Unemployed? 5 Ways Bartering Can Build Economic and Social Resilience
Massive layoffs across the tech industry have shattered many people’s realities. Layoffs are not a new concept, but the recent rounds are big news. Large tech companies that have been aggressively growing and hiring for years are now downsizing and even closing entire departments. This has left hundreds of thousands of highly skilled people scrambling for jobs, worried about their livelihoods, and potentially uncertain futures. One possible source of relief for many who are newly unemployed, whether in tech or other industries, is barter…
It is not enough for those laid off to focus solely on finding a new position, as the days of ‘solid’ jobs that lasted a decade or longer, are long gone. In fact a 2019 survey found that the average person changes jobs 12 times in their lifetime (Zippia) and the job market has only gotten more volatile since then (Tech Radar). The stakes are high right now and people need a safety net to fall back on. So we must get creative with how we navigate the ever-changing landscape of work, and take advantage of alternative forms of trade while we’re in between jobs.
Bartering allows people to do exactly that. It is the oldest known form of value exchange and can help individuals stay afloat, get access to services, build skills, and make valuable connections, all without the need for cash. If you are currently unemployed, we feel for you, we’ve been there. But barter got us through those difficult times, so let’s dive into the ways it can help you too.
1. Access Services - without touching your wallet.
Trading your talents and swapping your skills allows you to access services that would usually cost you money. To survive unemployment, many dip into their savings to cover expenses, but what if you didn’t have to? What if you could unlock access to some of the services you need, through barter? You could afford things you wouldn’t be able to otherwise, AND alleviate the pressure on your piggy bank.
2. Keep your skillset current.
Per Harvard Business Review (2022): “Tech Talent is flooding the market” (3). This means, to compete, your skills need to be sharp. Those who don’t keep their skillset current may struggle to get hired. Bartering gives you an opportunity to hone your skills even when out of employment. Instead of letting skills languish - exercise the ones you have, or you could consider upskilling and learning new ones.
3. Use the gifts and talents you don’t usually get to use.
We couldn’t put it better than Charles Eisenstein, so we might as well quote him - “Everybody I know has so much to give, and most of them feel they cannot because there is no money in it. Yet that is not because their gifts are unwanted”. Bartering gives people the freedom to pursue activities they won’t typically get hired to do, as they may not generate income for an employer. If you have additional gifts, passions, or skills you’ve learned on the side - now is the time to whip them out. And remember “we do our best work when money is not an issue”.
4. Expand your network and collaborate.
One of the most powerful aspects of bartering is the way it brings people together. It literally connects human gifts with human needs, so is one of the most effective ways to foster collaboration and innovation. This could give rise to a new project, or an unexpected co-founding - it wouldn’t be the first time!!! Trust us when we say bartering offers many possibilities beyond what you can find in a traditional job.
This networking and collaboration also fends off the potential isolation and loneliness that can come with unemployment. And importantly, it helps build social skills. A Pew Research study(4) found “interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and good writing and communications skills are the most important skills” for career advancement. This study was conducted in 2015. Since then, social skills have become even more necessary, with complexities such as remote working and social media abound. We are now forced to master net-social skills, or we could get left behind.
5. Freely experiment.
When you remove the risk of losing money from the equation, not only do you get to use gifts and talents that sometimes get neglected, you open up possibilities for experimentation. There is little room for this in a paid job because you are limited to the rules and governance of the role and the organisation. But the best outcomes are typically the results of exploratory thinking and action. The very nature of bartering requires creative collaboration and connection. This provides fertile grounds for unlimited possibilities.
Let’s be prepared, not paranoid
As Forbes pointed out in a recent article “Your job is not your family.” Sometimes workplaces give the illusion of family, but when it comes time for firing, anything goes to protect the bottom line. Including your job, unfortunately.
When economies unravel, it’s important to have alternative structures for the meeting of human needs. In leveraging systems like bartering, you can build and maintain a safety net for yourself. And in creating a barter family, you can stay prepared, without the need to be paranoid.
Barterchain’s timely launch
We’ve built a platform that facilitates exchange, trade and collaboration, between skilled individuals - like you. We truly believe this ecosystem will generate the kind of economic and social resiliency that sustains life in times of turmoil. And just in time too.
Being part of the Barterchain will allow you to:
Swap your skills and services with other talented individuals - globally.
Network with people in your industry (and other industries) to build a valuable web of connections.
Build your reputation. Through our unique verification layer, as you swap your skills, you create a digital identity tied to your skill level and experience. This Barterchain feature acts like a live CV - and who knows - may lead to future job opportunities.
Barterchain will be live in the Google Play store before the end of 2022, with the Apple Store to follow shortly after. We want this platform to remind you that your value is not in your job!!! Your value is in your skills - and you are a gift.
Leave your details on our site to be the first to hear about the app launch, and to benefit from barter: www.barterchain.io
References:
True Up. “Tech Layoff Tracker”. November 26, 2022.
https://www.trueup.io/layoffs/
Tech Radar. “What Are the Biggest Trends in the Job Market in 2022?”. May 27, 2022. https://www.techradar.com/features/what-are-the-biggest-trends-in-the-job-market-in-2022
Zippia. "Average Number of Jobs in a Lifetime [2022]: All Statistics". April 5, 2022. https://www.zippia.com/advice/average-number-jobs-in-lifetime/
Harvard Business Review. “Tech Talent Is Flooding the Market”. Nov. 22, 2022. https://hbr.org/2022/11/tech-talent-is-flooding-the-job-market
Pew Research Center. “Changes in the American Workplace”. October 6, 2016. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2016/10/06/1-changes-in-the-american-workplace/
Forbes. “Recent Layoffs Shatter the ‘We Are Family’ Myth”. November 11, 2022.
https://hbr.org/2022/11/tech-talent-is-flooding-the-job-market
And our current favourite book:
Sacred Economics (Revised) Charles Eisenstein, 2021.
https://www.bookdepository.com/Sacred-Economics-Charles-Eisenstein/9781623175764?ref=grid-view&qid=1669482662072&sr=1-1