Pros and Cons of an Outsourcing Career

When considering which career will be best for you, it’s important to play to your strengths. Depending on your strengths, you may begin to freelance or instead be led to an organization that specializes in performing tasks and business processes for other organizations. If this is the case, then you are embarking on an outsourcing career.

What Does a Career in Outsourcing Look Like?

Outsourcing occurs when an organization chooses to hire a third-party contractor or specialist to complete business processes or functions. If you have a career in outsourcing, you will typically respond to instructions from a variety of organizations. These organizations are often different sizes from different locations.

There are a number of careers that a job in outsourcing can offer. To give you an insight, you can be an IT support specialist, a web developer, or even a writer. A wide range of jobs are high in demand, so it is critical you find which one makes the most sense for you while weighing up the pros and cons of a career in outsourcing.

The Pros of a Career in Outsourcing

• There are opportunities to learn

  By conversing and working with multiple parties from numerous countries, you have the chance to learn through what you observe. What you learn may include different cultures, approaches, and technologies that you were previously unaware of. Moving forward, you can take what you learn and use it to your advantage.

• You can build relationships with other organizations

  Working in outsourcing can enable you to expand your network. You will connect with new people from multiple organizations, which means that there is a chance for you to build business relationships with them. This opens the door to potential work opportunities in the future.

• You have the freedom to choose which jobs to accept

  In outsourcing, you can choose which jobs to accept and which ones to decline. The better the reputation you build, the more opportunities that will come your way. If you reach this stage of your career in outsourcing, you will be able to pick jobs to complete that interest you the most.

• Outsourcing provides job stability

  The outsourcing industry is huge and is continuing to grow. With 68% of companies in the US choosing to outsource, now is a better time than ever to choose a career involved in it. This growth all adds up to job stability and job security for workers in the outsourcing industry.

• Flexibility in where and when you work

  Depending on which career you choose, you can be flexible in where and when you work. For example, a computer programmer may not need to work on a 9-5 schedule in one location and can instead choose their hours and where they want to work. This flexibility is one of the major factors enticing workers to join the outsourcing industry.

The Cons of a Career in Outsourcing

• Loss of traditional job benefits

  Working in outsourcing, especially as a freelancer, can mean that you sacrifice some perks of working for a traditional organization. Whether this is medical insurance or paid time off, this is something you will have to factor in and budget for. This isn’t always the case, however, as some organizations that specialize in outsourcing will still offer these benefits.

• Work isn’t guaranteed

  Although demand for outsourcing is high, work isn’t guaranteed. The outsourcing industry is highly competitive, so you, or the organization you work for, need to stand out above the rest to attract organizations looking to outsource. If successful, you will likely have little issue, but if unsuccessful, you may not receive the salary you expect.

• It can be difficult to get noticed

  As mentioned previously, the outsourcing industry is highly competitive. If you or your organization is starting afresh, it may be tough to attract customers initially. If you are in this position, ensure that you or your organization have a strategy in place to find work as a new player in the market.

• Communication can be tricky

  Outsourcing means meeting the demands of organizations that hire you. The issue with this is that sometimes wires can cross during communications. This means that you may not always be on the same page as your employer, which can cause dissatisfaction on their end. To avoid this, you must ensure that you have regular communication that is both clear and beneficial for you in completing the task in question.

• Poor reviews damage your reputation

  Working in outsourcing may mean that you encounter some organizations that aren’t happy with your final product. If this is the case, they may avoid hiring you again and review you poorly online. If your reputation takes a hit, it can be hard to attract jobs in the future, as organizations will choose others over you.