With the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic stretching into 2022 and beyond, millions of workers are leaving their jobs each month. Right now, there are 9.2 million jobs up for grabs in the United States, but many people are ignoring these opportunities in favour of diving into the world of freelance.
The benefits of freelancing have become more important to workers since the pandemic began. In fact, 59 million people in the United States - 36% of the entire American workforce - have freelanced at some point since the pandemic took hold.
Employers have also discovered the power of working with freelance professionals instead of hiring full-time employees. Because they typically don’t have to train freelancers, they can accelerate the onboarding process and integrate freelancers as productive team members much more quickly. Developing a freelance workforce also helps employers eliminate many of the costs of hiring and retaining employees, such as recruiting costs, benefits packages, and training.
With such a sharp rise in freelancing, numerous job websites have surfaced to help companies and freelancers find and work with each other. These sites typically make money from monthly membership fees, per-proposal fees, and transaction fees.
Upwork (formerly Elance) is the first that comes to mind for many freelancers and hiring professionals. While it is among the most popular options, there are plenty of other platforms where freelancers can find work that is meaningful and profitable.
As a freelancer, it can be difficult to choose among these platforms. Each one offers its own value to a certain type of freelancer, so it’s important to take the time to choose the right one for you.
Here Are the Best 4 Sites Like Upwork Where You Can Find Freelancing Jobs:
FlexJobs - This job site may seem familiar to job seekers, but it is dedicated to uncovering alternative work opportunities, including remote work and freelancing. This option appeals to skilled professionals who want the ability to work remotely all or part of the time, and who want to work long-term with companies on ongoing and recurring projects.
Hubstaff Talent - although less well-known in the freelancing community than Upwork, Hubstaff Talent can be a powerful platform for connecting with companies to hire you for long-term jobs.
The basic platform is free, setting it apart from its competitors. This allows companies to connect with talented workers across a wide range of industries without financial risk. Because the platform is freely available, Hubstaff Talent takes a much more hands-off approach to negotiations and workflow than other freelancing sites.
LinkedIn - while this site is known more as a social media platform than as a job site, LinkedIn provides professionals access to thousands of new jobs every week - in-office, hybrid, and remote.
In addition to plentiful search and filtering features, the platform also offers a wealth of training to help professionals level up their skills, and worldwide networking to help put them in touch with key decision-makers.
Searching for jobs on LinkedIn is free; however, many of its more useful features require a Premium membership, which some freelancers could find cost-prohibitive.
Oomple - while not as well-known in the gig-worker community as Upwork, there’s a good reason. It’s one of the few job sites that focus on pairing serious companies with serious talent. Rather than taking a gig-focused approach and attracting low-skilled freelancers, Oomple brings together highly-talented professionals with companies willing to invest in long-term relationships.
Entry-level freelancers without highly developed skills may not find this site the best option, though. Companies that use Oomple are looking for highly skilled professionals who can deliver exceptional results, and who thrive working on complex, specialized projects.
Of course, it’s critical to evaluate these and other platforms on your own - only you can be sure which platform will meet your needs. By carefully considering what each platform has to offer, you can decide on one that will give you access to the right opportunities, help you build a stable long-term income, and help you navigate the constantly changing world of freelance work.