Freelancing has become quite the norm in the workplace. Rather than hiring someone full-time for a position, you hire a freelancer who takes on contract work and ultimately is self-employed. For instance, you can hire a freelancer writer to write blog posts for your website.
You can hire a freelance graphic designer to make a logo for your company. Whatever your need is, there is probably a freelancer out there who can do just that. But hiring a freelancer isn’t always as easy as hiring a full-time employee. It requires a few different steps than the regular hiring process does. Since they are self-employed and will likely only work for you for a limited time, you want to be positive they can get the job done. To make your life a little bit easier, follow these 4 steps to hiring a freelancer:
1. Determine What You Need Done
First things first: you need to determine what exactly you need the freelancer to do. You want to be sure that the task you’re giving them is not equivalent to a full-time job’s worth. It is imperative to be specific and detailed with the job description. For example, if you need to hire someone to write about a specific topic on a blog post, thoroughly explain the topic and any requirements for the post. You don’t want to hire someone and then realize they can’t actually do the job. Your job posting should include your expectations, skills they will need, hours expected to work, hourly rate, and more.
2. Access Your Options
So once you have determined what you need done, created an accurate job posting, and received applications, you need to access your options. This is especially crucial, as you want to hire someone you feel confident will do the work. Most companies hiring freelancers require an assessment, in addition to examples of past work. It is also important to conduct a background check for employment. A background check will show the freelancer’s employment history, credit history, driver’s history, and more — all important things to check before hiring someone!
3. Set a Budget
Determining a budget on how much to pay your freelancer can be tricky, especially if it’s your first time around. It all depends on the work you need completed, the quality you’re expecting, and the experience of the freelancer. Many freelancers already have a set budget, which can be helpful. It is good to note that freelancers typically charge a higher hourly rate because they do not have the added benefits of a full-time employee. If you are still unsure what to charge, just do some networking to see how similar freelance job listings compare.
4. Sign a Contract
So you’ve completed all the above steps and you feel confident in the decision you made. Now, you need to create a contract and do social media background check also. A contract is critical to protect both you and the freelancer. The contact should essentially outline work expectations, a timeline, cancellation policies, any legal agreements, and more. It is always better to be thorough with your contact and address any mishaps that could possibly happen along the way.
Once you have determined what you need done, set a budget, assessed your options, and signed the contract- congrats, you have officially hired your first freelancer! This is the beginning of a very exciting process for your business. Just like with hiring someone full-time, you want to be meticulous with your interviewing steps to ensure you bring on the perfect fit for the job. And now that you know how to do it, you may even find that hiring freelancers is the best option for you.
