The job market is changing and more and more job seekers are choosing to enter the gig economy. If you read our blog post about the gig economy, you know all about how it works. The gist is that people who want to be their own boss and prefer flexibility in their work are opting for temporary “gigs,” and making their living that way, through gig economy jobs. If you’re considering becoming a gig worker, here are some tips on how to get started.

Assuming you’re leaving a full-time position to pursue gig jobs, use your existing professional network to leverage your new gig work. They’ll be able to help you get the word out about your new venture and may end up hiring you. However, it’s not just enough to depend on your existing network. As a gig worker it’s crucial to work on expanding your network.

Many people choose the path of a gig worker because they realize they have valuable skills that they can sell on their own, without the help of a company or boss. Not only does this mean that you should know your skills inside and out, but it also means that you should have a fair amount of enjoyment for it. If you’re entering the gig economy because you want more flexibility, you should also be doing it because you want to explore your passion more.

Not only does being passionate about your work help your state of mind, but it can also help your work. If you’re passionate about your work, then you’ll work harder at finding ways to improve it. As a gig worker, no one is going to be giving you raises or promotions; you have to do it yourself. You should constantly be trying to learn new skills and broaden your portfolio so that you can offer your clients more. Skilled workers, even when temporary workers, are highly sought after.

Before you begin gig work, have a budget in place. Gig work is not consistent, so you need to have a considerable safety net in place. As a gig worker, it’s also likely that you won’t have benefits or insurance. This means you need to budget for insurance payment, retirement savings, vacation days, sick days, and let’s not forget, taxes.

When you’re a gig worker, it can be easy to get absorbed in a project and let things like accounting paperwork or marketing slide. But as a gig worker, no one else is going to do these tasks for you. When you’re a gig worker you need to wear many hats. It’s important to develop a schedule and routine that let’s you balance all the different aspects of your job so that you can consistently run your work.

As I said before, gig workers need to be in charge of marketing themselves. As a gig worker you need to treat yourself as your brand. This means that you should be active on all social media channels while keeping in mind that you’re representing your work. Feel free to have separate, private accounts for your close friends and family, but present a professional demeanor when you post on public accounts, especially those linked to your work and portfolio.

As a gig worker, you will certainly face many challenges and the responsibility is solely yours. You no longer have a boss to go to when times get tough. However, this means that you are the boss, so have confidence! You can fix any problem that you set your mind to, and you can solve it your way.

Many gig workers choose gig work because it means they don’t have to work in an office. However, it’s not smart to simply pull your laptop into bed with you and type away in your pajamas. Find a place to work that is free from distractions. This could mean having a designated room in your home, a coworking space, or a café. Find what works for you!

Because the growing popularity of gig work, there’s also an increasing number of websites, apps, and companies that are built to assist gig workers. It would behoove you to join many of these sites if they fit your skill-set. It’s important to take advantage of every outlet you can as a gig worker. Take care with setting up your profiles on these sites, and be prompt in your responses; you’ll often be facing a lot of competition.

With these tips, you’re better prepared to become a gig worker! Flexibility and being your own boss are big draws to gig work, but it’s important to keep in mind that you’ll have to work just as hard, if not harder, to maintain this lifestyle. The labor market is changing; will you change with it?

Are you a gig worker? How did you get into it? Share your career experience on UltiCareer’s survey and help others considering gig work get to know what your type of job is really like.