A Guide to Finding and Onboarding Freelance Talent - Freelance Frontiers Episode 1
Hiring freelance talent can be a highly effective way for companies to quickly gain access to specialized skills and experience without taking on the long-term overhead of full-time employees.
But in order to maximize the return of bringing freelancers into an organization, careful consideration must be given to each stage of the process.
From sourcing and selecting the right individuals, to smoothly onboarding them and setting clear expectations, how freelancers are managed upfront is critical to ensuring their success.
Today we’re diving into practical tips and strategies for organizations and hiring managers on finding strong freelance candidates, crafting compelling project briefs, and effectively onboarding freelancers to become productive team members.
By implementing a few best practices, companies can optimize the freelance hiring process, alignment, and engagement. The result is freelance talent that consistently delivers value and on-target results across assignments.
Where to Find Strong Freelance Candidates
Tap into your network! Don't underestimate old fashioned word-of-mouth. Resist the urge to immediately post a job listing. Reach out to your personal and professional connections to reach the right people. Not only does this give you a vetted intro up-front, you’ll save on recruiting or marketplace costs in the long run.
LinkedIn can be a great place to to see who’s looking for new roles - and being able to see your shared connections can give you a better sense of their caliber and background before you even see their portfolio.
Be selective with online marketplaces - generally, you’ll find better-quality talent on smaller and more niche marketplaces. Sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and TopTal can give you access to global talent, but be warned that you’ll spend a lot of time sifting through candidates to find a true match.
Look for up-to-date profiles. Freelancer profiles mentioning outdated projects or skills may indicate the individual is not actively looking for new work. However, if you see a portfolio you love that hasn’t been updated in a while, there’s no harm in reaching out to make a connection for future work!
Notice platform loyalty. Some freelancers build their business heavily around a single site. They invest time optimizing their visibility and ratings there. If you find a great fit, don't assume they will be open to moving off the platform, which may saddle you with platform fees.
Pro tip: don’t be shy about approaching people in what appear to be “full time” jobs - many folks are open to taking on fractional roles and using them to explore new opportunities!
Crafting an Effective Project Brief
Focus on transparency. Clearly convey the core needs, challenges, and goals for the role. Providing honest context allows freelancers to assess their fit.
Avoid ambiguous "fluff" language. Generic statements about company culture sound nice but lack substance. Freelancers want to understand their tangible contributions.
Define specific outcomes. Freelance engagements are centered around targeted results within a fixed timeframe. Go beyond high level vision to actionable objectives.
Highlight organizational purpose. Freelancers aim to provide value, not just fill a role. Connect their work to larger goals to generate buy-in.
Onboarding Tips for Freelance Success
Coordinate logistics. You want your freelancers to be able to dive into real problem-solving on Day 1, not paperwork. Preparing the appropriate contracts, system access, and compliance training ahead of time can help facilitate a quick onramp.
Be open about team dynamics. Provide insight into preferred communication styles, pet peeves, and personalities of key players. It accelerates building rapport.
Proactively set milestones. Checking in at 30/60/90 days into a long-term project helps surface challenges before they balloon.
Encourage questions. Curiosity strengthens engagement. Make it clear asking for guidance isn't a weakness. Embrace teaching opportunities.
Exchange feedback early. Create safe spaces for giving input in both directions. Nipping issues in the bud leads to better work.
The Takeaway
Implementing optimal practices around freelancer sourcing, hiring, onboarding and management not only leads to better results on individual projects.
It can elevate the quality and potential of an organization's overall flexible workforce strategy.
By investing upfront in laying this strong foundation for integrating freelance talent, companies set themselves up for access to expanded skills, fresh perspectives, and the ability to remain nimble in meeting business needs.
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