We already know that Generation Z is changing the world and they’re just getting started. Now, as more and more Gen Zers are embracing freelancing as a way to make a living and make an impact in their industry.
They’re also teaching us valuable lessons about how we think about work, teamwork, and independence. Let’s take a closer look at what Gen Z has to teach us about freelancing:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Embrace Technology: Generation Z’s proficiency with technology can teach Baby Boomers to adopt digital tools and platforms to enhance their freelancing workflow. |
| 2. Embrace Flexibility: Learn from Generation Z’s approach to freelancing, embracing flexible work arrangements and remote work options for improved work-life balance. |
| 3. Emphasize Personal Branding: Generation Z understands the importance of personal branding. Baby Boomers can follow suit and build a strong online presence to attract more clients. |
| 4. Continuously Learn: Adopt the Generation Z mindset of continuous learning and upskilling to stay competitive in the freelancing market and adapt to changing industry demands. |
| 5. Embrace the Gig Economy: Baby Boomers can take inspiration from Generation Z’s willingness to participate in the gig economy, exploring various freelance opportunities for diversified income streams. |
1. Freelancing Is Not A Hobby
Freelancing is not a hobby. It’s a career, and probably your first one. Freelancers have to commit to their work; they’re not just working for fun or as an escape from their 9-5 jobs (if they even have those).
You can’t take time off whenever you want, because the bills won’t stop coming in while you’re away. And if it’s not your primary source of income? You better treat it like your job anyway because freelancing requires discipline and hard work just like any other job would require!
Start small with freelance gigs until you get more confident in your skillset and find out where your niche is within the industry.
You might think it would be fun to write about travel tips all day every day without having any real experience doing so… but let me tell ya: there’s nothing more boring than writing about vacation destinations when all I want to do is go on one myself!
Avoid the common pitfalls of freelancing and boost your income with our guide on 10 Freelancing Mistakes That Are Keeping You Broke. Learn how to thrive in the gig economy and achieve financial success as a freelancer.
2. There’s A Stigma Against People In Their 20s Especially Women
Unlike the Baby Boomer generation, Gen Z has grown up in an age of rapid change. They’ve seen things happen at lightning speed and they don’t accept that every generation before them knows better than them.
It is important for you to respect this as a freelancer especially if you are also a woman in your 20s or 30s!
Gen Z has a reputation for being connected, independent and ambitious but there is still a stigma against people in their 20s. There’s also a stigma against women in their 20s.
There’s even more of one when those two things come together: People who are young AND female are often perceived as less credible because of their age or gender alone!
3. You Don’t Have To Start As A Subject Matter Expert To Establish Your Personal Brand
While you can’t expect to become a subject matter expert overnight, it is possible to build your brand as a freelancer by doing what you are already good at. You can also start by doing things that you are interested in or like to do.
The best way to learn about a particular topic is by doing research, but there are other ways of getting started as well:
Reading books and articles on the subject; asking questions; practicing what you know; seeking mentorship from someone who knows more than you do; taking classes; finding friends who share your interests and working together with them; etc.
The landscape of work is rapidly evolving, but you can stay ahead of the curve. Discover how to adapt and succeed in the future job market with insights from How the Future of Work Is Changing and How to Get a Piece of It.
4. You Can Freelance From Anywhere, And It Doesn’t Have To Be Expensive
You can freelance from anywhere. And I mean that literally. It doesn’t have to be expensive, and you don’t need to quit your day job to do it at all. Many freelancers work from home because it’s cheaper than renting office space (and it provides them with the ultimate flexibility).
But if you’re looking for something more professional or just want a change of scenery here are some other options:
- coworking spaces
- coffee shops
- co-working spaces (a cross between an open desk room and a dedicated collaborative space)
- office buildings that have conference rooms available during certain hours of the week
The list goes on! The point is, that there are plenty of places where you can get creative without breaking the bank or becoming distracted by other people’s conversations.
5. The Barriers To Starting A Business Are Lower Than Ever
In case you didn’t know, Generation Z is a demographic label for those born between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s. They’re also known as iGen, Post-Millennials, or Plurals.
This generation grew up in an age when information was easily accessible, and they were never without access to a computer or phone.
The barriers to starting a business are lower than ever. The internet is a great equalizer it gives everyone equal access to information, regardless of age or location.
That’s why Gen Z has more entrepreneurial potential than any other generation before them: they have virtually no barrier to entry when it comes time to start their businesses!
Master the art of time management and boost your productivity as a freelancer. Our comprehensive guide on Time Management Tips for Freelancers will help you juggle multiple projects without burning out.
6. It’s Much Easier To Connect With High-Profile Leaders
There’s no denying it: The internet has changed the game for freelancers. One of my favorite ways this has manifested is in how easy it has become to connect with high-profile leaders.
I was born in 1981 and grew up with the internet being a part of my life. I remember when AOL became popular, then MSN Live (now Bing), and then Facebook came along.
It was much easier for me to connect with people from other countries or outside of my field than it would have been without the internet!
7. If You’re Not Tech-Savvy, You Will Be At A Competitive Disadvantage
Technology has become a vital part of most people’s lives.
It’s not just the latest smartphone or tablet that you need to be familiar with to keep up with the world, but also social media, online marketing, and so much more.
Technology is constantly evolving and getting better at what it does.
You don’t want to be left behind! Technology has become more accessible for every age group and economic class in America today (and around the world).
It’s easier than ever before for someone who doesn’t have extensive experience setting up their computer or navigating through an unfamiliar website/app interface.
8. The Right Clients Are Out There, But You Have To Find Them
You may be wondering, “How do I find clients?” The answer is simple: You need to be willing to go out and find them. When you decide to go freelance, you must have a strong online presence.
Whether it’s through your website or social media platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter. You also need to be prepared to attend events where people in the industry will be present (and even parties).
Finally, don’t forget that reaching out directly can sometimes pay off too!
Upwork, one of the leading freelance platforms, has a lot to offer. Don’t be afraid of its policies, including the permanent ban. Check out our article on Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Upwork’s Permanent Ban to understand how to navigate the platform effectively.
9. Don’t Underestimate The Power Of Networking Events And Conferences
While you may have had your doubts about the value of attending events when you first considered freelancing, it’s time to reconsider.
Networking events are a great way to meet people who could be potential clients or partners in your business. And they’re also a good place to learn new skills that can help you grow and succeed as well as brush up on existing ones.
10. Successful Freelancers Reinvent Themselves Regularly
Today’s successful freelancers are constantly reinventing themselves.
They read they subscribe to newsletters and blogs, and they listen to podcasts. They try out new things and learn from others’ experiences to stay on top of trends.
They know that the skills they used yesterday may not apply tomorrow if technology changes or their industry shifts in some way (for example, someone who wrote articles for newspapers before online publishing came along might need to switch over).
They don’t stick with a business model that isn’t working anymore just because it’s familiar they’re willing to change everything from their focus on what kind of work they do down to where they live based on what will work best for them at any given point in time.
11. There’s No Reason You Can’t Build Multiple Streams Of Income At Once
You can work multiple streams of income at once.
Generation Z freelancers have figured out how to build two or three revenue streams simultaneously. They’re doing this for the same reasons you should: so they can quit their jobs, start a business and make money on their terms.
To get there, they’ve had to learn how to manage multiple sources of income, but it’s something that you can do too!
If you want to be able to freelance full-time (or even part-time), add a second stream of income into your life now and see what happens!
12. There Are So Many More Job Opportunities That You Might Not Have Even Heard Of Yet
Generation Z is a can-do generation. So many of us have grown up hearing that our parent’s generation had it easier, but the truth is that we live in an era of unprecedented opportunity.
The internet has opened up so many possibilities for freelancers and entrepreneurs who want to work from home or anywhere else they choose.
There are more job opportunities than ever before, including jobs you might not even know exist yet! There are plenty of ways you can build a career as a remote worker including:
13. Social Media Is Your Most Valuable Tool For Building An Audience And Garnering Referrals
Social media is your most valuable tool for building an audience and garnering referrals. You can use social media to share your expertise, connect with potential clients and find mentors that can help you grow your business.
It’s important to keep in mind that Generation Z is the first generation where social media is the primary means of communication. They’ve grown up on Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook so they’re used to seeing real-time updates from people they follow in their feeds.
This means that if you want to connect with Gen Zers on a professional level through social media.
You need to provide more than just a bio you also need regular updates about how freelancing has helped shape your life so far as well as anything else that catches your interest outside of work (yes, even cats).
Unlock the potential of freelancing with Upwork by exploring our guide on How Upwork Works for Freelancers. From creating a standout profile to landing high-paying gigs, you’ll find valuable tips to excel in the freelancing world.
14. Peer Support Can Make All The Difference In Success Or Failure As An Entrepreneur Or Freelancer
Peer support can make all the difference in success or failure as an entrepreneur or freelancer. As you pursue your freelance career, it’s important to find a community of peers.
Not only will you have someone to share advice with, but also gain inspiration from those who are doing what you want to do.
Having a network of friends and colleagues is ideal for freelancers. The benefits don’t end there though; having a strong support system will help keep your motivation high when things get tough (and they certainly will).
You’ll be able to bounce ideas off other people so that nothing gets overlooked when tackling larger projects like growing your business or producing content regularly (like blog posts).
15. Generation Z Is Approaching Their Careers A Lot Differently Than Baby Boomers Did Decades Ago And That Can Be A Good Thing For Everyone Involved
Generation Z is the first generation to have grown up with the Internet and technology at their fingertips. They are more tech-savvy than previous generations and more likely to be entrepreneurs.
As such, they’re approaching their careers a lot differently than Baby Boomers did decades ago and that can be a good thing for everyone involved.
As you might expect, Generation Z has different priorities from Baby Boomers when it comes to working as freelancers or starting businesses. The following points highlight some of those differences so you can better understand what makes each generation tick:
Conclusion
We hope that this article has given you a glimpse into the minds of Gen Zers and their freelancing approach. Their perspective on work is so different than our own that it can be easy to shrug them off as lazy or unfocused.
But if you take a closer look, you’ll see that Gen Zers have an important message for us: it’s okay to have fun at work, and it’s okay to be who we are. If we all take this lesson from them, we will all find greater happiness in our careers.
Further Reading
Freelancing: The Newest Trend Among Gen Z: Learn about the rising trend of freelancing among Generation Z and how they are embracing the gig economy for flexible work opportunities.
Gen Z in the Workplace: Gain insights into the characteristics and work preferences of Generation Z employees, and how they are reshaping the modern workplace.
What Gen Z Really Think: Delve into the thoughts and attitudes of Generation Z, exploring their opinions on various topics and trends shaping their lives.
FAQs
What is Generation Z’s attitude towards freelancing?
Generation Z is increasingly embracing freelancing due to its flexibility, remote work opportunities, and potential for pursuing multiple passions simultaneously.
How does Generation Z impact the modern workplace?
Generation Z is influencing the workplace by demanding more work-life balance, remote work options, and a strong focus on technology and digital communication tools.
What are the key characteristics of Generation Z in the workforce?
Generation Z employees are known for their adaptability, tech-savviness, desire for purposeful work, and a preference for instant feedback and recognition.
How is freelancing different for Generation Z compared to other generations?
Generation Z approaches freelancing with a focus on work-life integration, seeking purposeful and meaningful work experiences over traditional 9-to-5 jobs.
What are some misconceptions about Generation Z and freelancing?
A common misconception is that Generation Z freelancers lack commitment; however, they prioritize meaningful work and actively seek opportunities to grow their skills.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.