Kit Roberts
Work has changed a great deal since the advent of the smartphone.
Apps such as DoorDash, Deliveroo, JustEat, and Uber, among many others, created the so-called 'gig economy'.
Working via these apps can offer a lot of flexibility, but knowing which jobs to pick up and which to leave takes time to learn.
Now, one man who works on DoorDash has shared some tips for those starting out on the app, and has caused some controversy. See what he has to say below:
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Apps like DoorDash require their drivers to spend a lot of time travelling around.
If you're doing this in a car, this means drivers have to balance out the costs of their vehicle, including fuel, with the payment they will receive per trip.
Bearing that in mind, as well as other factors such as time, some drivers become more selective about the jobs they pick up.
This includes not picking up jobs where no tip is offered, as this can dramatically reduce earnings.
But TikToker @austinsidehustle has offered some controversial advice to people just getting started on the app.
In a video posted on social media, he advised people just getting started on the app to not be picky with orders straightaway.
Instead, they should take as many orders as possible in order to learn their area.
This could mean which neighbourhoods are the best ones to hang around in for orders, and which restaurants are good to be close to.
So, knowledge that comes from experience.
He said that then once you've got that knowledge of where the best places are, you can start to get more picky as you'll be in a better position to know what's good and what's not.
He said: "If you're a new DoorDash Driver, take everything first. Learn your area, learn what's popping, learn what's good, then start nitpicking orders."
But people had a mixed reaction to the advice.
One person wrote: "This guy just want some new buddy to take the low pay orders so he doesn’t have to reject so many. You will learn along the way with any order you do."
Another replied: "No tip orders are risky. All my problems as a dasher always come from no tip orders."
Others were more positive, with one responding: "Yesss finally a good video about DoorDash I’ve been so confused either every video."
Another replied: "I took all orders in my first few weeks and learned SO much! I no longer accept all orders, but now it is based on actual experience."