In this blog, we examined the 27 most popular flexible work options that appear in a Google search* and looked at how realistic they are for moms as they search for their next move.

*As of March, 2022

For decades – even prior to the pandemic era when millions of previously commuting professionals began working from home – there was always a dream of flexible work that allows one to work from anywhere, integrate their work and life AND have autonomy over their own time.  And how particularly useful that dream arrangement would be to people with caregiving responsibilities; notably moms.

In this “post-pandemic” era that gave rise to the Great Resignation, that has now been more accurately labeled the Great Reshuffle, we are seeing that millions aren’t leaving the workforce for good. Instead, according to LinkedIn, “they are finding new jobs where they have more freedom, or make more money, or enjoy the work more; or, in some cases, all three.”

What we see is clear: while Corporate America is working to reimagine the “Future of Work,” self-employment remains a steadfast option for women looking to take their professional fate into their own hand and ensure they have the best chance at making these three factors happen for themselves.

Corporate America doesn’t work for all women through all phases of their lives. 

The vast majority of women become mothers* and with this transition, many dynamics in their lives change as well.  Specifically, their needs for a professional environment can change dramatically when they step into this caregiving role.
*The share of women at the end of their childbearing years (ages 40 to 44) who had ever given birth was 86% in 2016, up from 80% in 2006.  Pew Research Center

Caregiving is not going away.

The need for caregiving isn’t going away. In fact, it’s quite the opposite according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Old-age dependency will continue to increase over the next several decades, pushing the overall need of total dependency ratio from 64 in 2020 to 76 for every 100 workers in 2060.

One of the ways mom can find the flexibility they need as caregivers while maintaining professional fulfillment and progress is through self-employment.  Self-employment can look a lot of ways.  One way is through a freelance career path.  From NextInsurance.com, “there’s a subtle difference between being a freelance worker and being self-employed. Both roles give you autonomy in how you work and what you work on. One of the main differences between being freelance or self-employed is how you want to see yourself, and your business.”

WHAT ARE viable, flexible self-employment options in 2022 and beyond?

Searching for self-employment options can be overwhelming. A quick Google search or a post in a Facebook Group seems to present a sea of opportunity.  But like anything online, deciphering between the “too good to be true” and the realistic can lead you straight to closing your laptop feeling more confused or defeated.

We are helping you weed through the clutter and truly examine self-employment options via the plot chart below.

In this chart, the 4 axis are organized as follows:

• Independent – Self directed work.
• Employee – A person that is hired for wages or salary.
• Qualifications – Anything which makes someone suitable for a particular job or activity
• Start Anytime – Ability to begin immediately, without prerequisites.

The 4 quadrants are organized as follows:

Lower Left Quadrant is organized to show you the MOST cost, prerequisite, employer dependent and time prohibitive options in the “self-employment space.” All positions plotted are highly dependent on an employer, degrees, and experience.  Average salaries listed are annual.

• Tutor/Teacher: $37,500 – $62,500 (ziprecruiter)
• Bookkeeper: $40,000 – $45,000 (financial post)
• Insurance Agent: $64,500 – $89,000 (ziprecruiter)
• IT Specialist: $60,000 (ziprecruiter)
• Software/Web Developer: $70,877 (weworkremotely.com)
• Engineer: $60,000 – $140,000 (flexjobs.com)
• Investment Banker: $157,800 (zippia.com)
• Nurse: $28,500 – $85,000 (ziprecruiter.com)

Upper Left Quadrant shows us the highest independent, cost and time efficient potential in the “self-employment space.” All positions plotted are highly dependent on licenses, experience, existing reputation, inventory and/or start-up funding.

• Editor: $58,249 (ziprecruiter.com)
• Writer: $28,000 – $90,000 (ziprecruiter.com)
• Translator: $70,604 (ziprecruiter.com)
• Realtor: $75,635 (Indeed.com)
• Therapist: $31,000 – $90,000 (ziprecruiter.com)
• MLM: Challenging to put a number on, somewhere around $1,000 per month before expenses (talentedladiesclub.com)
• Lawyer: $80,500 (ziprecruiter.com)
• Graphic Designer: $55,000 – $65,000 (glassdoor.com)
• eBay Reseller: $34,710 (ziprecruiter.com)
• Catering: $58,317 (ziprecruiter.com)

Lower Right Quadrant: All positions plotted are highly dependent on product or employer supervision, however there is less prior work experience required or investment risk involved.

• Event Planner: $53,969 (ziprecruiter.com)
• Sales Representative: $82,253 (glassdoor.com)
• Virtual Assistant: $32,272 (flexjobs.com)
• Non Profit Aid: $65,000 – $70,000 (Indeed.com)
• Data Entry Clerk: $32,411 (glassdoor.com)
• Customer Service Representative: $31,200 (Indeed.com)
• Marketing/PR Professional: $48,500 – $98,600 (ziprecruiter.com)

Upper Right Quadrant: All positions plotted are highly independent, no prerequisites.

• Blogger: $37,073 (Indeed.com)
• Social Media Manager: $67,230 (ziprecruiter.com); $85,797 /yr Senior Social Media Manager (Glassdoor)

TO NOTE:

• There is objectivity involved in assembling this visual aid and it is subject to your own personal interpretation. It is not intended to serve as a definitive authority on where these options would fall with 100% certainty.
• Earning potential was not factored into the creation of this chart; the chart is meant to serve as the visual representation of each work from home option’s setbacks and attributes. However, you can find where we have detailed a general average salary when available, pulled from various sources for your information. Ultimately, each of the 27 options can be considered full time work from home options.

A strong self-employment option in 2022 and beyond

The list of truly viable self-employment options thins out dramatically when you remove options that require a significant amount of time to learn, experience, start-up funding, certifications, state and federal licenses, specific prerequisites or investment in physical inventory. Others like virtual assistant or editing have definitive time and monetary limitations.

After eliminating most choices from the list of most popular self-employment options, a clear way for professional women to work from home emerges. If you are looking for a fast ramp up with no prior experience required, and minimal initial investment with an opportunity for a quick return on your investment, social media marketing is for you! 

Why Social Media is a Strong Professional Industry

It’s no secret that social media is an in-demand industry in 2022 and beyond.  Social media is a $72.2 billion U.S. market.  The market size will grow 15.6% in 2022 alone.

Furthermore, 91% of businesses in the US have social media accounts to leverage.   And 95% of small businesses experience some failure with social media.

Between the continued growth in the social media industry and the evolution of freelance as a mainstream* source of workers, the need for independent social media managers will only increase, strengthening the viability of this self-employment specialty for moms.
*According to a June 2022 We Are Rosie webinar presenting their annual “Rosie Report,” the message of “freelance is mainstream” was presented.

Proven training and tailored guidance gives you back your two most precious resources: Time and Money.

From our experience, one of the best ways to be successful as a self-employed freelance professional is to have a specialty.  Through Hay There Social Media’s premier social media manager training courses and ongoing support, we empower moms to start and run their own specialized social media business fast.

Women who enroll in the Hay There INsiders training save years of trial and error navigating a self-taught approach to learning social media marketing best practices for business clients, operating a business from home, identifying, contacting and successfully pitching and closing paid work.

How To Become Self-Employed

As a mom, you can be a successful self-employed freelance professional with autonomy over her own time.  You can set yourself up for the most success possible by choosing a sound self-employment option such as one in the social media industry and by leveraging a team of experts like those at Hay There Social Media to get you to your end goal faster.

If you want to learn more about what an investment in your self-employed future (which is closer than you think) looks like, schedule a call with us today!

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