Benefits of Working a High-Paying Online Job

Imagine waking up in the morning, eating breakfast, turning on your computer, and begin working.  Shower and dressing are optional.  You work your shift, taking breaks throughout the day.  Turn off your computer at the end of your shift and turn on your television.

A paycheck is deposited into your bank account at the end of the week -  just in time for a weekend getaway and shopping.  If you have children who need help getting up and ready for school in the morning, this scenario may be a little different. 

Online jobs, as defined in this article, are jobs that offer you the ability to work from home using your computer and in some cases, your computer and telephone.  Employers pay you to perform work that you complete over the Internet.

Work from home and save gas, time, avoid traffic.  No need for a car.  Many companies offer you the ability to earn money as you work from the comfort of your home. Most don't charge you any fees, and the hours are flexible. Some companies will provide you with the tools and resources you need to be successful.

Save Money on Fuel -

Your monthly fuel savings can be calculated as follows:

Round trip daily commute miles to and from the workplace
Multiplied by 20 (average number of work days per month)

Divided by the number of miles your vehicle gets per gallon

Multiplied by the price of a gallon of gasoline

Example

If your round trip daily commute miles to and from the workplace is 50 miles,

Multiply 50 by 20.  This is equal to 1,000 (this is the number you are driving each month on average to and from work.)

Next, divide 1,000 by the number of miles your vehicle gets per gallon of gas.  In this example we'll say the average mileage per gallon is 18.

1,000 divided by 15 is 66.67 (This is the number of gallons of gasoline you purchase each month on average to get to and from work.)

Finally multiply 66.67 by the price of gasoline.  Use the price you paid the last time you were at the pump. 

The last time I was at the pump, I paid $3.06 per gallon.

In this scenario, I'm paying $204 a month for gasoline.  $51 a week on average.

This doesn't include the amount of wear and tear I'm putting on my vehicle.

What could you do with an additional $200 a month?

Save Time -

Your monthly time savings can be calculated as follows:

Roundtrip daily commute time to and from the workplace

Multiplied by 20 (average number of work days per month)

Example

If your roundtrip daily commute time to and from the workplace is 90 minutes,

Multiply 90 minutes by 20.  This equals 1,800 minutes

Finally divide 1,800 by 60 to convert to hours.

Your time savings would be 30 hours in this scenario.  7.5 hours a week on average.

What could you do with an additional 30 hours a month?

I was in Houston, Texas recently and the commute time from my hotel to the convention center was approximately 30 minutes.  That's astounding considering the distance from the hotel to the convention center is eight miles! 

If you live in a large, congested city, the reduced stress could be reason enough to leave your job and work at home.

Online jobs are perfect for:

·         single parents

·         people recently laid off from work

·         people on disability

·         people living away from the city - remote locations

·         college students

·         semi-retired people

There are many advantages with working an online job.  The economy has opened up opportunities in almost every industry for people wanting to earn an income working from home on their computer.

I encourage you to explore the possibilities and opportunities that await you.

The future of work: Fiercely independent and agile

Gene Zaino, of MBO Partners, believes that by 2020 more than half of U.S. workers will be independent, leading to a new independent majority. But for this to happen, we’ll have to see some significant legislative and structural changes.

In the 2011 inaugural MBO Partners Independent Workforce Index, a study of independent professionals in America, it is clear that the cataclysmic workforce shifts of the past decades have fueled a new kind of productivity, wealth and personal growth opportunity for American workers and companies. A new breed of entrepreneurial experts is a shining, silver lining in an otherwise gloomy workforce picture. And it’s time to unleash the potential of this innovative, entrepreneurial, and fast-growing group. The future of independent work in America is both promising and here to stay, but there are real obstacles we must keep in mind if we are to realize the potential.

This bold new untethered, independent workforce spans gender and generations and is currently 16 million strong in the U.S. today. Both at MBO Partners (which helps bring independent consultants and companies together) and in other roles, I’ve been watching and serving the independent workforce for more than 25 years, and I believe that by 2020 more than half of U.S. workers will be independent, leading to a new independent majority.
What the future workforce looks like

What does this future workforce look like today? According to the MBO study this take-charge group possesses not only a high level of self-reliance and control but is setting the bar for a higher standard in the very nature of work. Nearly 79 percent of the independent workers we surveyed stated they are highly satisfied or satisfied with their work situation versus half of non-independent employees who are unhappy and 70 percent who are not engaged or are disengaged. 
For the independent worker, the litmus test for career success is not position, title or income but a rich life where work fulfills a deeper passion. In the MBO study, 75 percent of independents overall stated that doing something they love was more important than making money while 74 percent stated that they wanted a job where they know they were making a difference.

The MBO study also reveals that of the 16 million, more than 10 million are independent experts — that’s seven in 10 of today’s independent workforce. These experts offer specialized knowledge and skills to the open market. These motivated “solopreneurs” are becoming the talent-of-choice for some of the world’s most successful enterprises, as a recent Aberdeen study of organizations hiring contract talent reveals. This study found that the top reason that companies chose independent talent wasn’t cost — as is often assumed — but rather access to specialists with unique skills and talents who are more highly engaged producing breakthrough results. In this new economy, MBO Partners sees a future of work largely comprised of independent experts, enabling organizations to assemble powerful, hand-picked arsenals of specialized talent.

Freelance still runs on word of mouth

By Michael Kanell, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Fragment the economy into ever-more efficient units — freelancers who can start and stop assignments on a moment's notice. Toss in 21st century technology — communication that can pass job assignments around the world in less than a second.

And you know that means futuristic ways of connecting people to work.

Yet as the number of independent workers continues to expand, the most common way they find assignments and get work is ... word of mouth?

Yes, according to a piece this week in the Harvard Business Review, based on a new survey by MBO Partners.

Freelancers, or "solopreneurs," as MBO refers to them, are people who do contract work on assignments that may be defined by a time limit or pegged to a project. When the time is up, the contract completed or the work is finished, they move on.

A lot different than the old idea of having one employer for years or even a whole working career.

The economy is increasingly peppered with these people. An estimated 17.9 million "solopreneurs," and 12.1 million more who do freelance work on the side, according to MBO, which based its estimates on an online poll.

These are not just dog-walkers, lawn-mowers and intersection-sign-holders. Many of them are techies, but others are accountants and lawyers and executives. About 2.7 million of them make more than $100,000, says MBO.

And many people have assumed that this new model would combine with technology to change the way work gets assigned. Only not so much, says article author, Justin Fox.

Among these freelancers, 12 percent said they got assignments mostly from an agency. Four percent said they were referred by another employer. Three percent said they got their gigs from online sites and three others cited social media.

Those methods were dwarfed by the share that said they relied on word of mouth: 75 percent.
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(c)2014 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, Ga.)
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McClatchy-Tribune

The IC’s revenge: Using SOW agreements to mitigate risk

Over the past few years, more and more organizations and their CW programs have made a conscious decision to use fewer independent contractors or none at all. With local, state and federal governments’ growing interest in misclassification, it seemed to be a “no brainer.” Why even take the chance, especially when you consider not only the financial penalties applied but the irreversible damage to the organization’s brand.

With the economic downturn and unemployment at an all-time high, CW programs were able to implement this change with minimal impact. Wanting to continue to work, many independent contractors begrudgingly waived their status to become w-2 employees of payrolling firms or staffing companies. However, the tables are turning and we are seeing — especially in hot markets — the revenge of the independent contractor.

Misclassification enforcement has not gone away, as a matter of fact some states are being incentivized with financial grants from the US Department of Labor to dig even deeper. So can an organization engage the talent it needs with an IC and yet minimize their risk? The answer to that question is an emphatic yes, and in fact many are. One critical step is to utilize a bona fide IC compliance test, verifying the behavioral, financial and legal control of the individual in question. Partnering with an IC compliance provider to perform the proper vetting is recommended. This will ensure the individual is a “true” independent contractor.

Is this enough? It can be; however, we have seen an increase in the number of organizations engaging the independent contractor under a statement-of-work (SOW) contract to add another level of risk mitigation. They are in essence, a one-person project with that one person as his or her own business. If properly executed, a SOW contract allows for an even greater definition of a business-to-business relationship. A proper statement of work must establish contractual terms and conditions around work activities, work deliverables and deadlines, and agreed-upon payment terms, which are usually per milestone or at project completion. SOW agreements are about how the agreement is written and there must be no confusion on the IC’s ability to perform the work as they see fit.

Educating your internal staff is also critical with these types of engagements. Organizations should coach and train their engagement managers to understand that the work is not being done by an individual but instead a business. They must allow the independent contractor to maintain control over where, when and how the work will be completed, as long as the agreed-upon deliverable is done on time and on budget. This can be very difficult for some to relinquish this type of control, but it must be done to mitigate the risk.

With the tides changing and independent contractors gaining their ground, buyers need to prepare their programs and their organizations to be able to leverage this talent when necessary. Being able to engage independent contractors and their critical skills as a business to business relationship is truly a win/win for all.

- See more at: http://www.staffingindustry.com/eng/Research-Publications/Publications/CWS-3.0/October-15-2014/The-IC-s-revenge-Using-SOW-agreements-to-mitigate-risk?cookies=disabled#sthash.UkYSZ6vJ.dpuf

MBO Partners Gene Zaino on the Rise of the Independent Worker: Men, Women and Surprise Findings

JASON BUSCH - October 13, 2014 10:07 AM

I recently had the chance to ask Gene Zaino, president and CEO of MBO Partners, to share his comments and thoughts on his firm’s 2014 State of Independence in America workforce study. In this two part-series on Spend Matters, we feature Gene’s perspective on the topic. 

Before getting to the start of our interview with Gene, we’ll share one of the highlights from the report: the differing reasons for women and men going independent. In this regard, MBO finds, “Men and women choose to be independent at nearly identical rates, have similar satisfaction levels and plan on staying independent at similar rates … But there is one area where men and women differ: they have different reasons for being independent. Women tend to be more interested in flexibility and developing fulfilling work that fits into their lifestyle. Men tend to focus on being in control, being their own boss and maximizing their income.” 

Spend Matters: In comparing your research findings with the anecdotal evidence of a shift to a freelance workforce (e.g., Freelance Nation), what stands out the most to show there’s no moving back? Gene Zaino: We have 4 years of consistency showing continued growth, but, most importantly, respondents increasing satisfaction while their fears and obstacles are decreasing. 

SM: What surprised you the most in the research? 
GZ: The fact that this group contributes over $1 trillion to our economy and represent hiring of other contractors that equate to 2.2 million fulltime equivalent jobs. 

SM: Should the government embrace this model (e.g., greater tax breaks for self employment) or do you think there will always be a sense of negativity associated with not collecting both sides of the payroll tax? 
GZ: Neither. I think private industry will help these independents find easier ways to operate as responsible tax paying businesses, ensuring that both sides of payroll taxes are remitted. This will eliminate the fear to embrace this highly charged economic growth engine (by both government and the companies that want to use them).

- See more at: http://spendmatters.com/2014/10/13/mbo-partners-gene-zaino-on-the-rise-of-the-independent-worker-men-women-and-surprise-findings/#sthash.YLfyRrjH.dpuf

Online Advertised Job Vacancies Up Over the Year, The Conference Board Reports Today

NEW YORK, April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Total online job ads were 3,754,400 in March, a dip of 69,800 or 2 percent from February, according to The Conference Board Help-Wanted On Line Data Series(TM) released today, reflecting the shorter reference period of mid-February to mid-March, when there were three fewer days than in the previous month. 

There were 2.5 advertised vacancies online for every 100 persons in the labor force in March. Over the year March'06 - March '07, online advertised vacancies increased 18 percent for the nation as a whole. "All in all, the labor market is holding remarkably steady," said Gad Levanon, Economist at The Conference Board. "The March dip in advertised vacancies is entirely due to fewer days in the February-March reference period." 

Growth in the number of online job ads over the year continues to be in the double digits. "I would expect that the federal employment numbers scheduled for release later this week will show the same reasonable, but not spectacular, gains we've seen over the last few months," Levanon indicated. 

The Conference Board introduced its newly redesigned Help Wanted Online Data Series(TM) (HWOL) with the release of the October 2006 data. The HWOL program is now one of the earliest released economic indicators for the previous month. Geographic coverage has been expanded and now provides detailed monthly data on labor demand (vacancies) for the U.S., the 9 Census regions, the 50 States, and 52 of the largest metro areas. 

Information for Total Ads has been introduced along with the already existing New Ads data.Economic analysis in the release has been broadened to include both labor supply (unemployment) and labor demand (vacancies); in addition, the program has been expanded to include geographic occupational detail on labor demand along with occupational pay levels. 

Detailed information on this series is available in the technical notes to this series on The Conference Board website www.conference-board.org/economics/helpwantedOnline.cfm. The upcoming schedule of monthly releases is listed in this release as well as the technical notes on the web site. 

The underlying data for The Conference Board HWOL are provided by Wanted Technologies Corporation. Financial support for this series is provided by CareerBuilder.com. 

Top Ten Jobs for the Next Decade and Beyond

1. Computer Programmer
Even though many American companies actively recruit overseas workers for programming jobs, there is still plenty of work for qualified computer specialists right here in the United States. Security breaches and concerns about potential terrorism have heightened security at many companies. Because "offshoring" computer programming work poses so many security risks, many large employers have reverted to using in-house teams of programmers who can be monitored more carefully. A degree in computer forensics would allow you to become one of the monitors.

In addition, the development of new operating systems and common code bases has allowed many more industries to develop custom software solutions. A decade ago, many companies from wildly different fields might have used the same spreadsheet program. Today, developers with unique backgrounds build specialized applications like databases, point-of-sale systems, and customer relationship networks.

2. Day Care Provider
Until recently, many day care providers struggled with low wages, high stress, and poor job security. With the explosive demand for quality child care, however, many parents are now willing to pay higher premiums to facilities with excellent reputations and strong learning programs. A professional in this industry can command an even higher salary with an early childhood special education degree.

Though some parents lament the reduced emphasis on play activities in many modern day care settings, the consumer demand creates many lucrative opportunities for child development majors who want to follow their passion while earning significant rewards.

3. Elder Care Specialist
The parents of Baby Boomers relied on large families to share the burden of caring for elderly loved ones. With fewer children to care for them, the Baby Boomers are turning, in record numbers, to professionally operated assisted living facilities. A far cry from yesterday's nursing homes, today's senior communities often integrate luxury amenities like four-star dining, golf, and live entertainment.

Despite the luxury resort setting, each facility relies on teams of qualified healthcare specialists to look after the needs of residents. With government and consumer scrutiny of elder care facilities at an all-time high, employers demand job candidates with proven skills and positive attitudes. Consider a degree in health information technology for a fast-growing job with a minimal amount of clinical work.

4. Employment Specialist
Caught between the demands of child care and elder care, more Americans have turned to employment agencies to arrange short term or flexible employment relationships. Likewise, companies that need to scale up or scale down their operations to comply with seasonal customer demand have outsourced their staffing needs to a growing number of professional agencies.

The U.S. Department of Labor identifies "employment placement specialist" as one of the fastest-growing specialties of the coming decade. For people with strong interpersonal skills and a wide range of interests, this position offers the opportunity to connect eager employers with qualified workers. Not only does this career offer significant job satisfaction, it usually pays a commission on the income of placed workers. Therefore, a busy employment specialist can earn a significant income by using her natural matchmaking talents.

5. Environmental Engineer
With the rapid growth of previously small communities all across the country, many local governments and private developers must wrestle with the challenges of rising populations. At the same time, many of our country's more established cities and towns must cope with crumbling infrastructure, such as outdated water and sewer lines or failing electrical supplies.

Environmental engineers play an important role in every community. They oversee new construction and renovation, assuring the preservation of natural resources and the safety of residents. With new, more stringent regulations on the books, many environmental engineers now work for developers and corporations that want to take a proactive approach to their business. By acting in the public interest, these companies can build strong relationships with customers while avoiding damaging fines or even prosecution.

6. Home Health Aide
Many aging Baby Boomers intend to live in their own homes for as long as possible. Likewise, many people who suffer from injuries or illness can avoid the huge expenses of a long hospital stay by recuperating at home. Both of these populations rely heavily on the work of home health aides to maintain their well being.

In many cases, home health aides are nurses who prefer to work in patients' homes instead of in the stressful environment of a hospital or an assisted living facility. Frequently, home health aides benefit from flexible scheduling and short commutes, making this a solid career choice for parents of young children. Some aides can assist licensed professionals without holding a license themselves, offering excellent opportunities to earn income while still completing their degree program.

7. Management Consultant
A growing number of companies prefer to seek outside help with specialized problems or challenges, rather than attempt to keep experts on their own staffs. As a result, consultants who build reputations for solving client problems can earn significant income by dropping in on clients around the world.

Once dominated by road warriors, the consulting arena has opened up to a variety of professionals, thanks to new networking technology. With qualifications and insight earned from years of experience and study, a consultant might work from home while helping clients all over the world.

Many professionals who have grown bored with their companies or with their careers can shake things up by setting up shop as a consultant. In fact, many consultants launch their practices while still holding down a day job or completing an advanced degree program.

8. Networking Specialist
Unlike a traditional computer programmer, who focuses on solving problems with software, a networking specialist must figure out how to keep all of the various devices in an organization connected to each other. As networking grew from an offshoot of computer engineering into its own specialty, many professionals learned how to efficiently manage a company's information flow through hidden cables and routers.

Technology continues to advance, so new and different jobs are constantly emerging. Today's networking specialist, for example, must integrate wireless devices like phones, laptops, and pagers into their data structures. Whether working for a private employer, an Internet service provider, or a government agency, networking specialists must work on-site to install and maintain highly specialized equipment. With new generations of networking hardware emerging every few years, this is a professional role that can never be delegated to overseas workers.


9. Physician's Assistant
As more Americans seek medical treatment more frequently, many doctor's offices struggle to keep up with demand. High malpractice insurance rates and the pursuit of less stressful, more lucrative careers are diverting potential doctors into other fields of study. Therefore, many medical practices rely more frequently on physician's assistants to bridge an important gap in the health care process.

Students who enjoy medicine but do not wish to pursue a full medical degree can launch careers as physician's assistants after only a few years of training. They perform tests, file reports and handle other routine tasks, freeing up doctors to spend more time diagnosing illnesses and researching cures. In some states, physician's assistants can even prescribe medication. An online physician assistant master's program can qualify you for one of these upper-level roles.

10. Social Services Coordinator
With more senior citizens applying for government benefits and many families leaving large cities for smaller towns, many government agencies and non-profit organizations seek qualified social services coordinators. These specialists assure that residents of a community can take full advantage of assistance programs. They also monitor the safety and wellness of individuals, especially young children and older adults that could become the victims of abuse, crime, or fraud. An online social work degree can qualify you for this rewarding career.

Source: http://www.worldwidelearn.com/online-education-guide/top-ten-job-trends.htm