The gig economy has been growing consistently for over a decade, but in the past three years, there has been a huge increase in its popularity for several reasons. One reason being the rise of companies like Uber and UpWork that make it much easier for you to be your own boss, and make money on your terms. The 2017 Freelancing in America Study by the Freelancers Union and Upwork estimated that 36% of the nation’s workforce is now freelancing.
In fact, from 2017 to 2020 it is expected that there will be 199,639 new jobs added in the temporary services industry, according to Emsi data.
When it comes to the Salesforce ecosystem, the technical and often project-based needs of companies present the perfect opportunity for contract work, remote work, and short-term labor. However, as recruiters, we experience a lot of hesitation from professionals to take on contract work- usually as a result of misconceptions that this type of work is unstable, or lacks the benefits typically found with full-time jobs.
But, what if I told you that you didn’t have to sacrifice security for flexibility?
What if I I told you that you could actually earn more money?
Or, that what you lose in office camaraderie, you can gain from flexibility outside of work?
Based on the changing employment landscape, we are evolving to embrace contract employment here at TwentyPine. So, here are a few reasons you may want to consider doing the same.
High Demand
The job market today is showing record numbers of contract work opportunities. A LinkedIn search for jobs with term “contractor” yields more than 35,000 current postings. More specifically, a LinkedIn search for a “Contract Salesforce” job reels in over 5,000 postings.
This high demand allows you to pick and choose opportunities based on your priorities. In one year you could take on a high paying project in financial services or pharma, a feel-good opportunity at a non-profit, and a project that gets you exposure to a new technology or industry. All in a year!
High Demand also means that contract or temporary staffing is not unstable at all. In fact, you have clearer expectations of the work ahead because you will have project deadlines, engagement timelines, and you know when your current project is likely ending. Besides, just because you have a full-time job today, does not mean it will still be there tomorrow so at least with contracting, you can anticipate looking for your next project before that time arrives.
Higher Earning Potential
Contract work is great for ambitious professionals because you get paid directly for the work you complete. In most cases, you will receive an hourly rate, so the late nights and weeks when you clock more than 40 hours won’t go unnoticed or unrewarded.
Additionally, in the past 5 years that I have recruited in the contract space, I find that candidates are making 15-20% more on an annual basis than that of a salaried position. You can typically see higher hourly earnings through a contract versus full time because your employer takes on less legal risk (hiring/firing) and less burden when it comes to taxes, health benefits, office space etc.
You could also work on multiple projects at once, or work a contract project in addition to your full-time job which will provide a supplement to your income.
Career Development
Suppose you want to transition roles, but all the jobs that interest you are calling for experience with Salesforce Service Cloud, which you don’t have. That is the perfect opportunity to take on a short-term project or contract position. It might be a situation where the employer can utilize your current skill set while exposing you to new technology. This also allows you to dip your toes before jumping into a perm role with new technology you may not enjoy.
If it is a specific industry you are looking to step into, and your Salesforce skills can get you there – contract opportunities are perfect for that too. You have a greater chance of landing a contract role, at a rate that is appealing to you, than you would if you were trying to get a full-time job in an entirely new industry without the necessary experience.
Greater Flexibility
Most contract work empowers you to set your own schedule. Whether it’s a CrossFit training session at 9:30 a.m., your daughter’s afternoon Girl Scouts meetings, or that you simply work better at night, contracting can usually allow you to work around all of that.
If the day to day is still 9-5 but you are someone who likes to travel and enjoy the summer with your kids, you can do contract projects during the year and travel when projects are over, or even work opportunities that offer work from home and remote capabilities so you can travel and work at the same time.
Full time is still an option . . .
If long-term loyalty is something that you value in your career, that does not mean contracting is not for you. Often we see candidates who are leaving long tenure at their past employer prefer contract roles where they can sample a new company, industry, role before they commit to long-term employment.
Plus, as a project comes to its end, it is my job at TwentyPine to give your company a call and see what the next steps are.
In 2017, 35% of contractors were offered a permanent job by a client where they worked on an assignment, and 66% of those accepted the offers of permanent employment, according to the American Staffing Association. If it does not look like a contract will be extended or flipped to full time, the increased flexibility of hours makes interviewing for other roles much easier and more acceptable!
Benefits
Being a contractor does not automatically mean that you will not have health benefits. Here at TwentyPine we offer all of our contractors working on a W2 a variety of employment benefits – including health coverage and 401k!
Before you walk away from contract employment options, make sure you understand all the reasons the market is moving toward this lifestyle!