Freelancers are independent contractors who work on a project-by-project basis. They are not employed by any one company, but instead work for multiple clients on a variety of tasks. The term 'SPEC' is an acronym for 'SPECIALIST, ' which is a type of freelancer who specializes in a particular field or skill set. Freelancers work on a variety of projects, from web design to writing and editing, and they often have the flexibility to choose their own hours and work from home.