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Options, Options, Options (No, not that kind)
by Marge Powers Ortmann, Associate
Stanley, Barber & Associates
In a virtual work world with real-time global connections, people have work options that didn't even exist five years ago. In the Bay Area, we tend to think of only contracting or temping, however there are many more than that.
The Contingent Workforce
More than one-third of the American workforce is either self-employed or working as temps, part-timers, or consultants. This so-called contingent workforce has grown 57% since 1980, three times faster than the labor force as a whole.
There are many exciting ways to package your work, to market the product that is you. In every packaging option there are pros and cons that change over time. At some phases in your professional and personal life, you enjoy challenging work, big projects, long hours, and a sense of accomplishing great things. In other periods of your life, you need more time for family, friends, vacations, and relaxation.
Because of the changing workforce, it is now possible to design cycles of high and low stress into your life by taking sabbaticals, working at home, or working remotely with others online. Besides the obvious full-time employment advantages, the most frequently used packaging options are:
Temporary Work
Temps are called in as needed for special projects, jobs, or services. They are on the increase in most industries. Companies expect to rely more and more on temporary staff rather than adding to their permanent payrolls. Talent is being seen more as a commodity to be purchased, used and replaced as needed, and the growing variety of temporary services available makes it easier to think this way.
Not so long ago, temps meant clerical or administrative workers. Today you can find temp agencies and temp workers in almost every professional field-finance, programming, human resources, manufacturing, fund raising, accounting, materials management, sales, marketing, administrative services, software engineers, etc. About 20% of all professionals work as temps and that percentage will grow larger in the future as more people sign up with temp agencies.
The Strategy of Temporary Work.
Temping makes sense in a variety of situations:
As a stepping stone into work. While studying, during summer vacation, or upon graduation, many college or high school students sign up with temporary agencies to build their resume, get work experience, and learn what kind of organization they best fit.
As a transitional step back into the workforce. People who have left or lost full-time employment often find it easier to get back to work by temping. Jobs that take only one or two days, for example, leave the rest of the week open for learning new skills, and interviewing with other employers under less-than-emergency conditions.
As a supplement to another's income. Not having to work gives you more freedom. Although you're on call, you can always gracefully decline. You can choose when, where, and what to do, building your experience, skills, and reputation under carefully controlled circumstances.
As an entrance into full-time work. Although returning to permanent employment happens less and less frequently, sometimes part-timers do such an outstanding job that bringing them on board full time is a risk-free and attractive option for the employer.
Freelance, Consulting, or Contract Work
More and more self-employed professionals are running their own show, contracting by the job or project to a variety of clients. Highly paid specialists and those who used to work for one company until retirement are joining the ranks of traditional freelancers.
This is a situation in which everyone benefits. Professionals can specialize in their expertise and follow their passion. What's more, their work increases in value with the depth and breadth of the experience they gain from a variety of assignments. Organizations that contract for their work do not have to pay for benefits or other overhead.
Why Freelance or Do Contract Work? At times in your career, you may find freelancing the best way to package yourself for any of these reasons:
To broaden your experience: You may have spent most of your working life in one industry or even one company and freelancing lets you explore other industries and organizations. You can expand your support network and business alliances and gain access to new information and technology. You also have the freedom to choose projects you want to work on.
To test an idea for a small business. If you can freelance while you're fully employed-moonlighting-you can test-market your services, work out the bugs, and round up a few clients. Then, when you are ready, you can cut the ties and put all your time and energy into developing your new business.
To become a specialist rather than a generalist. Consulting lets you develop depth and mastery in one specific area. As your reputation grows, you can concentrate on the kinds of work you like and perform best and develop a clientele requiring that product or service.
To practice your passion. Sometimes you can't make enough money to support yourself with work that satisfied your true passion, but you can make a contribution to others and begin gaining recognition.
Part-time Work and Job Sharing
In today's workplace it's sometimes easier to find one or two part-time jobs than one full-time job. Many companies are allowing workers to share jobs-to split duties, responsibilities, and compensation fifty-fifty or otherwise. They have found this is a good way to keep competent people who prefer to split their time between work and family responsibilities or between different kinds of work.
Why Job Share or Work Part-time? Job sharing or part-time work may make a lot of sense if you are:
- A single parent or one-half of a two-career couple who needs to balance work with parenting, taking care of an elderly parent, or meeting community responsibilities.
- A dedicated professional who wishes to learn new skills, continue their formal education, establish a reputation in more than one organization at a time or make a gradual transition to a new job or profession.
- A high achiever who can live comfortably on earnings from part-time work while moving into a lower gear to reduce stress in his/her life.
Telecommuting
You don't have to go to work if the work can come to you. Instead of commuting long distances or moving to find work, you can telecommute almost anywhere in the world via phone, fax, and modem. There are already more than 9 million "lone eagles" in the United States, with more than 500 corporations offering work-at-home job options. The U.S. Department of Transportation predicts that telecommuters will account for nearly 15% of the workforce by 2002.
The move toward telecommuting is fueled by several global trends. Manufacturing, which requires workers on site is declining while information services are a growing force in national and world economics. Information can be easily accessed, processed, and distributed electronically anywhere-including your home-through increasingly affordable and powerful computers connected via telephone, satellite and the Internet. The flattening of corporate hierarchies, an early result of this information revolution is accelerating the demand for even more direct, instantaneous communication.
What's In It For You?
Why Telecommute? You may find several good reasons to consider telecommuting as your preferred work environment:
- Eliminating your commute. No matter how you cut it, working out of a home office saves time. Even if your commute is as short as 30 minutes a day each way, you can save 240 hours (10 days) a year.
- Saving money. You slash your clothing, food, and commuting costs. Lunch is out of your refrigerator, and your commute may be the five seconds it takes you to walk from your bedroom to your office.
- Achieving balance. You have more time for your family's needs. You can manage illnesses, school, homework, sports events, and special projects.
- Keeping your roots. By going online, you can take advantage of business opportunities, even complex projects wherever they arise, without having to pull up stakes and move your home and family.
- Building your own business. You can get a preview of what it would be like to be out on your own. You can create your own working space, manage your time creatively, and moonlight more easily if you want to. You can build up a small base of clients while working on your full-time job. You can also get a sense of whether or not you are an entrepreneur.
Starting Your Own Business
With the security of permanent jobs fading, many people are moving out of organizations and capitalizing on their skills and the needs of the market place. The jobs are out there, but in smaller organizations. Large companies contract out the work that was formerly done in-house, and small companies are springing up to fill the gap. Two-thirds of all the new jobs in America are in organizations of twenty or fewer employees.
Why Start Your Own Business?
You want to test an idea for a product or service that you know will make it. Sometimes you just know you've got an idea whose time has come and you can't stop until you test it out. You've tested the idea with several people you respect, and they agree that it will sell.
Your current organization won't support product development for your idea. You know suppliers or customers who would purchase your product or service in an instant, but you've been unable to persuade your current organization of its merits.
You are convinced it's the only way to achieve the income you want. You've worked hard for many years but feel you are underpaid. You are a master in a profession or trade that is in demand. You know people who respect and depend on your work and who will hire you as an independent business owner.
You do your best work when you run your own show. You require independence and autonomy and like calling the shots. You dislike being supervised by people who can't match your skill, experience, and business sense.
Run Your Own Career
As you can see, there are many ways to package your work life, perhaps many more than you suspected. Assess your options. Which arrangement best suits the kinds of work that are available in your field? Choose the one that will give you a sense of running your own career. Of course, don't forget the option of working for a company.
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