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How To Prepare For, Hire, And Keep Freelancers

The gig economy has everyone from big brands to small businesses eager to hire freelancers. Aside from the obvious benefits that come with hiring a freelancer, it makes more sense to hire a freelancer because 65% of freelancers have updated skills whereas only 45% of full-time employees do the same.

Hiring a freelancer also makes more sense if there is a one-time, short-term project or if a company wishes to source remote talent.

But, the entire process of hiring and working with freelancers may prove quite tricky to navigate especially the first time around.

So, let’s talk about it in 3 phases -

Phase #1: Preparing for freelancers

1. Design an onboarding process

Similar to an onboarding process for full-time employees, freelancers also need to become familiar with the way a company works, the company culture and what is expected of them.

Note: If you plan on hiring a remote freelancer, cut out the unnecessary information.

2. Have an agreement ready

If you hire a freelance designer and are not willing to credit them, make sure to include that in the agreement to avoid disputes later.

An agreement signed by both parties ensures that the freelancer is committed to the project and trust ensues between both parties.

3. Understand the difference between a
freelancer and a full-time employee
If the HR department is in charge, it is imperative that they familiarize themselves with how freelancers generally work and the core difference between a freelancer and a full-time employee. You cannot expect the freelancer to take on the responsibilities of an employee. The chances are that a freelancer is working on 2-3 projects at any given moment. You cannot expect them to drop everything and prioritize your work over their other deadlines.

4. Set a Budget

Study what the industry standard is and prepare budget accordingly. If your budget is way too low, you may not attract the right talent. Some freelancers, say a freelance web developer, may be willing to work for lesser pay if you give them proper attribution.

So, if a freelance web developer has created your website, credit them at the footer of your homepage.

Similarly, if you hire a freelance designer, make sure you link to their website if you’re paying them well below the industry standard.

5. Design an interview process

Have a simple test ready to gauge the skills of the freelancer if possible. Ensure that the test is neither too time-intensive nor requires the freelancer to flesh out an actual project.
For example, if you are hiring a writer to write SEO content, instead of asking them to write an article with your selected keywords. Ask them what they know about SEO - its best practices and see if they have kept themselves abreast of the current changes.

Similarly, if you are looking to bring a freelance designer on board, ask them the basic principles of design and what kind of influences inspire them.

Asking a freelancer to complete a short project with the promise of pay if accepted is a waste of everybody’s time. Not to mention it toys with the freelancer’s dignity when companies ghost them and end up using their ‘sample’ work anyway.

Choose whether you wish to have a telephonic conversation or a video chat to make sure they are a right fit.

Phase #2 Hiring a freelancer

1. Best places to hire a freelancer from
Look for freelancers on freelance websites especially if you are on a tight budget. Post your job requirements on social media and LinkedIn. Scout talent on Pinterest especially if you are looking for a freelance designer and update the ‘Careers’ section on your website.

2. How to tackle applications

Be wary of freelancers who play the speed game. That means within minutes of you posting about the job, and you get an application. This is rampant, especially on freelance websites.

Those job applications are most likely copy-paste and do not address your business needs.
You should also discard any application that does not speak to your job description but only lists their talents and skills.

Choose an application that provides a solution to your project and ways to increase your ROI.

3. Interview the selected candidates

Good communication skills should be your top priority. Being able to express themselves with the utmost clarity is vital whether you’re hiring a writer or a freelance web developer.

Also, look for someone who’s not only passionate about their work but also enthusiastic to come on board. A smart candidate will have already done their research on your company and how they can add value to your project.

Administer the test that you had designed. You can do this before you invite them for a one-on-one interview.

4. The second round of interviews

Ask hard-hitting questions to gauge whether the freelancer is genuinely interested. Do not hire someone who also writes SEO content if you are looking for a specialist.

Ask them their expectations in terms of money. If your budget isn’t able to meet at least 70% of what they quote, it is better to pass up on them. Only when a freelancer is truly happy with the pay, you will be able to get the quality of work you desire.

In some instances, it is better to pay more if the kind of work that the freelancer does will bring you in more ROI than originally expected.
If this isn’t an option, negotiate. As mentioned earlier, attribution is one way to do it. The other ways you can have them come on-board is by giving them gift vouchers, airline points or hotel points.

Phase #3 Keeping a freelancer

1. Ask for timely updates

When the project starts, have the freelancer update you so that you can share your inputs. This is crucial as it helps you know if the project is on track instead of asking for a complete do-over at the end of the project.

2. Don’t ask them to do extra work

Unless agreed upon beforehand, don’t overburden your freelancer with extra work with less than a 24-hour turn-around-time. Also, it’s unwise to ask the freelancer to review your website on Google or Yelp. That is not their primary job and will make them less inclined to work with you in the future.

3. Establishing a long-term relationship

Most freelancers love working for an anchor client because they know what to expect. Similarly, businesses also don’t want to let go of exceptional talent.

● Treat freelancers with respect
● Make timely payments.
● Ask them to come on-board on a project well in advance