Freelancers can be a great addition to your business. In most cases, they’re cheaper than hiring full-time employees, and require less hand-holding.
Finding the right one however, can be tricky.
We’ve all heard horror stories about companies or agencies hiring freelancers. But with the right steps, preparation, and mindset, hiring a freelancer should be a relatively seamless experience.
Below is a list of 6 tips to help you hire freelancers.
Know what tasks or projects you’ll be hiring for
Before you start talking to freelancers, it’s important to establish what type of work you like or don’t like doing. Once you have a clear understanding of what you enjoy working on, you now know the type of freelancer you’ll need to hire. Hire freelancers that would be willing to work on tasks that you hate doing yourself.
You also want to figure out what tasks you or your in-house team are capable of doing on your own. If there’s a task that requires expertise that’s out of your comfort zone, it may be a good idea to bring in a freelancer that has experience in that field.
When hiring for tasks outside of your expertise, it can be challenging figuring out exactly what you need. Take some time to research the field first before talking to freelancers.
Clearly define project scopes and job descriptions
Provide clear guidelines, timelines and expectations. Outline the exact skills that are required to successfully complete the project and any qualifications you’d like them to have. Also break down the deliverables needed, so that it will be easier for them to understand how much work will be required for the project. It’ll also be easier for you to keep track of progress.
By clearly outlining these items in the scope and descriptions, you set the right tone for your relationship with the freelancer. You know exactly what you want, and they know exactly what is expected of them.
Know what you’re paying for
Quality and experienced freelancers will require a higher financial investment but lower time investment. They will command a higher rate, but will require less training and hand holding. Whereas less experienced freelancers will require a lower financial investment, but will require much more guidance. You’ll have to be prepared to be more involved in the project or task.
There’s more to hiring freelancers than just their prices or rates. If you don’t mind being more involved, hiring a cheaper freelancer might be the way to go. However if you prefer to be hands off, you may need to hire a more expensive freelancer.
Screen freelancers before making a decision
Video interviews are a great way to get a better feel for the candidate. You’ll be able to judge their communication skills a lot better. You should also be able to find testimonials on social media, their personal sites, and other freelance sites.
Making the wrong decision when hiring freelancers is not the end of the world. You can easily let them go and find another one. But taking extra steps in screening them before hiring saves you a lot of time and stress
Prepare contracts
Have all responsibilities, timelines, pay, and other guidelines clearly written out and signed by both parties. This can be a digital document, or a physical piece of paper.
This will help both parties legally, in case one party doesn’t hold up their end of the bargain. It also helps set expectations and avoid confusion or misunderstandings later on. You can also take this time to mention that you retain all rights and ownership of the project.
You might not be their only client
If your freelancer is an experienced one, chances are that they are working with multiple clients simultaneously. It’s important to keep this in mind when discussing timelines and deadlines. Make sure they’re aware of them and able to meet them. Take the time to discuss alternative plans in case deadlines can’t be met.
The bottom line is to have clear expectations. Both parties should be aware of what is expected of themselves. Ensuring that communication is consistent and clear throughout the working relationship, you give yourself a better chance of having a positive experience.
Finding the right freelancer isn’t easy. But the steps outlined in this breakdown should help make the experience a little less stressful.
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