Freelancing

"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." This aptly describes the often humorous chaos that ensues when outsourcing goes awry, a situation many are familiar with. Welcome to the world of Upwork, a freelance platform aiming to prevent such mishaps and empower businesses in the process. 

Freelancing is no longer a fad; it’s now the main thing. It is estimated that about 60% of the US workforce have given up their traditional jobs in favor of freelancing, a number that is expected to grow with time as both companies, and people alike begin to realize the value and advantages of freelancing.

The reason why freelancing keeps getting popular by day is due to its numerous advantages. For freelancers, it is a better alternative to being employed. Freelancing makes it possible for one to make a living while being in full control over their life. The feeling of not having a boss telling you what to do or choosing your own leave days is what’s driving most people towards freelancing.

Freelancer is a website that hosts one of the largest gatherings of freelancers and companies from around the world, featuring more than 45 million professionals from more than 247 countries. On the website, employers can find freelancers for projects in the areas of writing, software development, design, data entry, science, engineering, marketing, sales, accounting and even legal services. In addition to the main categories, there are thousands of sub-categories, even ones as obscure as flashmob and feng shui. There have been more than 16 million job posted on Freelancer since its creation. 

Toptal is one of the biggest online networks for freelancers. Companies and individuals hire freelance finance experts, product managers, project manages, and software developers from Toptal to help with their projects. What makes Toptal different from any other freelance marketplace is that they hire only the top 3% of all applicants, which ensures that all freelancers are top experts in their field, many of whom used to work for big-name companies, such as Google, Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Lego, SpaceX, etc. 

Hiring freelancers saves companies money, as they do not have to pay for costly medical benefits, vacation time and sick pay. Freelancers often work on weekends or on other days when businesses are closed, making them ideal for getting projects done when no one else can do it. Freelancers can also lighten the load on a full-time team that already has too much work to do.

Skilled freelancers can often work faster than full-time employees because they are less distracted and weighed down by pressure. They also bring a new perspective and can infuse a project with fresh creativity and a diverse set of skills.

In today’s economy, more and more people are seeking other avenues of income, and one of the most common options is doing freelance work. This work is purely up to the individual, based on their skill set, and can include services such as commissioned artwork, writing, editing, composing or producing music, tutoring and much more. Roughly 60% of the US working population have turned to freelancing as opposed to traditional 9 - 5 jobs. This number is predicted to increase as both companies and individuals alike are beginning to see the benefits of freelancing.