Adjusting to the gig economy

The early numbers on jobs for 2017 do not look good. Over 200K layoffs have been announced, among major employers like AT&T, WalMart, and GE. The truth is, the massive tax scam will not save jobs, what it will do is give the executives more money so that they can increase the profits they are already earning. A good time to invest, a bad time for someone seeking work.

For many of us, though, the future is now. I have worked 11 years in the "gig economy" in my field. Not always as a primary source of income, but consistently enough that I have seen other players come and go. There are pros and cons of the gig economy, but, like everything else, we are still adjusting to the changing reality.

But for day laborers, the gig economy has always been there, in a way. In big cities, if you show up with the right tools, you can usually get sent out to work. So here are a few tips, from lengthy experience, on how to navigate the gig economy:

Make sure that you are getting your job offers from a reputable platform. Craigslist is OK, but the old rule of caveat emptor applies here. There are a lot of scammers operating the circuit. It is wiser to have a platform where both buyers and providers can be rated.

The main pro of the gig economy is that you can selectively negotiate your position. Figure out what you offer that isn't widely offered, and charge a premium for that, and take lower paying jobs to fill the gap. If your gig work is in construction and you specialize in cabinetry, focus on the cabinetry jobs. Or drywall, whatever your niche is.

The pay comes slow, so it helps to piggyback gigs. In my case, when I work 50 miles out, I try to find a second job, a "piggyback" job, to supplement the main job. This makes the time loss and extra fuel expense a little easier to bear. And yes, if you're wondering, BOTH clients are billed for travel. Whether you were already in town or not is not there concern.

Make your car a mobile office. A good portable printer helps, but I find it more cost effective (and less infuriating) to know the places where I can print documents if needed. For all the promise of paperless, we have a long way to go in that regard.

If you have downloadable options attached to your ticket, download them to the device before you go. Buyers will not always expect you to print all of the information they send, but they do expect you to have it available. Also pay attention to the dress requirements of the buyer.

If your gig requires you to return a shipment, ALWAYS have the tracking number. Take a picture of the shipping label as well. To their eyes, if it's not shipped, it was not sent. You will not get paid, and your reputation will be docked.

Always be polite, and courteous, and never tell them you will not perform a task, even if it is out of scope. Collect information if you must, and relay it back to the buyer. If you can leave with an answer for the client, that is best. If not, at least leave them with the confidence that it is being addressed.

When you are onsite on a gig, you represent the buyer. Do it well, and they will soon route you more, and better gigs. If you mess up, though, they can usually find someone to replace you