Zealancer-News 68
Dear readers,
Although there are few Coronavirus incidences, we can still start the New Year on a happy note. In this issue, we will publish our recent study in which Zealancer has investigated how freelancers are distributed among New Zealand’s individual regions.
If you want to try freelancing alongside full-time employment, we have prepared the right tips for you.
Following that, we will answer a query about why professional project brokers are not allowed to request freelancers from our platform. Thereafter, a coaching client describes to us how a freelancer (he found from us) ensured he was prepared for his new professional challenges.
Last but not least, allow us to brighten up your day with our freelancer joke.
I hope you enjoy reading this news and enjoy your summer barbecues. As always, I wish you success in business!
Rainer Kurz
Zealancer study: Where the freelancers are located in New Zealand
Zealancer´s latest study has compared the numbers of freelancers who live in different regions of New Zealand. New Zealand is divided into sixteen regions (Ngā takiwā) for local government purposes (see number 1 to 16 in the table below).
Based on our own database of freelancers listed on Zealancer.nz, we have analysed where the different freelancers are located and compared the results in order to find the highest density ratio.
Number | Region | Population | Population Percentage | Freelancer Percentage | Relative Freelancer Density | |
1 | NorthlandTe Tai Tokerau | 185.800 | 3.8% | 3.0% | 0.78 | |
2 | AucklandTāmaki-makau-rau | 1.654.800 | 33.8% | 58.3% | 1.73 | |
3 | Waikato | 475.600 | 9.7% | 5.9% | 0.61 | |
4 | Bay of PlentyTe Moana-a-Toi | 320.800 | 6.5% | 5.2% | 0.79 | |
5 | GisborneTe Tai Rāwhiti | 49.500 | 1.0% | 0.4% | 0.37 | |
6 | Hawke´s BayTe Matau-a-Māui | 172.400 | 3.5% | 1.5% | 0.42 | |
7 | Taranaki | 121.200 | 2.5% | 1.1% | 0.45 | |
8 | Manawatū- Whanganui | 247.500 | 5.1% | 1.8% | 0.37 | |
9 | WellingtonTe Whanga-nui-a-Tara | 525.900 | 10.7% | 10.7% | 1.00 | |
10 | TasmanTe Tai-o-Aorere | 54.000 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 0.67 | |
11 | NelsonWhakatū | 52.700 | 1.1% | 0.4% | 0.34 | |
12 | MarlboroughTe Tauihu-o-te-waka | 48.700 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 1.11 | |
13 | West CoastTe Tai Poutini | 32.500 | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.56 | |
14 | CanterburyWaitaha | 622.800 | 12.7% | 6.3% | 0.49 | |
15 | OtagoŌtākou | 235.000 | 4.8% | 3.0% | 0.62 | |
16 | SouthlandMurihiku | 100.500 | 2.1% | 0.4% | 0.18 | |
- | New Zealand (Total)Aotearoa | 4.899.700 | 100% | 100% | 1.00 |
As our analysis shows the Auckland region has the highest density ratio to find a freelancer in the comparison between the other regions. Wellington stays on the second place with 10 per cent which is two times more than the Bay of Plenty region while the Canterbury region comes in at third place.
Most of the freelancers are located in Auckland’s CBD. It is not very surprising as the population of the Auckland region exceeds 1.5 million. One of the reasons the freelancing population is so high in Auckland could be correlated to the number of universities in this region. On the other hand, it is very surprising to see that the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions are in the 4th and 5th place despite their population which is not more than half a million.
There might be additional reasons why most freelancers are located in the Auckland region and the least in the West Coast. For instance, broadband speed and cost, availability of freelancing jobs and coworking spaces may contribute to many freelance Kiwis choosing to reside in Auckland.
Zealancer Tip: Start as a freelancer on part time basis
Although freelancers often only need a small starting capital for the implementation of their business, the first step into self-employment is always risky. The risks are, for example, the workload, acquisition costs, lack of capital reserves and inability to make payments on time.
If this risk is too much to take in one go, one can also try starting self-employment step-by-step in order to minimise this gamble. After all, no one is obligated to plunge head over heels into cold water!
Being self-employed on the side means slowly approaching your own independence without the fear that you will not be able to pay the rent. Becoming self-employed while keeping your current job is particularly suitable for people who attach great importance to financial planning and security. After all, employment can still be terminated as soon as the appointment list has been filled. Starting self-employment on a part-time basis is also a good way to find out whether you feel comfortable in the lifestyle of a freelancer.
In the beginning, stage, since you are not yet dependent on the income from self-employment, you can also take care of the necessary administrative tasks more easily, from visiting the tax consultant to creating your own website. The part-time self-employment is, therefore, a good way to try yourself out in the entrepreneurial role and to achieve initial success without too much pressure and a good prerequisite for long-term success.
P.S. Whether you’re considered to be part-time or full-time depends on how many hours you have to work. Employment legislation doesn’t define what full-time or part-time work is, but full-time work is often considered to be around 35 to 40 hours a week in New Zealand. For statistical purposes, Statistics New Zealand defines full-time as working 30 hours or more per week. You have exactly the same employment rights and responsibilities if you’re a part-time or full-time employee. This will also be an important factor when it comes to your annual taxes.
Question of the month: Why do we not send enquiries from professional project brokers?
In the past, freelancers have complained about introductions with professional project brokers. Less than 10 per cent of their enquiries lead to a project, which is well below our success rate of 37 per cent. Many project brokers are also in the habit of negotiating for lower hourly rates in order to increase their own profit margin. Since the freelancers pay the introduction fee with us, most of them do not want an introduction to other project brokers and subcontractors.
Having said that, project brokers who are genuinely interested in an introduction with a freelancer at Zealancer can, however, bear the introduction fee in place of the freelancer. The introduction fee is two-hourly freelancer rates plus GST.
Freelancer article: Coaching for job success
Normally our freelancers introduce themselves in a short article. This time, however, we have a contribution from our client who has been introduced to one of the freelancers in the trainer category within the Zealancer-Group. She is specialised in training, coaching, time management and job applications.
______
After 15 years of working for the same company, I stumbled across a job advertisement that eventually motivated me to apply. However, my last application was a long time ago, so I had difficulties preparing convincing application documents within a few days, especially since the application should also be in line with current practice. Then I came across the Zealancer Group in which I was able to contact a trainer in a very short time.
This freelancer, who specialises in the preparation of application documents, was able to work out the most suitable application documents with me immediately. Thus I received an invitation for an interview only 5 days after sending my application. We used the remaining days to develop a strategy to master the job interview. With success! This is how the Zealancer Group has helped me to reach new shores.
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Zealancer joke of the month
Two chairmen of the board of directors meet to discuss the company.
'The crisis is putting our company under enormous pressure. I have a very critical decision to make that will determine the future of the company. I will lock myself up in my mountain hut alone on this weekend to think intensively about which freelancer I want to entrust this decision to.'
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