Hajra Naz
We’ll explore why more companies hire freelancers, especially in the tech industry, which is under much pressure. The tech world is known for tight deadlines and stress, which overwhelms employees. Every year, Q3 brings a surge of work that can be exhausting for tech workers. Morale tends to drop during these peak times. To cope with this pressure, tech executives turn to freelancers to help during these stressful periods.
According to a new report from Fiverr, around 90% of tech chiefs recruit freelancers during high-stress times, with Q3 being the most unpleasant period. Recruiting freelancers assist organizations with managing their responsibilities and bring a sense of quiet amid the chaos.
More and more companies are including freelancers as part of their main workforce. Around 28% of companies use freelancers every day. It’s also common for companies to use freelancers regularly, with over 40% of them hiring freelancers for several days a week (21% almost every workday, and 30% for two to three days).
These freelancers are brought in to spread the workload and reduce stress in specific departments or projects. They can also offer fresh perspectives and ideas, helping fill in any skill gaps the company may have.
Why do companies prefer to hire freelancers during busy periods?
Because they frequently work under tight limitations, freelancers are given preference during times of high stress. Because of their experience in other organizations, freelancers can recognize clients’ stress levels and resist pressure from them. Additionally, because of the nature of their work, they can adapt to varied surroundings.
To ensure they can handle the workload, hiring managers particularly search for freelancers with experience in “fast-paced and stressful environments.” This description could be seen by freelancers as an unstructured or helicopter client environment, in which case they will be mentally ready for it. Learning how to address the client’s complaints promptly could reduce needless tension for the freelancer and the team.
Success as a freelancer requires the highly valuable capacity to execute under pressure without allowing it to affect confidence or performance. Knowing you won’t get paid unless you produce affects someone.
Freelancers seem particularly adept at this because they always get feedback and suggestions on their work. This allows them to evaluate their experiences and opinions on the kind of job they pitch for or the workplace itself, giving them information that will help them modify contracts and assignments in the future. With every new setting and task, they are continuously learning.
Tech CEOs are searching for different approaches to their issues, and independent contractors may frequently offer an unbiased and comprehensive picture of the market. Without expending excessive resources or time, executives can also select freelancers by hand for certain tasks based on prior experience or particular talents.
Freelancers are resilient but they deserve respect.
There is more to freelancers than just short-term solutions to persistent issues. Building trusting connections with skilled and dependable independent contractors generates excellent prospects for upcoming tasks and operations. Because of this, it’s critical to treat independent contractors with respect and avoid placing unjustified demands on them—a prevalent issue in the freelancing community.
Know you’re walking into a stressful work environment?
Here are some strategies to think about managing stress and pressure at work:
Determine your pressure triggers: Understanding what causes your anxiety and analyzing the reasons behind it is a very helpful technique for managing pressure.
Find effective coping mechanisms for you. When pressure is inevitable, the only thing you can do is process your emotions healthily and appropriately. Research indicates that employees who employed control-oriented coping methods were effective stress reducers. Conversely, individuals who solely depended on avoidance coping strategies reported increased levels of unfavorable outcomes, even up to three months after the incident.
Here are some strategies focused on taking control:
- Organize your priorities and time: You may work more effectively by making a well-organized plan with to-do lists, realistic deadlines, calendars, and other organizational tools.
- Establish limits: Stick to set work hours and designate a workspace. Create clear boundaries between business and personal life. Learn to say no when you’re overwhelmed to manage your workload effectively.
- Improve your skill set: Improve your skills through classes, workshops, or mentoring to feel more competent and confident in your career.
- Accept pressure: To increase confidence and accomplishment, approach things one at a time and see setbacks as opportunities for learning.
- Prioritize tasks: Have a daily list of priorities to stay focused and eliminate guesswork in your workday.
Remember, freelancers are not just temporary solutions but valuable assets. Treat them with respect and realistic expectations to build strong relationships for future collaborations. Freelancers bring flexibility and expertise to tech companies, easing stress and contributing to a positive work environment.
