Free Agent Workers

Characteristics of a stimulating or motivating job (page 18)

a. Autonomy: Being able to use one’s skills and judgment to solve problems and make decisions regarding one’s job

- Increasing skill set on a regular and voluntary basis

- Autonomy to change job depending on where their skills are in demand as they do not expect a lifetime career with one employer

- Use their judgment to chart and prepare their own future

b. Recognition: Doing a job that corresponds to one’s skills, whose results are recognized and whose salary is adequate.

- engage in self-directed learning that is career specific so that they can develop competencies that promote their employability and career success

- The skills and knowledge that free agent workers possess are what makes them valuable and they engage in learning on a regular basis to keep up to date. Knowing how to learn and adapt are skills that most of them possess

- provides an estimated between 30% to 200% more income than counterparts in traditional jobs

c. Positive relationships: Doing a job that enables making interesting contacts and good relationships with others

- Networks are also important to free agents and these networks allow FAW to take a relational approach to career development

- FAW develop strong and robust networks on contacts, friends and work partners

- they provide opportunities for interaction, development of competence and a more confident self-identity

- The networks may be virtual (e.g., www.freeagentnation.com/, freeagent.com/Myhome.asp, www.guru.com/, www.fastcompany. com/career/) or take more traditional forms. Some free agent workers use regular conference telephone calls or meetings to solicit and receive advice, set goals, give advice, and provide emotional support (Pink 1997).

- Several women in Skokie, Illinois, for example, have formed the Strategy Group that meets monthly in a living room. At their meetings, each participant is allowed a maximum of 20 minutes to speak, with...