As freelancing and remote work continue to grow in popularity, more businesses are bringing freelancers on board to provide fresh perspectives and expertise on a broad range of projects. However, hiring the right freelancers for your business can be a challenge — particularly when hiring remote freelancers or independent contractors.
Factors to Consider When Hiring Freelancers
When adding freelancers to your team, there are several factors that business owners and hiring managers should consider and evaluate. Here are some key tips for ensuring you add the right on-demand workers to your team:
1. Freelancers should provide referrals and portfolios.
Reviewing a freelancer’s past work helps businesses get a sense of their experience, creativity, and working style. Look for a diverse range of project portfolios to ensure that the freelancer is versatile and can handle any project you throw their way.
2. Freelancers should have the specific skill set your business needs.
A freelancer’s expertise can be the difference between a profitable project and a money pit scenario. If a business hires a freelancer who lacks the necessary expertise and experience, the project may be delayed or may not meet the required standards.
3. Freelancers should come with high ratings and reviews.
Freelance websites like Upwork and Fivver allow potential employers to review freelancers’ portfolios and feedback history. This provides valuable information on their work quality and how well they work with others.
4. Freelancers should exhibit excellent communication skills.
Effective communication is essential when working with freelancers. Establish clear communication channels, response times, and meeting availability to ensure effective collaboration and regular updates on the project’s progress.
5. Freelancers should seek to understand your company.
Freelancers who express a genuine interest in your company demonstrate their willingness to learn, do their homework, and participate in workplace teamwork.
6. Freelancers should provide recent references.
A good candidate should have no problem providing up-to-date job references. Outdated referrals could indicate they’ve been out of commission or are cherry-picking references.
7. Freelancers should be trustworthy.
Trust is crucial when hiring freelancers to protect your brand reputation and ensure quality work that meets your expectations.
8. Freelancers should have experience with collaborative tools.
Ideally, freelancers should have experience working with commonly used collaborative tools to ensure effective communication and quality work.
9. Freelancers should be motivated individuals.
Self-motivation is crucial for freelancers to produce quality work and meet deadlines without cutting corners.
10. Freelancers should have high quality standards.
High-quality work is essential, so review sample assignments to understand their quality standards and ensure they align with your company’s expectations.
11. Freelancers should be willing to sign a contract.
Freelance contracts are advisable to set the terms of the partnership, clarify project requirements, and establish consequences for not meeting the terms.
12. Freelancers should be passionate about the project.
Passion for the project is essential in producing top-quality work that strengthens your company’s reputation.
13. Freelancers should provide a project completion deadline (or meet yours).
Ensure freelancers can provide an accurate completion date for the project or meet the deadline you provide.
14. Freelancers should be available for the long term.
Look for freelancers willing to build a relationship with your company to produce consistent work aligned with your company’s vision.
15. Freelancers’ work style should align with yours.
Ensure clear communication and alignment of expectations with freelancers to produce quality work.
16. Freelancers should follow directions.
Freelancers must take direction well to stay on track and complete the project as requested.
17. Freelancers’ work should help you meet your business goals.
Focus on why you’re hiring freelancers and ensure they can support your business goals effectively.
Where to Find Freelancers
Crafting a detailed job description is essential when searching for freelance talent. Here are some recommendations for where to find freelancers:
1. Seek freelancers on freelance work platforms.
Platforms like Toptal, Upwork, Fiverr, Behance, and Freelancer are excellent recruitment tools to find high-quality candidates for specific project needs.
2. Post freelance job opportunities on a remote job board.
Remote job boards like Hubstaff Talent, Working Nomads, NoDesk, and We Work Remotely can help find remote freelancers worldwide with fresh and innovative ideas.
3. Post freelancing opportunities on an industry-specific job site.
Posting on industry-specific job boards can help narrow options and find freelancers well-suited for specific projects in your field.
By considering these factors and utilizing the recommended platforms, businesses can effectively hire freelancers who bring value to their projects and contribute to their overall success. Hiring the right freelancers can lead to increased productivity, innovation, and growth for your business.
