The modern economy is brimming with opportunities for professionals with human capital to bring to bear. Every year, more “knowledge” work becomes available, opening up new careers for the highly educated.
But what’s so interesting about the modern economy is that it’s not just the jobs that are changing, but the way that people work too. We see a shift from the corporate, high-pressure office environment to something far more flexible and worker-friendly.
The digital revolution is driving this change. The last twenty years have seen the fleshing-out of network computing. We’re now in the mature phase of this process, where anyone, anywhere in the world, can communicate with anyone else in sophisticated ways. You’re not only able to have video conversations with colleagues but work on projects simultaneously, often in ways that are not possible in regular office setups.
On top of this is the fact that many professionals are sick and tired of the office environment. You want to ply your trade. You don’t want to have to play political games or worry about who is saying what about you around the coffee machine.
The good news is that the nature of high-paid jobs is changing. You no longer need to work in an office to command an impressive salary: it’s something that you can now do working more flexibly.
Let’s take a look at some of these options in more detail.
Consultant Legal Professional
The traditional route into the legal profession looks something like this: you spend several years studying, take the Legal Practice Course, and then get a junior role in a law firm. While the pay is often reasonable, the working conditions can be a nightmare. As a legal professional, you feel that you should be able to make independent decisions about your work and career direction. You don’t want senior partners directing your activities or deciding how you spend your time.
The good news is that now there are other options to grow your career in law. Many legal firms can see how the old way of doing things isn’t necessary anymore. There’s no need to demand that legal professionals work in a traditional structure. More and more, there are opportunities for people in the legal sector to sell their consulting services to individual clients.
What’s more, there’s a growth of what are, in effect, legal practice agencies: firms that provide secretarial and paralegal support that attorneys, solicitors and lawyers, but without the managerial interference. These setups provide the background support services that enable your legal practice to flourish.
Programmer and Software Developer
The software industry has always been at the forefront of experimentation with working practices, and so it won’t come as a surprise that programmers can work in flexible, modern, freelance roles.
When you think about it, it makes sense for programmers to work on a freelance basis. Typically, companies require programmers for time-limited, individual projects. They don’t need people to stay with them for ten years plus.
What’s more, programmers don’t want to have to change location continually to be close to the relevant company offices. It’s much better to avoid the disruption entirely and work remotely.
Again, the network computing revolution has made this possible. You can connect with companies anywhere in the world, deliver projects online, and work collaboratively using a variety of cloud-based tools.
Programming typically pays well, but if you have a wealth of experience behind you, it no longer makes a lot of sense to hop from office to office. Consulting with large companies on a freelance basis is typically the most lucrative option.
Freelance Video Editor
The majority of internet traffic today is video. There is, therefore, substantial demand for people with video editing skills who can quickly and effectively transform dull, raw footage into something compelling.
The video editing industry is enormous. What’s more, the way that it’s done has changed profoundly with the advent of collaborative, cloud-based technologies. If you are a video editor, there is often no need to travel to a physical office: you can perform all tasks remotely using dynamic editing software and video asset management systems.
Becoming a freelance or remote video editor brings with it many of the advantages of independent working discussed above: flexible pay, fewer office politics, and a chance to focus exclusively on the task itself.
Are you interested in working in a flexible career? Modern technology now makes it possible to make a fresh start, leave the traditional office environment and achieve a better work-life balance.