Growing Your Freelance Career
In this guide, you’ll learn how to grow your freelance career and bring your freelance business to the next level. Find tips on finding work, upskilling, starting an agency, and other ways to earn extra income.
The truth is that today's job market is far more complicated than the headlines suggest. On one hand, companies are posting new roles every day. On the other, actual hiring is happening more slowly than ever before, leaving countless applicants caught in limbo. The reasons behind this paradox are layered and interconnected.
Some sectors are thriving, while others are standing still.Healthcare and technology continue to see steady growth, creating opportunities for certain skill sets. But many other industries are freezing headcount, laying off staff, or waiting to see how economic uncertainty and the rise of artificial intelligence will reshape their business models. For professionals in disrupted sectors, job hunting can feel like pushing a boulder uphill, with each rejection adding to the weight of frustration. This phenomenon has even been called a "white-collar recession," where talented workers struggle to find roles in an economy that otherwise appears strong.
Even companies in healthy industries are approaching hiring with caution. Concerns about inflation and fears of a broader recession mean that many firms are reluctant to make long-term commitments. A full-time employee represents not just a salary, but a long-term investment in benefits and overhead -- and hiring managers want to be absolutely sure they can sustain that investment six months or a year from now. As a result, hiring pipelines stall and candidates wait indefinitely for decisions.
In this climate, businesses want agility and versatility. Employers are searching for candidates who bring a rare combination of skills: technical expertise, industry knowledge, problem-solving ability, critical thinking, and even comfort with AI. These so-called "unicorn candidates" are few and far between, but the demand for them has raised the bar across the board. For job seekers, this means not only demonstrating technical skills but also proving soft skills like collaboration and communication. The challenge isn't just having the right mix of abilities -- it's being able to present them clearly in a portfolio or job interview.
The shift toward remote roles has opened new possibilities for professionals who can now apply for jobs outside their local market. This is good news for those seeking flexibility and a wider range of opportunities. But it also creates stiffer competition. A position that once drew applications only from one city may now attract candidates from across the world. This global talent pool benefits employers but adds a new layer of challenge for job seekers trying to stand out.
Because of this surplus of applicants, hiring managers can afford to be picky. Many companies are leaving roles unfilled for months while they wait for the "perfect" candidate. A recent survey showed that 93% of hiring managers report the hiring process is now slower than it was just two years ago. For job seekers, this translates to longer waits, more rounds of interviews, and a sense that the goalposts keep moving.
