What are the Trending Freelance Jobs for 2021?

The COVID-19 pandemic is not just testing organisations but also freelance employees to innovate and re-position themselves for the future. The merging competitive environment requires talent that knows how to get things done smartly. There are hundreds of talented individuals displaced due to the turbulence caused by the pandemic who need work.

As per a report by ASSOCHAM, India’s gig sector is expected to increase to US$455 billion at a CAGR of 17% by 2024 and has the potential to expand at least 2x the pre-pandemic estimates. In another estimate, India is likely to have 350 million gig jobs by 2025, presenting a huge opportunity for job seekers to capitalise and adapt to the changing work dynamics.

Post the pandemic, companies that continue to experience uncertainties are frequently outsourcing project-based jobs to freelancers, rather than hiring regular staff. Here’s a look at some trending freelance jobs for 2021.

Computers and IT: Companies in this sector constantly require systems engineer as also information systems security consultants. While many of these jobs—e.g., software developers, web designers, data engineers—tend to require advanced skills, there are plenty of easy, entry-level, work-from-home computer jobs out there. If you have some understanding of coding and web design, then you can easily work from home as a web developer. Web development is usually outsourced by companies, and is therefore an area where finding work should be easy. There are also several gig positions for virtual assistants who provide remote administrative support to companies. This position requires you to fulfil administrative tasks such as scheduling meetings, booking travel, responding to emails, phone calls or messages on social media, entering data or maintaining records among other tasks. Remote customer support associates serve as frontline staff for all customer interactions and help resolve their issues.

Another profile that has been trending on gig websites is to do with Remote Data Entry experts who manually enter, update data into a database via their own computer. All that you require for this position is a high keystrokes per hour or words per minute score.

Mortgage and Real Estate: Some of the jobs in this field include mortgage loan underwriters; real estate advisers as also freelance brokers. There are dime a dozen jobs in this field available online on freelance basis. The nature of the work allows you to work from home. Alternatively, you can choose to work for a private agency as a freelancer. Mostly, real estate agents are essentially self-employed and they have to deal with clients at different stages of deals, meet deadlines and most important travel to the site with the client. More than anything else you require tremendous amount of determination and patience, not to mention tact. 

Accounting and Finance: Jobs include auditors and accountants. Remote accounting jobs include preparing and filing tax returns. There are several opportunities that exist in this field for Certified Accountants. All that you require is experience in the field of auditing, book keeping and banking. 

Project Management: Freelancers could also try a hand at becoming project managers and project executives. Project Managers develop requirements, budgets, and schedules for the companies’ information technology, development or production projects. They coordinate projects right from the development stage through implementation, work with internal and external clients, vendors and consultants Project Managers are involved in the security of the company's information processes.

Customer Services: Several companies also require the services of customer services representatives and consultants who generally do front facing jobs. There is also a requirement these days for virtual customer services representatives who help customers online. The most important skillset in this field is to provide value to the customer and understand their needs. These days most companies are laying thrust on social media presence and have started hiring freelancers to upgrade their marketing strategies. For this role, freelancers are required to write content on communication strategy. A social media manager is responsible for implementing the entire social media strategy as agreed with the marketing department in order to increase sales and brand awareness. Those interested in these jobs need to be great with communication skills as a large part of the work involves explaining procedures. They should also be able to recognize the level of knowledge that a customer has.

Healthcare: There are dime and dozen freelance jobs available in this sector after the pandemic. Companies require services of health coaches and physical therapists and these don’t come cheap. You can also try your hand at writing a medical blog on healthcare and healthcare education. They are handy in pandemic times. You can also write content for healthcare product marketing, consumer health or write for patients and consumers and get paid for it.

Writing and Editing: Several media housing are hiring virtual online editors, writers and even virtual editors to curate magazines and brochures online.
One of the most popular avenues when it comes to freelance work is that of content writing. There is always demand for well-researched and well written web content, and recruiters are constantly on the lookout for professionals who can create fresh content that attracts attention and traffic. If you have a good grasp of grammar, an engaging writing style and are interested in researching diverse topics and writing about them, this is the job for you.

Education: Some of the jobs in this segment include teachers across subjects who can teach students online. Some firms also take in curriculum writers and advisers. Online tutoring jobs are an excellent opportunity for teachers as well as college students. One of the biggest advantage associated with online tutoring is the ability to work from home and follow your own schedule. Online tutoring enables you to interact with students all over the world and you will not be confined to a brick and mortar classroom.

Marketing: Managers specializing in marketing are required in large numbers in these trying times. In case you are inclined towards tech and marketing, you may want to check out product marketing manager roles where your role involves sending out product releases and corporate communications. Another role is that of a marketing research analyst which is primarily a research based marketing jobs.