Working For Third-party
March 22, 2025 | By: Zayne Harbison
In the year 2025, third-party services rain supreme. It is wonderful, and it is also kind of experimental. I have been doing it since 2018. I started working for a transcription service called rev.com. The work I did there was amazing. I got paid well for work well done. Towards the end, things got a little weird, but I like to blame that on the lack of law enforcement and government policy rather than corporate oversight.
Rev
Rev is still unknown to the world. This is not due to a lack of effort or a lack of trying but a lack of need. When content creation and network media have automated systems to fulfill their business needs, the third-party services get overlooked rather quickly. I worked as a captioner. My job was simple. I would listen to a video, and I would type out captions for what was being said. There’s a little bit more to it than that, but that is what I am here to share. It was fun for me because I enjoy providing services for those in need. I have always volunteered with the less fortunate and the disabled. It is important to me. Being able to make a career choice out of it was an excellent opportunity for me! Granted, almost everyone uses captions. If you watch TV with the subtitles on? That’s captions! The important thing is that those with hearing loss are able to enjoy media just like everyone else.
Postmates
A year later, in 2019, I began my employment with a company called Postmates. It was started as a way for restaurants to provide delivery services to their customers in areas where it was uncommon. It was a huge success! For me, being a vehicle driver, it was rather untimely. In the beginning, the pay was set to boost income but not provide it. I did enjoy being able to see all the happy faces when my customers would open their door and see me holding their food! It always made my day. Eventually, this company would be merged with a larger third-party service called Uber.
Freelance
I will keep this one simple. I have tried everything when it comes to freelancing. Craigslist, Fiverr, Freelancer, LinkedIn, and just about anything else that you can think of. It never really worked out for me. I provided my portfolio, I regularly checked my inboxes, and I told all of my friends and family about my work. No one was impressed. It was highly disappointing, and I am not so sure that I learned anything from it. I hope that you have had a different experience.
Uber
Once I found out that Postmates was no longer active, I did my research. I discovered that my company was bought out by a larger provider. I immediately applied to work with them and got the job. I worked with them until this year when my vehicle became too outdated to work on the platform. As of 2025, you have to have a 2007 or newer to drive with Uber. This is beneficial because there will be fewer roadside failures and more wondrous onlookers. My experience over the last year was magnificent. Just like Postmates, I was able to see my community enjoy having their favorite restaurants delivered right to their doorstep. During the merger, the push for grocery sales and other merchandise increased. This allowed for better incentives and greater community work. All around, it was a good experience! I hope to get back to it, soon.
Amazon Flex
After I began my delivery driving career, I discovered that many operate as a contractor through more than one platform. This can be great for those who keep a busy schedule. Rather than relying on bookings and prior availabilities, it allows for drivers to expand their opportunities. Delivering Amazon packages is a little different than delivering food. People are just as happy to receive them though! I am always greeted with care by my coworkers and my customers. It is a great way to work with third-party services.
Summary
If you are looking for part-time work or a way to boost your income, third-party services provide just that. If you are comfortable driving or riding a bike, then you may just find what you are looking for. I have enjoyed what I have learned and my experiences working with others. If you would like to learn more you can find my reading list titled "Career Skills” here on Medium! You can also find me on most social media platforms and elsewhere on the web. Be sure to let me know what your thoughts were. Thank you for reading!
