Let me know your thoughts.

Sorry about the delay in getting back to you but have been traveling since Sunday, UGH! You asked what are companies are going to look for in a freelancer, experience or scalability. I am unequivocally confident that the answer to this question is; it depends. Each organization will look at freelancing as one tool to use to accomplish their goals. Allow me to give you an example. I focus my search practice in the insurance industry and every year insurance companies go through an annual enrolment process when companies change health plans. At that time, the health insurance carrier must bulk up on Customer Service Reps, IT Support and various other positions to manage this spike in activity. Also, every Health Insurance company has their own information technology system which the “freelancers” need to have experience operating. Therefore, in this example the insurance company is looking for experience and scalability. I know that there are a hundred variations on this theme across other industries. For example, here is a blog post from a insurance claims consultant who picks up on this evolving working structure on the claims side of the insurance industry. As you will see Free lance nation in the insurance claims function is due to a lack of upcoming claims talent: you can read his thoughts by clicking this link http://theclaimsspot.com/wordpress/2010/01/26/are-claim-departments-process-and-systems-ready-for-the-new-freelance-nation-worker/
In terms of workers I think that employees may view “Freelance Nation” initially as something to be feared. However, as freelancing becomes more prevalent this working arrangement will be viewed very positively. A “Freelance Nation” will allow individuals that opportunity to what they want to do, and when and how that want to work. With technology more and more people want to control their lives and this will allow them to do that. I am not naïve, this shift will be gradual and there are still a lot of questions left to be answered about how this arrangement will actually look when viewed from a macro view is anybody guess. What do you think? http://www.talenttracks.com/

All the best!
Jay

And as you mentioned, are employees ready to live this way? Going from gig to gig as their skills are in demand. If the future of work is in freelancing, then what’s happening now to prepare companies and individuals for this fundamental shift in the way we do business?