Are you looking to hire a freelancer for your business? Getting that extra support is sometimes crucial for your organization, but the horror stories of outsourcing to unreliable people can be intimidating. We don’t blame you for being unsettled or overwhelmed by the thought of finding, employing, and training a completely new type of employee if you’ve never collaborated with freelancers before.
However, we’re here to help make this process easier for you. We guarantee that five tips below will help you effectively hire your first freelancer.
1. Determine What You Need to be Done
Your initial move should be to create a list of all the duties that need to be accomplished and your present team members do not have the time or ability to complete. For example, you might need someone to design a logo, produce a press release, or make an explanatory film.
After you’ve made your list, figure out your budget for each project so you know if you can employ all of them at once or whether you need to prioritize.
Utilize a wage calculator and go through freelancer job postings to determine the maximum hourly rate or project fee you’re ready to pay. Consider investing in payroll tax software since the 1099s might be more difficult than regular employee tax forms.
2. Develop Job Descriptions
Writing comprehensive job requirements for each function is the next stage in recruiting freelancers. Provide an overview of your organization and the job, the tasks and requirements, and key details such as the number of hours per week, timeline, and compensation range.
Increase the effectiveness of your job postings by concluding with an invite to apply and directions for applying via the job posting or your company’s career page. Request anything that will assist you in evaluating applicants more quickly, such as their portfolio, client evaluations, or a link to their website.
3. Candidate Evaluation
Because talented freelancers are in great demand, it’s advantageous to submit a proposal before top prospects are booked. Remember that one of the advantages of employing freelancers is making choices more quickly since there is less risk. It’s a good idea to go through the candidate’s CV, portfolio, website, and references thoroughly, so there are no surprises later.
If you find what you’re looking for, set up a brief phone or video interview to assess the candidate’s technical and social abilities and learn more details about their work and their processes.
Instead of doing many interview sessions with each candidate, ask challenging questions in a longer single session so you can find a match quickly.
4. Check Out the Reviews
Seasoned freelancers will have extensive job histories and should have a considerable number of reviews. Keep in mind that most people aren’t going to trash someone in a review unless the person is truly terrible. You might just have to look at the context at times.
Be wary if a review reads, “Dave was lovely to work with,” but says nothing about the caliber of his work. You’ll want to see more details and a description of what it’s like to work with them.
5. Go With Your Gut
More times than not, our initial reactions to individuals and events are immediate. Listen to these inside cues while beginning a new connection with a freelancer. If you suspect that the individual is untrustworthy or that there will be a personality clash, look at the bigger picture as it may not be the best fit in the long run.
Conclusion
Hiring a freelance gig worker might be frightening, but you’ll be well on your way to ensuring your company’s success with these pointers. You are now ready to locate the top freelancers for your projects.
When hiring freelancers, constantly assess the pros and cons, and when you find someone who does excellent work and is trustworthy, utilize them as frequently as possible. And in the end, go with your intuition – it’s never wrong.
