7 Hot Sites to Find Gig Jobs
To build your freelance career, you’ll need to get landed gigs that will help prove your ability and skills. Finding that next side hustle can be somewhat hard, but there are online platforms that can help to ease the stress of finding one and also avoid common mistakes first-time freelancers make.
Actually, the online platforms that provide side gigs opportunities are numerous but we have searched to help you pinpoint the best sites to find gig jobs online.
In 2023, there is a possibility that at least 52% of the U.S. workforce will either be gig economy workers or would have worked as a freelancer at some point in their career. And right now, an estimated 48% of millennials are said to use platforms of gig jobs to get jobs or locate prospective clients.
Upwork
Upwork was founded in 2003 and has now grown to become one of the large freelance marketplaces harnessed by millions of businesses such as Airbnb, Microsoft, and GoDaddy, among countless others online. It still ranks as one of the best places to find gig jobs online today whether you are experienced or a newbie.
Freelancers looking for gigs have recorded a consistent positive turnout in finding gigs of diverse kinds and in different industries on this platform. These include graphic designs, copywriting, web development, digital marketing, accounting, virtual assistance, and a host of others.
When you get started, you’ll create your work profile on the platform, and post details about your experience and jobs. Build a portfolio, set rates, talk about your skills, and share your video.
Upwork is powered by AI and filters through a myriad of opportunities to match a freelancer to potential projects. Freelancers can decide to submit a bid after reviewing a prospective client’s history, ratings, and project details. The platform is often responsible for managing the processes in the contract – from time tracking to invoicing, messaging, and file sharing. You can also decide whether to get paid via wire transfer, direct deposit, or PayPal.
But while the platform is absolutely free for freelancers to find clients, Upwork takes a percentage upon completion of work. They take 20% for the first $500 billed to a client across all contracts with them and 10% for total billings with a client between $500.01 and $10,000.
Freelancer
Freelancer was instituted in 2009 and has grown to be one of the most popular freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace on the internet. It is situated in over 247 countries and connects more than 55 million employers and freelancers.
Freelancer is free to join like Upwork. As a user, you’ll create a profile, showing your skills and experience with your rates. You can find jobs through a wide range of features which include client ratings and histories and place bids on projects. One key difference between Freelancer and Upwork is that opening a Freelancer account is absolutely straightforward for anyone, but on Upwork, you will go through a process of being approved.
So, because of Upwork’s process of scrutiny, there’s reduced competition, unlike Freelancer. But as an inexperienced freelancer who is still trying to start or find his feet in an industry, Freelancer will be quite suitable
Freelancer also requires a percentage based on how much earned from the platform. For a fixed price project they’ll receive 3%a charge or $3, depending on which is greater. Hourly projects attract a flat 3% fee.
Services, 20% fee. And if you refer an employer to the platform, you will not have to pay future fees with that client.
Guru
Guru is best for experienced freelancers. It was founded in 2000 and was formerly known as Emoonlighter. It currently prides on about a million clients from different parts of the world, and has a cash payment of over $250million to freelancers, with a 99% client satisfaction rate.
This platform targets professionals and also helps users rank higher and be found faster with paid membership. This puts a freelancer in a vantage point of being discovered faster for high-paying jobs.
And just like many hugs websites, users can create their own work profile for free, and go ahead to browse jobs or get recommended based on skills with the company’s Too Match and Good Match search features. Once you come across a job interest, simply go ahead to submit a bid.
To become a Guru user, simply sign up and create a profile without paying a dime as a freelancer. But you’ll need to become a paid member to be able to bid for more jobs, send direct messages to clients, boost search rankings, and earn increased revenue.
Basic Plan
Free
9% job fee
10 bids per month
Basic+ Plan
$11.95 per month
9% job fee
50 bids per month
$1,000 search boost
Professional Plan
$21.95 per month
7% job fee
50 bids per month
Annual bid rollover: 100 bids
Premium bids: Costs 6 bids
$2,000 search boost
Sales messages: Costs 5 bids
Add a personal link to the profile
Business Plan
$33.95 per month
6% job fee
50 bids per month
Annual bid rollover: 200 bids
Premium bids: Costs 5 bids
$4,000 search boost
Sales messages: Costs 4 bids
Add a personal link to the profile
Executive Plan
$49.95 per month
5% job fee
50 bids per month
Annual bid rollover: 300 bids
Premium bids: Costs 4 bids
$8,000 search boost
Sales messages: Costs 3 bids
Add a personal link to your profile.
TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit was initially known as RunMyErrand after it kicked off in 2008. It simply helps people looking for odd jobs and errands find one around them. The company claims that its users have logged over 350,000 hours to date.
Users can boast of flexible jobs around them that are an ongoing or a one-off thing that will suit any schedule or work-life.
Getting started on this platform is easy and free. As a ‘Tasker’ as used on the platform for users, create a profile with basic information which includes rates and your experience level for the task categories. There are different tasks available to be offered. You could assemble furniture, flower planting, house cleaning, grocery delivery, and several others.
To become a Tasker, you must have attained the age of 18, have a credit card, a checking account, a smartphone, and pass ID checks and background checks. After being approved, you can go ahead to set up a direct deposit and you must partake in a local orientation which costs $25.
After being approved, you’ll get regular notifications of potential jobs through the app. Select the one you want to complete, confirm details with the clients, do the job required, and submit the invoice. You’ll be open to more jobs when you complete jobs and receive good reviews.
Toptal
Toptal was founded in 2010 and is a platform that links skilled IT freelancers with business owners. Toptal has a very aggressive screening process that allows only highly skilled individuals to leverage opportunities on the platform.
As an applicant, you will have to undergo a comprehensive English language and communication test. It also assesses candidates’ personality traits to uncover engaging and passionate qualities. And then they are given live problem-solving exercises, in-depth skills assessment, and test projects. In the end, about only 3% of applicants succeed in the application process.
The company doesn’t charge potential freelancers for signing up, but their rigorous vetting process positions users for competitive rates for their services.
FlexJobs
FlexJobs’ founder, Sara Sutton was searching for a flexible job after starting a family when she birthed the idea of the business in 2007. It currently has over 30,000 remote and flexible job postings in about 50 career categories which include computer and IT, accounting and finance, web design, copywriting, business development, IT, marketing, and so much more.
The company links with thousands of companies that post flexible job updates on the site. It also offers job search checklists, expert skills tests, career advice articles, and tips for creating top-notch resumes.
While you can get started as a free member, becoming a paid member will offer you some more opportunities which include access to the full job listing on the company’s database, resume reviews, career coaching, skills testing, email alerts, and pre-negotiated discounts from more than 60 services and products that are job-search related.
The fees available on the platform are in multiple categories:
$6.95 for one week
$14.95 per month
$29.95 for three months
$49.95 for one year.
Fiverr
Fiverr was founded in 2010, and today offers a wide range of opportunities for freelancers to connect to business owners. The company currently prides itself in over 100 service categories and several thousands of users from about 200 countries around the globe.
Freelance services are categorized in five different broad areas such as digital marketing, graphics and designs, and writing and translation. But freelancers are also allowed to offer services in specific areas such as book covers, Facebook page banners, comic book illustrations, podcast intros, menu design, book covers, and lots more.
Get started by creating a profile for free showcasing the service(s) you offer, which can be up to three different packages to the Gig page for more choices for buyers and upsell their Gig with extras before, during, and after the order. For more flexibility, sellers are allowed to send custom offers to potential buyers to offer more flexibility.
When a client pays you via the platform, Fiverr takes up to 20%, and puts a hold on the funds for two weeks, in case a dissatisfied client thinks he should be refunded. After that, withdrawal can be made through a Fiverr Revenue Card, PayPal, or direct deposit.
What Are Gig Jobs?
The term “Gig job” has become highly popular to mean small projects that people do for some wages. These jobs could span from between an hour to several weeks and can be as simple as running errands or as complex as managing business projects or creating logo designs.
Most people do Gig jobs as side hustles while they are committed to a full-time onsite job, while some others do it to change jobs or careers and allow more rewarding in the process.
How Do Gig Job Sites Work?
Gig job platforms are in two basic categories. A category is for business owners and private individuals looking for skilled people to help with some services, while the other is for service providers who are looking for freelancing opportunities to showcase their skills and get rewarded.
Usually, when a freelancer signs up with a freelancing website, they will be able to create a profile that aligns with the kind of service(s) they are offering. The site then further serves as a meeting point for those seeking freelance opportunities and businesses looking for professionals to offer services.
After finding your desired job, the platform is further used to submit proposals, negotiate terms, do the job, and then get paid. Many gig sites also ensure a smooth invoicing and payment process by offering the service after an agreement is reached from both parties.
How Much Do Gig Workers Earn?
A study by Priceonomics shows that 85% of gig workers earn $500 and below per month. But on the flip side, Steady reports that gig workers add on average $624 to their monthly revenue.
These figures are largely dependent on jobs, and mostly jobs with little skills such as food delivery, ride-sharing, and running errands.
In conclusion, skilled freelancers leveraging platforms like Toptal a Guru can receive very competitive industry rates for their services. So, while you may not get so much money from doing gig jobs like full-time jobs in some areas, they are, however, very good to supplement your 9-5 job, or even as a full-time hustle for different career points.