Should You Take Your Tech Skills Freelance?
The gig economy is on the rise: more and more people are working flexibility to their own schedules and in their own work environments. While the advantages and disadvantages of the gig economy deserve attention on their own, we have to acknowledge that it’s only possible due to the rise of digital technology. As such, it only makes sense that the people who work with that technology may be able to find their place in the freelance market as well. Here are some of the most common tech jobs that you can do as a freelancer and what to expect from such a career.
Web development
Most modern companies work with some kind of digital technology. However, even those who are still strictly brick and mortar are going to understand that they have a need for some kind of web presence. Working in web development can involve doing a lot of different kinds of work, including web design, UI/UX design, website development, and more. You can find your niche and work with web development companies, or you can learn all of the skills necessary to help clients develop websites from the ground up. To deliver the full suite of services, however, you are likely to need to start a team and to recruit those who bring the web development specialties that you don’t.
App development
Applications and software are, effectively, the tools that we use to manage information in all sorts of ways through digital technology. Someone has to build every piece of software or application that is used on a desktop, laptop, smartphone, or any other device. Working in freelance app development usually means looking at the client’s needs for a piece of software. What do they need the software to do and how do you develop it to make sure it meets their needs? All software development begins with an understanding of coding, so if you don’t know how to program in any language, you need to start learning that to begin with. Once you develop that talent, however, it’s a market that can offer a lot of opportunities, indeed.
Tech support services
One of the more basic tech positions is that of the providing tech support to end-users and clients. The job is relatively simple enough. People come at you with a certain program regarding software, hardware, or online tools, you look at the issue, troubleshoot it, find what the issue is, fix it, and then report back. Most clients who rely on tech support services are small businesses that are starting to rely more on digital technology but don’t yet have their own internal IT team. Tech support is often combined with other services, including business analysis and cyber security, as part of a managed services package, but it can be offered as a stand-alone service, as well.
Cyber security
As mentioned, this service is often offered as part of a managed services package. As such, you can grow either a tech support gig or cyber security freelance position into something more comprehensive if you find other professionals to hire or develop a broader base of skills. But what is a cyber security engineer? Effectively, the role involves not only responding to cyber threats such as malware and hacking as they happen, but also invest in preventative measures. Looking at your clients’ digital scope, finding the vulnerabilities that others could exploit, and taking steps to address those vulnerabilities is what the majority of the job consists of. As mentioned, you also need to be able to respond to threats, shutting them down and reporting on them.
SAAS-development
If you’re a software of an app developer, it’s not always your only option that you should develop bespoke software for each new client you come across. If you find that there’s a demand for a certain kind of application that is going underserved, then why not hit multiple birds with one stone and create a piece of software that can fit the needs of several people at once? Starting a software as a service company starts with creating a piece of software that multiple people are willing to sign up to use. From there, you have to go on supporting your clients and updating and maintaining your software, too.
If you want to work freelance, then there’s a good chance you can take your digital technology skills with you. Practically, any tech job that can be handled within a company can be done on a freelance basis, too.
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