Informal work such as gig work in the Caribbean have been on a sharp uptick since the COVID-19 pandemic, which is understandable considering how dramatically it shifted the status quo in terms of employment in the region.
Many people turned to informal jobs during the peak of the pandemic. (Photo by Nanka Photo on DepositPhotos)
Many who found themselves suddenly unemployed and unable to provide for their families turned to informal labour as a means to survive: making lunches to sell, braiding hair for the few tourists that trickled in, performing odd jobs for whoever needed it on an ad-hoc basis and more.
But while many were originally pushed into these roles out of necessity, international reports have shown that the number of people in the Caribbean who have held onto these interim jobs remains high even though the worst of the pandemic has passed and economies have either largely recovered or are well on their way to a full recovery.
As the Caribbean’s leading digital recruitment service, CaribbeanEmployment strongly encourages formal employment as the most secure way to make a living and provide for one’s family.
However, in case you are navigating your way through gig work for whatever reason, we’ve compiled this list of our top tips on how to have your most successful career in the Caribbean gig economy.
CaribbeanEmployment’s Top Tips For Successful Gig Work
- Provide in-demand services
- Network locally and online
- Keep on the lookout for new opportunities
1. Provide high-quality, in-demand services
One of the most strategic things you can do as a gig worker or informal worker is find out where there is a need and fill that need. Competition increases when there are many workers providing the same service or goods, and that can make it harder to build clientele. Ideally, you should identify something no one else has or is offering and provide those services or goods.
The higher quality your service or goods are, and the better soft skills you develop — like customer service, communication, cooperation and others — the better name you’ll build for yourself and the more successful you will be.
2. Network locally and online
Networking, provide high-quality goods or services, and stay open to opportunities. (Photo by Ed Zbarzhyvetsky on DepositPhotos)
Building clientele is key to succeeding as a gig worker in the Caribbean, where word-of-mouth referrals still dominate the labour market — or, in other words, people are much more likely to hire someone if a relative, friend, colleague or other acquaintance personally puts in a good word for them.
To achieve this, you will want to develop a strong online presence to establish yourself as a professional and attract new clients, while also establishing a local presence in the community. Ideally, people will begin to recognize you by your service or “brand,” and direct clients your way when asked to refer someone.
3. Keep on the lookout for new opportunities
At the same time you’re building your business, it wouldn’t hurt to continue to use resources like CaribbeanEmployment to find new opportunities that arise. Sometimes, a job may just be looking for something part-time or on an as-needed basis that you can fill. Or, they may want to hire you as a gig worker on a regular basis.
In many cases, what starts as one-time gig work can quickly become a permanent, long-term arrangement that benefits both you and your client. But you may miss that chance if you shut yourself off from all opportunities completely.
Find the latest jobs in the Caribbean via Caribbean Employment Services Inc.
