What You Should Know About Hiring a Freelancer

Freelancers can be an essential part of any business, particularly smaller companies. They take work off of your plate and can accomplish tasks that you may not feel particularly equipped or inclined to tackle. However, it’s important to go through the hiring process carefully in order to ensure that the person you’re working with is a well trained and responsible professional. Here are some other tips to keep in mind when you’re looking to hire a freelancer:

• Consider the source carefully: Places like Elance and oDesk are popular, but this doesn’t always mean that the freelancers you find there are the most qualified for the job. In many instances, you’re better off working off of a recommendation from a friend, family member, or business associate when you’re looking to find a freelancer.
• Ask to see samples of their work: Anyone can interview well and talk a good game, but you want to see that they can actually deliver on these promises too. Any legitimate freelancer will have a portfolio to display. Don’t forget to ask to see it.
• Talk about rates ahead of time: You want to make sure that both parties are happy with the arrangement, so before any work is completed, have an honest conversation about money. Will this person be charging an hourly rate or will they be paid per project? Are there any additional fees you need to know about? How do they prefer to be paid?
• Talk about hours: If you need to be in regular communication with your freelancer, you’ll want to have a discussion about the schedule they keep. If they only work from 3am-7am and you’re working from 9am-5pm, you may find that doing business with this person is nearly impossible. Make sure that your schedules line up to allow for good communication.

Lastly, make sure that you’re aware of all expectations that this professional has. Are they anticipating getting a cubicle in your office or are they okay working from home? Do they think that you’ll pay for their Internet or is this something they will take care of on their own? These are all important points to verify before moving forward with a freelancer.

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