resume!

As things slowly start to open up and more employment opportunities show up on your news feed you may be thinking, “How do I account for the time off during COVID”?

If you have an employment gap in your resume during the time of COVID most employers know and understand why. However, the ways you persevered can be identified as traits which could be beneficial for future roles. Did you do any professional development, networking, webinars, podcasts, volunteering or other activities that can be added to your resume? Just remember to be specific.

Examples of activities, which you may have gained knowledge, skills or insights from, could include:

• Volunteering – did you help a vulnerable relative or neighbour with their shopping? Describe how you came about doing this and how regularly this was completed.
• Childcare – did you help out with childcare while your parents or spouse worked? Describe what you did, how often and the result.
• Podcasts and/or Webinars – provide the title, the dates and what you learned.
• Did any of your regular classes, meetings or group activities move to Zoom? If so, you now have a new skill in that area to be added to your resume.
• Cooking/baking – perhaps you have always been interested in cooking and took over the shopping, meal planning and cooking, causing you to develop skills in this area, for example with budgeting, researching new recipes, and watching cooking shows/videos.

Other Resume Tips

Branding Statement – Now more than ever it is important to have a branding statement on your resume that makes you stand out from the crowd. What do you want employers to know about you that makes you unique? It should be a short, one or two sentence summary that highlights what you do, how you do it and what sets you apart from others.

Professional Summary – Having an “Objective Statement” on your resume has gone by the wayside. Employers are now looking for a “Professional Summary” or “Profile” highlighting the skills you have that are relevant for the positon for which you are applying. This is a four or five point summary highlighting your skills.

Skills and the Result – Employers are not just looking for the skills that you have but also the results of why those skills are important. For example, instead of just having, “excellent customer service skills” you could add a qualifier like, “demonstrating professionalism and flexibility, inspiring repeat business.”

Application Tracking Systems – More often than not, when uploading your resume for a position, an applicant tracking system is used. This means stay away from using busy borders, lines, images and other artwork as these can inadvertently get your resume thrown in the “no” pile. Using unusual section headers instead of the typical “skills”, “work history,” and “education” headers can also confuse an application tracking system.

Remember, your resume is just one tool in your marketing tool box.