Freelance and Telecommuters
WordReference.com defines freelancing as "a writer or artist who sells services to different employers without a long-term contract with any of them". A freelancer could also be considered an independent contractor. In essence they are one in the same and yet, there are differences which set them apart from one another. Freelancers have been highly regarded in the aspect of virtual assistance and in the technical fields such as web development or graphic design. The downside (if any) a freelancer may encounter is pricing their services against other freelancers who want the same job. It could make for a frustrating experience especially if you're new at doing this sort of thing. However, it can be helpful to make a backup plan so when the freelance gigs are lacking the income will still be there.
How do you find gigs?
The question is how do you find a freelance gig; at one time or another, someone is in this situation. There are numerous places to be viewed however the question to ask yourself is how worthy are they for gig listings? In a 2001 article "Strategic Sharing", Intelligent Article Magizine author and president Don Tapscott states "ELance helps buyers and sellers arrange for payment, provides online tools to help complete projects, and has a rating system that lets service providers build eLance reputations. More than 300,000 independent contractors from 150 countries now use eLance, and 40 percent of the transactions are cross-border. In May, juggernaut eBay partnered with eLance to offer its services to eBay's 30 million users." That was five years ago. There has not been a recent survey located as of yet for the current amount however, information posted on Elance.com states there are over 50,000 providers available through them.
You can read the article "Tips On Getting Freelance Work" by Deborah Greenspan for more helpful information. The Freelance Work Exchange is a website with work at home opportunities and projects which are added daily.
Independent Contractors
In today's business, the word independent contractor has become the latest buzz. It is the answer for any skilled person who can be self-determined and work without a boss. The independent contractor could specializes in medical transcription, web design or website development, desktop publishing, virtual assistance, or even technical writing or editing. In the article called, "Tips on Writing a Resume That Wins Contract Work", author Louise Kursmark, who is the president of Best Impression Career Services Inc., explains how a resume of previous work and current work will benefit you. She points out, "you shouldn't assume that busy hiring managers will be able to extrapolate information from your resume. Spell out the details of your experience, technical competencies and projects." Which is very true; unless you are specific with detail on qualities you possess, how would anyone know what can be provided. Make your resume count because it is only you who can make the final grade!
The independent contractor can be involved in many different fields however each person is responsible for following the Internal Revenue. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is very important to be aware of in this type of position. Under the FLSA, independent contractors are not "employees" under the federal FLSA and are, therefore, not entitled to minimum wage and overtime protections. There are six factors for determining whether a worker is an "employee" under the FLSA, as opposed to an independent contractor: You can see those six factors and also review guidelines of being an independent contractor on the CCH Business Owner's Toolkit.