Lost Job Due to Coronavirus? Supplement Your Income With Gigs

Last week, I’ve read plentiful stories on LinkedIn from people who lost their jobs due to COVID-19. I want to say that I’m sorry for all of you.

First of all, it’s not your fault. You couldn’t have planned for this.

Secondly, maybe you’ve lost your job, but your skills and experience remain.

Finally, be kind to yourself, don’t panic and look for new opportunities. It’s time to diversify.

Freelancing or temporary jobs may not be the kind of thing that you have considered previously. But it may prove to be a valuable source of income in these hard times.

Not sure how to get started? To help you out with that, we’ve put together this guide.

What are your options?

At the moment, you have three options. You can search for work-from-home part-time gigs, opt for full-time remote jobs, or work on-site for companies that currently need reinforcements.

How do you know which one is right for you?

Can you do your job online? Let’s say that you’re a software developer. Then you should look for a full-time remote job. But you probably already know that. Alternatively, you can try freelancing.

Does your job revolve around face-to-face interaction? For instance, if you’re a hairdresser, you should try to look for a job in a different field. Sure, it’s not ideal but these are difficult times. Therefore, the best option is to look for remote part-time gigs. Alternatively, you can also let your customers pre-order your future services now. And when life gets back to normal, you’ll deliver them. Check this website. We've created it to help self-employed workers supplement their income.

None of the above? We're listing the following option last on purpose. It’s definitely the most dangerous (for yourself as well as for others) as it doesn't allow you to work from home. If neither of the previous options work for you, you can try to find a job as an on-site temporary worker. After all, many companies are currently hiring temporary workers to quickly adjust to the situation.

1. Try part-time freelance gigs

Let’s start with the tougher one. Your first option is to search for part-time freelance gigs. How does it work?

You register at a freelance website and offer your services. First, think about what you have to offer. If you can do your job online, then it’s pretty simple. Just take your best skills and that’s your freelance offer. But don’t leave it at that. Remember, there are thousands of freelancers out there who have the same expertise.

In other words, you need something that makes you special. Be creative. Try to think about how you could modify your service offerings to adapt to the current changes. For instance, if you’re a writer, you can offer writing coronavirus-related content for companies (lol, that's funny). You get the idea.

But what to do if you can’t do your job online? Think about what other special skills you have that someone might need. To help you identify what skills to focus on, ask yourself these questions:

In my recent work, what tasks or projects have I most enjoyed?
What are my other strongest skills?
What are people always asking for my help with?
Which hobbies can I turn into a job?
What do I enjoy doing?

After all, moments of uncertainty often lead to creative breakthroughs. Here’s one example. This week, I’ve read a story on Medium from a marketer who came out of college as generalist and his first freelance gig was teaching Pilates online.

You're not a one trick-pony. Try to find jobs you can win early on. Adapt. Be creative.

Know where to look

Freelancer platforms are one of the best places to look for part-time gig jobs. You register at the website and create a seller page. You either post projects or bid for the projects published by clients. Then you work to complete the task for your payment.

One way or another, you must complete the task to customer's satisfaction before the agreed deadline.

These are top freelance websites:

Upwork. At Upwork, clients post a project and freelancers are able to bid for that project. Charges – 20% commission on work up to the value of $500 (with each client).
Fiverr. At Fiverr, sellers create gigs that buyers pay for. Charges – it’s free to join Fiverr, but they take 20% of each order's earnings. Also, the number of gigs you can offer depends on your "level".
Airtasker. Airtasker is a services marketplace/freelancing platform that freelancers can use to find work that can earn them a quick buck. Similarly, Airtasker can help people find skilled individuals who can complete whatever task they need to get done at the moment, be it home cleaning, handyman jobs, admin work, photography, graphic design or even website building.
goLance. At goLance, clients post a project and freelancers are able to bid for that project. Charges – only 7,95% commission fee every 60 days, which is much lower compared to Upwork or Fiverr.
Peopleperhour. Very similar to Fiverr. Freelancers create custom offers for a fixed prices and get hired directly from buyers. Charges – the service fee ranges from 3,5% to 20%, depending on the lifetime billing per buyer.
Freelancer. Works the same as Upwork. Charges – it’s free to sign up, apply and bid on projects, but unless you pay, you're limited to 8 bids per month. They also take 10% off each project you take.
And many more: Truelancer, Outsourcely, Guru, UrbanPro, FreeUp, SimplyHired, Fivesquid, Workana, Zeerk, Legiit, or Broxer.

More specialized freelance websites:

Toptal. Platform for experienced developers, project managers, product managers, web designers, and finance specialists.
Codeable. A freelancer marketplace for WordPress experts.
99 designs. The design of logos, clothing, websites, apps, illustrations, or promotional materials.
The Writer Finder. For writers, content marketers, bloggers.
Superprof India. For online teaching/tutoring jobs.

When deciding on the right platform, there are few things that you should consider. Check what are their fees and also requirements for the new freelancers in terms of verification and acceptance.

Before getting your first gig

Ok, you already know what’s your gig and you’ve picked the right freelancing platform for you. The next step is to set up a seller profile. It’s the first thing your client usually sees, so you need to make him want to see the rest.

Start with a strong title, professional photo, and profile overview:

Job title. Don’t write anything generic. Highlight a skill in which you specialise.
Profile picture. Be yourself, but be professional.
Overview. In one or two sentences, sum up what you do and what makes you special.

To help you get a better idea, here’s a great example from top 10 trending freelancers on Upwork:

Daniela chose a very specific job title. She also used a picture where she looks professional while still being “herself”. In the overview, she briefly describes what services she can provide. And, as you can see, she has 100% job success.

If your profile is set up, then do the following:

Have an updated resume and several work samples. Ideally a portfolio.
Prepare cover letter for your requests. It should be professional and easy to understand what you’re offering.
Make sure your profile description and gigs are written in reasonably good English. Every typo or mistake decreases your credibility.
If you’re still new to the field, do online courses. Place them on your profile. That will help you gain trust of your potential clients.

Ready to get your first gig?

Sure, you need to master the service you’re offering. But you also need to master the art of offering it.

Try to describe your gig in an attractive way. It's also important to include relevant keywords so that your clients have an easier time finding you.

When it comes to images, don't copy them from other sellers and do something original. Finally, share your gigs online on various social media profiles.

If you’re bidding on projects and approaching clients directly, write a killer and personalized pitch. Look at their job post. Scan it. Then, start templating your response. Here’s a great pitch example.

One way or another, always respond to the buyer within one hour. Otherwise, someone else might take your job before you. If you manage to get a gig, always deliver good quality work and on time (or even ahead of time).

You can also give your clients that little bit extra. For instance, if you’re a freelance writer and your client wants 300 words, give him 350 at no extra charge. This will get you those 5 star reviews. And if you get good reviews, share them on your social media account. Just like Russ did. That will help you attract new clients.

Also, remember to take it one step at a time. Try to score a few small jobs first and see where it takes you.

2. Find a full-time remote job

Ok, you think that freelance gig jobs maybe aren't your cup of tea. So, here’s your second option – look for full-time remote jobs.

However, not everybody has this option. Some jobs simply can’t be done remotely. Top industries for remote work include web development, web design, user experience, customer support, online education, writing, or digital marketing.

In the end, getting a remote job is no more difficult than getting a regular job, it’s just a bit different. Sure, these are difficult times, but there are companies that are hiring even under current circumstances.