Career gaps in Gig Economy

This is a real issue as the world moves to Gig economy where everyone from employers to workers are more comfortable in executing a gig and move on.Millennials are more comfortable with a discontinuous engagement /career track than others.

Latest is Amazon inviting freelancers with vehicles to work as delivery partners for their orders.

As this happens, there is more likely to be gaps between Gigs, some times many months as well.

while full time workers dont usually get time , trying to work more to prove their value and establish ' indispensability', the gig economy workers have the gaps which can cut both ways.

Here are two suggestions to make best use of the gaps between gigs.

1. Reskill, reskill and reskill - its best way to enhance your sale-ability and 'justify' the gaps to a recruiter. All large employers today face the challenge of retraining their work force to help them stay relevant. For gig workers, the gaps might be godsend to reskill themselves to get ready for the next gig better.

2.  Do Your Own Thing - go entrepreneurial!  Try something on your own and who knows, what started as a back of the napkin idea might become a business by itself. If it fails, you would have learnt valuable lessons that are so hard for any employer to train you on. As industries get disrputed, the entrepreneurial experience is an attribute that everyone values. It makes your profile more rounded and helps you stand apart!

Gone are the days when gaps in resumes are defended with reservations and fear. They are part of the new 'normal' and its up to you to make the best use of them to get ahead!