Apps the way!
Now is a great time to be a contractor. And, the demand for skilled contract professionals is expected to continue to rise in 2017.
This has partially been fueled by the EU Referendum vote. Employers are not willing to risk taking on permanent employees and are instead opting to hire contractors and freelancers.
Recruitment agencies still continue to be a valuable source for contractors, with 80% of all contracts awarded through an agent.
However, times are changing and over the last year there has been a rise in the number of mobile apps and web platforms that are enabling employers and contractors to connect directly, cutting out the middleman (the recruitment agency).
This is not surprising as now 7 in 10 in the UK own a smartphone. According to data from The Balance, 72% of all jobseekers search for and apply for roles using mobile phones.
Here are top 4 sites for contractors and freelancers to look at in 2017:
Fluxible
This app is specifically targeted at contractors who work in financial crime and compliance. It is scheduled to be launched in January 2017.
The app enables businesses and managed service companies to find and hire contractors directly.
Ryalto
Ryalto has been designed to connect organisations with skilled IT contractors and freelancers.
Contractors and freelancers create a profile detailing their area of expertise, daily rate, number of years’ experience and regions they are willing to work in.
Employers using the app have the ability to search through profiles to find available contractors and freelancers and message them directly.
Elevate
Elevate is an online platform for contractors and freelancers working in all sectors and industries. It has been developed by a team of ex-recruiters to connect skilled professionals with contractors and freelancers.
To create a profile upload your CV and the system automatically extracts the relevant information and adds it to the appropriate section.
Notifications will be sent when the system finds a matching job. You choose to either apply or ignore it.
WiseCrowd
WiseCrowd is specifically aimed at freelancers who operate in the Governance, Risk and Compliance sector.
As with the other platforms, the freelancer creates an online profile listing their skills and details of previous projects they have worked on.
Using a calendar, employers can view details of freelancers who are available to work.
The platform is designed to speed up the hiring process and reduce the inefficiencies that can be experienced by using a third party.
Let’s make 2017 the year of the contractor and freelancer!