As one book described it, we’re becoming “Free Agent Nation”. Nobody wants employees, just projects completed. One High School I’m aware of has purposely structured its curriculum to reflect this project oriented philosophy… Jesse Remington High in NH
Along with cutting people lose to work at home in “project teams” to work on their own and create their own computer infrastructure, even those who remain “employees” will be expected to keep up to speed on their own nickel and purchase their own equipment according to Business Week.
That means that as the workplace evolves, individuals whether “employed” or “freelance” will be stuck with the task of supporting their own computer equipment.
This will mean a growing consumer market for support services.
You see the trend in Best Buy’s “Geek Squad”.
Now Staples has an inhouse support service for small business.
The Web 2.0 version mentioned in the Business Week article is Support.com
Look for the commission sale of service contracts of this type to rise too… I’ve already seen sales positions for this on Craigslist in major markets.
Juvio.com the MLM began as a company strictly selling tech support contracts. Based on their website they still do, but health, beauty, and nutritional products as well.
Who handles your computer support issues?
Stephanie on February 13th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I handle my computer issues. Pretty good at it too. I also handle my inlaws computer issues most of the time… except when they come up with those random problems that only people who really don’t understand computers seem to get.
The trend towards using free agents doesn’t surprise me. You just look at how jobs have gone from being something you try to keep for a lifetime to something you keep for a few years, always looking for the better deal. Combine that with employers being all too glad to cut costs such as benefits, and hiring freelancers just seems like a natural progression.