The Great Resignation offered employees across all sectors the chance to re-think their career trajectory, work/life balance, and how they want to be treated by an employer. Now, the Great Resignation has given way to a slowdown in hiring across tech and IT, with many experts seeing the trend continuing for the second half of 2022.
As hiring has slowed for many of tech’s largest companies, there are still many opportunities for employees to flex their own independence and make the most out of the skills they have. So, if you’re finding it challenging to land the full-time role you really want, read on to explore how to win in a soft hiring market in tech while staying true to where, when, and how you actually want to work. Whether you’re looking to switch up your career or just looking for a side gig for some additional income, there are plenty of open doors for professional techies.
3 Alternative Income Opportunities for Techsperts
#1 Consulting
One of the most common paths outside of a full-time, corporate gig is to work as a consultant. Becoming a consultant means being able to successfully sell your knowledge and skills to the companies that need them. Consultants are found in a variety of fields, and it can entail a months-long contract or might be just a temporary contract job.
Some of the pros and cons of working as a consultant include:
Pros:
- Wide variety in who you work for and the people you work with
- Improved work/life balance
- Remote work is often permitted
Cons:
- Responsible for your own medical benefits
- Potential for quick and unexpected termination of a job
- Finding new clients can be challenging
What you need to succeed:
- Ability to learn and understand innovative technology quickly and pick up skills “on the fly”
- Figure out how to motivate regular employees to respond to your requests
- Obtaining the appropriate tech certifications and licenses
- Top-notch networking skills- you never know where your next client will come from!