In recent years, traditional gig work has become a common source of side income. With just an app, workers can find shifts, complete tasks, and receive payment without ever meeting their employer. While some brand ambassador jobs are accessible through similar apps, there are key differences between traditional gig roles and event work.
Since the distinction between traditional gig work and event brand ambassador roles is increasingly unclear, it’s important for brand ambassadors to effectively showcase their skills, experience, and abilities to align with the specific responsibilities and goals of their roles. Understanding these differences can help you secure more event jobs and enhance your professional reputation.
Event Brand Ambassadors vs. Gig Workers: What’s the Difference?
1. Brand Engagement vs. Task Completion
- Brand Ambassadors are hired to be the onsite “face of the brand” and are essential to conveying a brand’s specific messaging, features, and experience. They engage with and educate consumers on a brand to help create awareness, make one-on-one connections, and leave a positive and memorable impression on consumers.
- Gig Workers are generally assigned to complete a specific task for customers. This type of work is more transactional, and efficiencies, not brand impressions, determine success. Ideally, these tasks are finished with minimal customer involvement, which contrasts with the role of a brand ambassador. Examples of traditional gig work include ride-shares, shopping, moving, cleaning, delivery, and assembly services.
2. Training and Experience vs Skills and Requirements
- Brand Ambassadors typically participate in training sessions before the start of an event. During this training, they become familiar with the brand, its messaging, and essential talking points. Additionally, they are trained on specific tasks of the event and what is expected of them. This may include app sign-ups, facilitating activities and photo ops, crowd, and line management, and distribution of samples or branded items, among others. Understanding and authentically communicating the brand’s message is an important part of their role. While direct experience may not always be a requirement, having a background in customer-facing roles is highly beneficial and is often considered relevant experience.
- Gig Workers require little to no specialized training, as the main focus of gig work is efficiency and effectiveness. Gig workers may need certain items for this position, such as a car, a clean driving record, a smartphone, or a toolkit. Additionally, reliability and punctuality are essential soft skills in traditional gig work.
3. Staffing Agency Management vs. App Management
- Brand Ambassadors rely on personal interactions with event staffing agencies (though a few agencies book through an app-based system). This form of communication and management is more traditional as that of working with a direct-hire employer. Through this process, brand ambassadors develop professional relationships with agencies and agency reps. The event staffing agency world is small, and building a good reputation with reps can happen quickly.
- Gig Workers typically book and manage jobs through multiple app-based platforms. This flexible booking process allows them to organize their time across multiple gigs. However, gig workers often miss the chance to connect with employers or build a professional reputation outside of the app. Instead, they receive ratings and reviews from customers, which helps them build rapport and attract more work.
Why Understanding These Differences Matters
To secure more brand ambassador jobs, it’s crucial to present your skills, experience, and abilities effectively. Unlike traditional gig apps, event staffing platforms require a more tailored approach. Treat your agency profile like a formal job application by including an industry-specific resume, a cover letter, detailed experience that features the brands and agencies you’ve worked with, job responsibilities, transferable skills, and a professional style headshot. By recognizing the key distinctions between brand ambassador roles and gig work, you can better customize your applications and improve your chances of landing jobs.
