3 Career Lessons You Can Learn From the Gig Economy
The gig economy is growing. From Uber to Fiverr to the increasing number of IT professionals willing to take on contract work, there’s definitely something in the water. Whether you are a contractor yourself or still only take on permanent, full time positions, adapting your mindset to a more gig economy friendly one could help you improve your career! Here are 3 lessons you can learn from the growing gig economy.
1. Distinguish Yourself: Blending in and being one of the pack may work in some large corporations but that mentality would crush you in the gig economy. Some of the highest rated Uber drivers are known for their smiling faces and their snack-stocked cars. Some of the best-regarded Airbnb hosts put out flowers or offer a happy-hour glass of wine to make their visitor’s stay just a bit sweeter. And while setting yourself apart at work will need to go a little farther than having a jar of candy on your desk, it’s important that you make an effort to distinguish yourself at work. Doing a few extra things, listening well, and asking good questions are great examples of how you can distinguish yourself from the rest and send your career on a positive, growth-oriented path.
2. Don’t Let Your Work Speak For Itself: It’s easy to sit back, get your work done, and hope your boss notices. While you don’t want to be the braggart or the person tooting your own horn, the gig economy has proven that a little self-promotion goes a long way. Speak up and make sure the people who need to know see that your work is connecting to big picture goals, hitting major milestones, or improving the company in some way. When you let your work speak for itself you risk your boss asking the question “what have you done for me lately?” and coming up blank. Instead, be an advocate for your own work and be an advocate for your skill set, if you see a project you might be able to help out on offer to jump in and assist!
3. Fast Feedback: When you go get someone’s help on Fiverr you rate their performance immediately. When you get out of your Uber you rate your driver and head off on your way. The gig economy puts feedback in your face and makes it a much more immediate process. But how can you incorporate this into a company that is still sticking to annual reviews? Provide yourself with the fast feedback you need to adapt, improve, and get that five star rating. After you’ve completed a big project or even at the end of every week, assessing your performance, seeing where you could have improved and where you really shine, can really help your career. You’ll identify weak spots you need to pay attention to, skills you need to sharpen, and technologies you need to learn in order to grow into your next role.
Even if you’re not a part of the gig economy, you can learn a lot from this rapidly growing business model. Take these 3 career lessons and apply them to your own work for a more agile, adaptable, modern workplace mentality.