Hiring remote talent: 5 steps to find the right independent contractor

Not every project or task requires a full-time employee. Oftentimes, hiring remote talent can provide the same quality of work for a much lower price.

According to the Centre for American Progress, hiring a full-time staff member costs as much as 213% of their annual salary when you factor in training and other expenses.

For organizations on a budget, hiring remote talent is a much more cost-effective way to leverage highly skilled individuals. And guess what? 70.4 million people are working as freelancers, only in the USA.

But whats the best way to find a talented freelancer with the right skills and experience for your project? There are several ways you can do this. However, there are a few trusted strategies that leading organizations always use to find the best talent.

So if you are hiring remote talent, here are five tips you can follow to help you.

Hiring remote talent with quality starts before you even conceive of your job or project. It begins when you establish what kind of organization you want to be and create your culture.

The very best freelancers often have their pick when it comes to clients. So, you need to do what you can in order to make your organization as attractive as possible. Freelancers want to know theyll have a positive experience working with you. Also, they want to assess the possibility of forming a beneficial long-term relationship.

For many people, they want to work on projects aligned with their values. In fact, LinkedIns latest Workplace Culture report indicates that nine out of ten millennials would consider taking a pay cut to work for an organization that has a mission they believe in. So, defining your organizations Why is a great way to attract freelancers who are passionate about what you stand for.

Moreover, freelancers want to be rewarded for their work, and not just with money. The ability to add your project to their portfolio, receive a positive testimonial and simply feel appreciated all greatly add to a freelancers experience with a client.

By consistently rewarding your freelancers when they meet or exceed your expectations, youll gain a positive reputation and will be sure to attract higher-quality freelancers.

When you have a job or project that needs a freelancer, the first step is to get the word out. According to a recent survey, 64% of American freelancers find work online. So, in today's digital world, there's no better way to do that than to create an online ad.

There are several freelance platforms where organizations can advertise their work opportunities. There are even sites that cater to specific industries and niches. For example, Work for Impact is designed for socially, environmentally responsible, and nonprofit organizations.

When it comes to actually writing your job post, make sure you include the following:

• A Clear and Relevant Title: Your title is a freelancer's first impression of your job. Keep it short and to the point. The best strategy is to identify what type of freelancer you're looking for and the task you'd like them to complete.

•  A Description of Your Job or Project: This is where you can really expand on your project and the tasks you'd like the freelancer to help you with. Include expected timelines, examples of similar projects, and any other relevant information. Letting freelancers know the project's purpose and how it will benefit your organization or society as a whole is also a great way to get them excited about the opportunity.

•  Required Skills: List all the skills required to complete the project. Include as many as possible, and be specific. Get advice from experts in relevant fields if you're at all unsure of what skills to include in your posting. This will help you receive more qualified applications.

•  Follow-Up Questions: It's also a good idea to ask applicants to answer a few relevant questions. For example, you can ask them if they've dealt with similar projects in the past, how they would approach your job, and any other questions that will help you determine whether they're a good fit.

Download our freelance job description template and fasten your freelance job post process.

Its quite likely that your job post will yield many applications from freelancers. So, your next task will be to sort through the various applications and identify the ones with the most potential.

You should be able to eliminate several candidates simply based on their skills and experience. Youll also want to assess their bid to ensure it works with your budget.

Next, see if they have any feedback available from previous clients. No one is perfect, but a quality freelancer will have overwhelmingly positive reviews. See if you can find any feedback for projects similar to yours and what the results were

Youll also want to view any portfolio items they have available. With it, you can see if their previous work aligns with your expectations.

Depending on your unique needs, you may want to consider many other potential factors. If youre going to require regular meetings, you might prefer a freelancer in a timezone that will work for you. You may also give preference to freelancers who are familiar with your industry, as this will reduce the amount of research theyll need to do to complete your project.

Based on all your criteria, try to narrow down the potential candidates to a pool of three to five, as this will make it more manageable to determine who is the best fit.

Once you have a pool of qualified freelancers, its a good idea to chat with each of them. We suggest booking a video call or a phone call.

Make sure to prepare for the interview by coming up with some questions you want to ask them. Ask questions about their skills, or that allows you to get to know them better as a person.

Speaking to a potential freelancer is an excellent way to gauge their understanding of the project. If they give clear and confident answers to your questions, its a good sign that they have a solid grasp of the subject matter. A freelancer who also asks plenty of questions themselves is usually one who is enthusiastic about the opportunity, which is an excellent sign.

Remember, you dont just want to determine whether they have the proper skills to complete the job. You also want to assess whether theyll be a good fit with your team. If this is going to be an ongoing project, make sure youre confident that the freelancer you choose will integrate well into your organizations culture.

If you really want to be sure whether a particular freelancer will be able to handle your project, you can also ask them to perform a test assignment. This is generally a small task that will give you an idea of how theyll be able to perform when it comes to the actual tasks you need to be completed. 

Youll need to compensate freelancers for their time when asking them to complete a test assignment. However, the extra cost is usually worth it as it will give you a better idea of who the strongest candidate really is.

After youve completed your interviews and tests, its time to choose the freelancer you feel is the best fit for your project.

But just because you hire a freelancer doesnt mean the process is over. A freelancer is only as good as the direction and instructions theyre given. So, make sure to provide clear expectations. Encourage your freelancer to ask questions to help them understand the complete scope of the work.

Furthermore, start by outlining the specific tasks you want them to complete and each deadline. Providing your freelancer with any relevant documents, links, videos, and other resources will also help them better understand exactly what youre looking for.

Finally, if the freelancer will be dealing with any confidential or sensitive information, make sure they understand how that information should be handled before they begin working.

With the right freelancer and a clear guidance, youll be well on your way to successfully completing your project.

Work for Impact is a freelance platform that connects talented freelancers with socially, environmentally responsible, and nonprofit organisations. 

If youd like to learn more about how we can help you bring your projects to life, click here.

Start hiring remote talent for your organisation.