Freelancing work is becoming increasingly popular over time. Companies that need specific skills for a short-term project and want their work done through outsourcing can hire a freelancer.
Furthermore, if you are running a business then you certainly know that it takes a lot of effort and hard work and there will always come a time where you are going to need outside help. Hiring a freelance writer can be of great help to you and that too without spending a lot of cash for a certain task. However, it is a good idea to stay away from freelance companies as they charge more due to their recurring overheads. On the other hand, hiring a freelancer is both a cost-effective and efficient way to get the task done. As they are willing to work long hours, day and night, to complete the tasks or work you have assigned to them.
Whether you are looking for Graphic Design Freelancers or academic writers, there are many people out there that can be hired to do these things for you.
Following are some tips to guide you through before hiring a freelancer:
Types of Freelance Services
Freelancing agencies provide you with the solution for any type of task you will appoint them as they have a team of freelancers that can handle and complete a task related to any field. By outsourcing your work to a professional freelancing agency, you will get the best possible service available and your work will be done in an accurate and timely manner. On the other hand, many people are working as individual freelancers and can handle multiple tasks that do not have anything to do with each other. However, they are usually proficient in only one field mostly. For instance, if a web developer can only help you optimize your business’ website and keep it up to date according to the latest trends, while a content creator can only help you out by writing good quality content and has no know-how about website development. This is the best thing about a freelance writer as you can find someone that will be dedicated to their field of specialization and will give you the best possible content in their field by working long hours to complete it. As far as a professional agency goes, they usually charge more and will not always have what you will be looking for.
Efficiency
When looking for a freelancer, you should take into consideration how efficiently they do their given task. Freelancers work around the clock, day and night, and can even work odd hours to complete the tasks provided to them. So you can be at ease that the freelancer will provide you with the best work possible with the greatest efficiency. However, if you are looking to hire an agency they can also work efficiently and effectively. But they refrain from working long and odd hours, as they have limited business operation hours. You will also have to consider if the freelancer you are hiring is not juggling with other projects with yours. They usually take on more than one assignment, so hire someone that will be dedicated to you only.
References
When hiring a freelancer, you should also consider their past work and its quality. To do this, you can ask them to give references of people that they have worked for in the past. Ask them to give accurate details of their references. Now you can contact the references to get a better idea of their past work and if they were delivered on time. By doing this you will be able to make sure which freelancer you should hire and if the freelancer you are considering has the work ethic to complete your task on the given deadline.
Skills and Competencies
The first thing to consider when hiring a freelancer is the skills they have. You should ask questions about their background and how they decided to become a freelancer. Ask them to tell you about what are the fields they are good at and why they see it as their best skills. It is not about their skill level, it is also about how they describe it to you. You should judge the candidate you are considering to hire by the way they describe their skills to you. Are they confident in describing the? Or are they hesitating? If the freelancer is an experienced individual, you will be able to judge them by their confidence in telling about their past projects.
Work Schedule
A freelancer’s skill may impress you, but at the end of the day, it all boils down to the time they are going to commit to you in completing the task that you assign to them. You may need them to work at certain hours and you will have to take into account that they do not have other tasks lined up. Or they don’t have any other personal commitments like work and family. Freelancers can be a great addition to your company, however, they usually work on their own time and schedules. You have to be transparent and tell them all the time constraints so that they can complete your given tasks before the deadline.
Communication
How a freelancer communicates with you is of the utmost importance and should be considered before hiring a potential candidate. A freelancer is not someone you can call to your office when you want them. Freelancers usually work from home and maybe someone that is working from another country or any part of the world. Have a conversation with the potential candidate about their daily routine and the hours in which they will be available to have a meeting with you. However, you cannot expect them to give up their time and sleep for your work. You should set a time that both the parties, you and the freelancer, can agree upon. That will make it easier for you and you will have peace of mind that the freelancer you have hired is available for you at the agreed time.
The Attitude of the Freelancer
For someone to perform well and deliver quality work, they should enjoy the type of work they are doing. You should tell them about the assignments you will potentially give them to complete and gauge what they feel about it. Engage them in a conversation by asking them about their past projects. The more they talk, the easier it will be for you to find hints about how they value their work.
Level of Commitment
You may not be looking to hire a freelancer for a long term position, but you will have to take into consideration the level of commitment they are going to provide if you hire them. You will have to consider whether the candidate will be available to work for you after their contract expires. You would also want to know what level of loyalty a freelancer will have when working for you. If the candidate is willing to work on a long term project for you, you will be able to see the level of commitment they have for you.
They Listen to Constructive Criticism
If are a freelancer is not doing work that is up to your standards, you might want to let them know about it. Ask the potential candidate that if he will be willing to take constructive criticism and improve themselves according to it. If they are ready to do this and do not get offended by it, they will work with the highest level of dedication and will be willing to improve themselves along the way.
10. Follow Directions
Probably one of the most important things to consider when hiring a freelancer is the willingness to follow the instructions you give them. When working on a provided task or assignment, some freelancers usually do what they feel is best. When you conduct an interview ask them about whether they will be open to follow your instructions and do work how you want it do be done. If they show some resistance, it can be a problem. If they give a hint that they like to do things their way, you will be better off looking somewhere else.
Conclusion
Many companies or sole proprietors hire outside help nowadays due to the lack of manpower and funds available to hire a permanent employee. It is a great way to get things done without hiring someone new or if you have a strict time limit for a certain task. However many things have to be taken into consideration before you hire a freelancer for your project. Hopefully, with the help of the above tips, you can easily hire one for your business.
