Real Work-At-Home Job Leads

In a January 2009 article, Newsweek Magazine coined the phrase “gigonomics” to describe the ever increasing trend toward a freelance workforce. Made up of so-called “giggers” who work by the project or gig, with no strings attaching them to one company, this emerging workforce was absorbing many of the newly unemployed. Today, several million people make up the freelance or “gigger” workforce, but millions more are searching for jobs that just aren’t available. So, how does one find a gig or freelance project?

Freelance Job Auctions

There are a number of sites that allow you to submit a bid for a job. In your bid is your price, experience, samples and a description of how you would complete the work and the length of time it would take to complete it. The employer chooses the bid or bids that best suits the project. The follow sites offer many job opportunities for writers, designers, computer programmers, data entry workers, editors and others.

• Guru.com
• Freelancer.com
• Elance.com

Stock Photography

There are sites for photographers to get involved.  These portals are a place where graphic designers and photographers can post their work for sale to web designers, publishers and advertisers. Customers pay for the right to use the images. You, the creator/photographer, receive a royalty calculated on the types of use. Most are operated on a system of credits. Buyers purchase credits based on the size and type of file needed. You earn a set dollar amount or percentage of the credit.  If you’re looking for ways to sell your pictures or designs, check out:

• iStockPhoto.com
• EveryStock.com
• Big Stock Photo

Freelance Classifieds

Find everything from walk-on movie roles to hair modeling gigs on Craigslist in the “Gigs” section. Look at sites like Online Writing Jobs, Sologig.com and iFreelance.com for writing, design, coding, data entry and more. These sites and others like them are classifieds for the gigger nation. Sometimes you can find a long-term project here after you build a working relationship with the company or individual, but the majority are one time or temporary gigs.

Take Care

Remember to watch out for scams, which abound in the freelance job industry. Some sites like Guru, elance and iFreelance charge a fee for full membership. However, a certain amount of bids or job posts is open to anyone for free. Do not pay for a service until you have deemed it cost effective and your getting the proper return on your investment. For example, a basic membership to Guru.com is $130 that you pay quarterly. It is cost effective to pay this fee if you have received enough work to profit after the fees. Otherwise, use the free account.

Welcome to the gigonomic workforce. Get out there and find that first project!