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5 Ways to Upskill in a Gig Economy

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• 5 Ways to Upskill in a Gig Economy

As
a gig worker, you are your boss. You have the flexibility to choose
your hours and the autonomy to decide where and when you want to put in
work. With the gig economy booming, it’s more important than ever to
invest in yourself and grow your business to remain competitive.
Upskilling and the marketing of your skills are essential to gaining
employment. Here are 5 ways to upskill in our gig economy today. 

Research the industry and emerging technologies

The
future of business is technology – and the best way to upskill yourself
is to keep up to date with the latest programs and innovations. Get
familiar with web and mobile applications to improve your digital skills
and invest in yourself. The easiest place to begin is by exploring what
is available on your electronic devices such as your laptop or
smartphone. Dive into Microsoft Office to get a good understanding of
the mainstream programs used in most industries, such as PowerPoint,
Excel, and Word. These are great applications to put on your resume/CV
to show your employer that you’re tech-savvy. Mastering the use of
spreadsheets is a specialized skill that can help improve the efficiency
of data-based work, whether for personal use or in a workplace setting.

Go
one step further by familiarizing yourself with collaboration and
communication tools such as emails, Slack and Zoom to be well prepared
for any online interaction. By improving your digital skills, you can
easily adapt to any nature of business and quick changes that may arise –
which is crucial in any project. Additionally, you will be a leader in
the gig economy by driving it forward with your management and technical
skills. 

Use your gigs to expand your network

An
incredible benefit to independent work is the opportunity to meet lots
of new people from different countries, cultures, and races that you may
have never met before. Keep your heart open and make connections with
the people you encounter! Through multiple interactions, you can
practice reading people and situations, improve your social skills,
practice active listening, and learn how to ask the best questions.
These are necessary skills to expand your network, and will take you far
when it comes to networking at workshops, seminars, or conferences –
and ultimately, at interviews for any future gigs. Check out our past
blog post on how to best grow your network to learn more about the power
of networking!

Update your resume/CV

To
get the most business, it’s important to keep your resume updated. This
will make it easier for you to land jobs quicker and let potential
clients know about you easily. In Canada, it’s best to keep personal
info (age, gender, etc.) off your resume and a picture of yourself is
not required. Try to be precise and concise with your language and stick
to the facts, such as how you efficiently used a budget to complete a
project, and your specialized skills. Above all, make sure your resume
is organized, professional, and includes gigs that you have done most
recently!

Manage your time and utilize all resources available to you

As
your own boss, it’s up to you to assess the opportunity cost of
learning new skills with potentially missed freelance opportunities –
and this can be difficult. However, through careful research and
optimizing your time management skills, you can take advantage of the
many online resources available to look for new skills to learn. These
days, many universities and websites, such as LinkedIn Learning, offer
free or low cost online courses that teach a wide range of skills, from
UI/UX design and coding to photography and marketing skills. Don’t be
afraid to diversify the courses you choose to learn. With our society
becoming more digital, creative digital skills are a must to market
yourself effectively. You might even find a new hobby through digital
learning, or discover that you are a natural marketer!

Join a community of growth 

Traditional
forms of employment establish a professional environment for employees
to develop their skills. However, for gig workers, the opportunities to
upskill through work are limited, since gigs are usually short and don’t
offer employment benefits such as leadership training workshops, or a
team of coworkers to bounce ideas off of at morning meetings.
Fortunately, in our digital age, you can join many online communities of
gig workers on Facebook, LinkedIn, and other forums. These groups are a
great way to hear stories from other gig workers about how they run
their own businesses, from financial management to industry news. Being
part of a community also has tremendous benefits to one’s mental health,
and can help combat the isolation felt when doing individual gig work.
Apart from online communities, keeping in touch with peers and family
members can keep you motivated to drive forward in your self-development
and encourage your upskill journey. 

Which upskilling tip was your favorite? Keep checking in with Moves for more resources to help you succeed in the gig economy.