By Guest Author Saman Rahmanian, CEO and founder of Tischen
The Great Recession has dramatically changed the employment landscape in the U.S. With thousands of talented boomers suddenly thrust into the unemployment line, the notion of job security has been forever altered in the eyes of the American workforce.
Many are wondering, “What good is company loyalty, if I still end up with a pink slip?”
The idea of putting all of your eggs in one company’s basket may well be a thing of the past: the situation has given rise to one of the fastest-growing rates of self-employment and entrepreneurship our country has seen in recent history.
Rather than depend on one company for their livelihood, enterprising workers are taking control of their own destiny, building successful freelance businesses by putting together a portfolio of clients and projects that can become a lucrative—and long-term—career path.
Through my work on the creative team at the renowned Crispin Porter + Bogusky ad agency, I had the privilege of working with some of the biggest brands in America—household names in fast food, personal computers and other mainstream products. Although my job was secure, I saw first-hand the unfortunate blood-letting as incredibly talented individuals were laid off as the economy took a turn for the worse.
While most of the country, including our government, saw the rising tide of unemployment as a crisis, I saw it as an opportunity. I had a choice to make: stay on in my comfortable position and help big companies sell more burgers while so many where suffering financially through no fault of their own—or help people find new employment opportunities.
I chose to step up to the plate, launching Tischen, a free web platform that helps talented individuals promote their skills to potential clients and/or employers, in July 2010.
Admittedly, our goal is lofty: to rid the world of unemployment. But it’s not unreasonable. The fact is that while jobs may be scarce (at least in the traditional sense), there is still much work to be done. Potential employers (both companies and individuals) are increasingly attracted to the freelance model as a way to get the work they need done without the long-term commitment.
Meanwhile, individuals offering these services are finding they can have more control over their own destiny and enjoy the flexibility of scheduling and income potential that is really only limited by their own inherent capacity, not pre-determined by some arbitrary schedule or salary imposed by someone else.
The problem is that many of these immensely talented individuals often have no idea how or where to market their services to attract clients and build a prosperous portfolio of work. That’s where Tischen can help. By providing jobseekers with a web presence that is easy to use and manage (even for relatively novice web users), as well as promotional tools to help them expand their marketing reach, Tischen matches independent service providers with service seekers.
From plumbers, electricians and carpenters to writers, designers and sales/marketing professionals—even housekeepers and babysitters—a wide range of Tischen job seekers provide information about their skills and services, as well as their rates and availability, making it easy for those needing their services to find—and hire—them.
While it’s true that the job market may be tough—at least in the traditional sense—more people than ever are finding success as independent professionals. With Tischen, we’re making it easier for these skilled individuals to transform a series of “gigs” into a bona fide career.
Saman Rahmanian is CEO and founder of Tischen. A former advertising creative at the prestigious Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Rahmanian left a job he loved in the midst of global recession to help others find employment. With the help of a brilliant team, he launched Tischen globally in July 2010.
For a picture of what's happening today in the life and times of Baby Boomers, please visit this week's Blogging Boomer Carnival #183 hosted by Andrea Stenberg, The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur.