If you aren’t considering freelancers, you’re missing the IT recruiting boat.

Businesses can fail, bosses can be abusive, co-workers incompetent. We don’t think about it this way, but when a person accepts a job, they’re putting themselves at even more risk than the company that hired them. It means turning your back on all other opportunities in exchange for a “livelihood” that can be yanked out from under you at any moment.

If you’re a freelancer, you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket, or surrendering your livelihood to someone else’s competence. IT talent tends to be smart and independent – that combination makes freelancing uber-attractive to top IT recruits.

Why IT employees are exchanging security for freedom

According to Forbes magazine, by the year 2020 – that’s only 24 months away – “one of every two workers will be freelancers in some capacity.” So, what makes all this independence so darn attractive?

Self-ownership. For some people, week after week of commuting Monday through Friday or adhering to a 9-5 schedule can be like shoving a square peg into a round hole. Since freelancers tend to work off-site, they’re able to do their work when they’re most productive, while avoiding time sucking commutes.

New job seeking tools. In the past, freelancing has been an insecure leap from vine to vine through a sparse collection of clients. While sites like Craigslist certainly helped, it’s nothing like the tools freelancers have access to today.

Websites and apps allow independent contractors to post profiles in virtual freelance markets where clients seek them out. Furthermore, with the introduction of cloud-based storage, along with the ever expanding versatility of the Internet, working remotely is only getting easier, especially for IT recruits.

It’s better for employers. The freelance revolution wouldn’t be possible sans symbiosis between contractors and businesses. Freelancers don’t require benefits, paid vacation time, or sick days, and they’re paid directly for the work they do, while salaried employees get paid the same even during slow times.

Also, when a company hires an independent contractor they can be more specific. For example, one project might be better suited for a software engineer, while the next one is more web design intensive.

Co-work spaces. For those less reclusive IT recruits, another obstacle to freelancing has been feeling too isolated. That’s where co-working spaces come in. The value of co-work spaces is that they provide a sense of collaboration and comradery, along with the perks of having an office space.

How IT recruiting fits into the freelance market

For recruiters, it’s always been, and always will be, about having an eye for matching talent with companies. While the apps and websites enabling freelancers are powerful tools, it still requires time and consideration to find the best fit – time better spent keeping your company running.

Consultis has evolved with the freelance revolution. Our Working Interview Program (WIP) offers employers the cost-savings of hiring freelancers with the stability traditionally associated with staffers. Plus, we screen and vet each member of our talent pool, so you can rely on more than just a profile.

If you’re considering hiring freelance IT employees, our expert recruiters can help. For more information on our recruiting tools connect with us today.