Independent Contractor
A couple days ago I tweeted a story from Inc. Magazine’s Tech Blog about the growing class of independent contractors/entrepreneurs. Ever since, I can’t seem to get it out of my head. Seems everywhere I go, I meet new people who are venturing out on their own. Either by choice, or by necessity. But it wasn’t until I read this article that I had the stats to give me some real reason for this exodus into independence.
The stats cited in this article claim that 53 percent of employers plan to hire within the next 12 months.
Alone, that would seem like a promising sign in this economy. Especially when you consider there are 14.5 million unemployed people today.
Until you dig a little deeper. Of those new jobs, 7 percent will be mid-level manager jobs. 2 percent will be director jobs. And 1 percent will be executive level jobs.
So basically, if you’ve accomplished anything in your career to-date, you are not likely to find a “real” job. And if you do, you aren’t in much of a position to negotiate a competitive salary. It’s true for nearly all professions, but it seems uniquely true for the PR/Marketing field as it’s an area of the company budget that is quick to see the chopping block. I know many stories of PR pros who have taken dramatic salary cuts or jobs that they really don’t want…just to have a job.
But I know many more stories of people who don’t want to play that game. Agencies who might traditionally hire against potential new business, are now hiring contractors on an “as-needed” basis. Some agencies even have a name for these contractors, like at WagEd where they are called “The SWAT Team.” In my mind this beats the other popular “trial basis” employment plan.
“Let’s bring you on for a few months, and then if we like you we might keep you.”
Hmmm….I can just feel the love.
Here’s the funny thing. Now that there are so many former “traditional” PR pros out on their own — whether with corporate or agency backgrounds — businesses are starting to get smart to the fact that they can hire the same “big agency” talent for a fraction of the cost. Whether independent PR practitioners, or boutique shops made up of strategic alliances, the entrepreneurial PR pros are becoming a commanding presence in the marketplace. This is, after all, a nation made up mostly of small businesses. Leading national business organizations cite that more than 60 percent of the nation is made up of small businesses. That’s a lot of business. And that’s who the growing PR contractor is out to serve.
Which leaves the big shops to fight over the Wal-Marts, Microsofts and other business behemoths of the world.
From where I stand, there’s enough for all of us. Whether small shop, independent contractor, or the big agencies who contract with them.
