How to recruit remote freelancers to your company

There was a time when freelancers were hired in lieu of permanent employees. If permanent employees were on leave and did not have the right skills, or if the workload was way beyond the capacity of regular employees, companies hired freelancers to fill in the gap. However, times have changed a lot. 

In this age and time, freelancers are not an option but a priority at times. They are not a resort in times of need but they have become a necessity thanks to their specialized skill sets. Freelancers bring new ideas and innovative concepts along with them, which helps benefit organizations. 

While building remote teams is not so new, the pandemic brought a whiff of fresh air in the world of freelancers and remote workers. Organizations, especially start-ups, have been hiring remote business models to make the most of space, time and available finances. COVID-19 makes the concept of remote working adaptable and widely accepted. 

Benefits of Remote Working

The global pandemic opened up tons of possibilities for remote workers. New technology has made it possible for organizations to operate with the help of a remote workforce. The human resource department finds remote teams more productive and alert. There are even cost savings that help organizations in the long run. In spite of all the benefits, putting together a remote team is a difficult task. 

Ideas to recruit remote freelancers

Here are some ideas that will help you assemble the best available remote talent pool for your organization. 

• Referrals are the best route

There are a number of companies that are opting to go remote, permanently. However, the remote work atmosphere might not go down well with certain employees. Some employees find working from the office more convenient and productive. This will mandate organizations to hire full-time remote freelancers to fill in the vacancies. 

Human resource professionals can ask for referrals to present employees. Further, fellow human resource professionals and friends too can come to the rescue. They might have someone looking for remote work. Referrals help find a good fit for specific roles. Good recommendations from within the circle help a lot. 

Asking for referrals helps keep the hiring process swift and organized. This is the shortest possible method to find and hire freelancers in the present times. It just takes dropping messages to acquaintances within your circle. You can even shoot emails and direct messages on social media. 

• Scout freelance marketplaces

One of the most preferred options for recruiting remote freelancers is conducting searches on various freelance marketplaces. Some human resource professionals rely on just one marketplace for freelancers. However, that’s a bad strategy. One freelancer might find a specific marketplace great, and another might find another one perfect for his/her needs. 

You can post your job requirements on several marketplaces at once. Talented candidates might not register for all the marketplace or might not even be aware of them. While creating profiles on such platforms might be boring, it is the most rewarding of all the efforts. This will help you attract a large pool of talent which you might not even be aware of. 

Hiring the right freelancer for an available vacancy is a one-time job. If you take the easiest route for the same, you might end up with a misfit for a long time. It does not take much time to register on freelance platforms like Refrens and it is worth the effort that is invested. 

Creating detailed listings help understand your requirement for freelancers looking for a job. When the job description is clear and all the things are mentioned in detail, you get applicants that are actually looking for the job and are ready to shoulder the responsibility mentioned. 

• Browse through portfolio sites

This step is especially for hiring creative talent. If you are looking to hire designers, architects, writers, and people with similar profiles, then browsing through the portfolio sites is an apt choice. This will help understand the kind of work a person does and her interests and qualifications. 

Portfolio sites are a window into the best work of creative freelancers. Such sites are very useful to explore profiles and reach out to a person for a specific job. It helps human resource professionals fill in a vacancy that requires particular skills and qualifications. 

• Connect on Social Media

Social media platforms are more useful to find potential freelancers than they are for staying in touch. Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are brimming with freelancers and influencers who have the interest and inclination to work for organizations. 

Human resource professionals just need to search with the right hashtags. They might land on several profiles and choose one that matches their specific requirements. There are even sites that help people discover groups created for freelancers. 

Steps to recruiting remote freelancers

1. Define job requirements and qualifications

When you are clear about your requirements, it will be easier for you to hire someone. When you post a job requirement, ensure that you mention job specifications or job descriptions clearly. Mention your expectations, qualifications that you are looking for, possible salary range, and the joining date if possible. Such details even limit the number of applicants. You will be saved from scouting for the right talent from a pool of applicants. 

2. Conduct a tough screening process

When you are hiring a freelancer to fill up a remote vacancy, you cannot skip the general steps of a regular screening process. An interview is required to screen the qualifications of the candidate before hiring. Interviews help attract the best possible candidates for the role. Instead of conducting a physical interview, you can opt for a virtual one. For this, you can ask the candidate to upload a short video explaining their candidature. Face-to-face interactions give a better perspective of the candidate. 

3. Go through the references

Some recruiters are shy about verifying the background of the freelancers. However, this should be a mandatory step. One should not be afraid of contacting past employers, colleagues and other references. You can get in touch over email, message or just call the person to know the candidature of the applicant. 

4. Take a test or give an assignment

Assignments are the latest entry to test the qualifications and capabilities of a potential freelancer. Companies ask them to give a PowerPoint presentation or complete a test or an assignment on a given topic related to the job description. This opens up the discrepancies if there are any in the application of the candidate. Actually, it acts as a litmus test. 

Conclusion

In spite of following all the methods and taking several precautions, it might happen that you are not able to fill up a vacancy or end up with the wrong person. In such cases, patience and perseverance is the key. Invest in training hired freelancers and give them some time for adjusting to the new environment. There are chances that the stone you chose transforms into a diamond under your guidance. 

Author Bio

Kelly Barcelos is a progressive digital marketing manager for  Jobsoid. She is responsible for leading the content and social media teams at work. Her expertise and experience in the field of HR enable her to create value-driven content for her readers – both on Jobsoid’s blog and other guest blogs where she publishes content Regularly.