Hiring the wrong freelancer can cost you and your company money and precious time. Choose the right professional by avoiding these five common hiring mistakes.
1. Low budget, high expectations.
Having a dollar figure in mind can actually cause you to overlook the best talent for your needs. Plus, it can be costly if you hire a freelancer with a low rate but have to ask them redo the work several times to get it right. Instead of going for the cheapest option, evaluate each freelancer’s work collections to determine who is the best fit.
2. Posting vague job descriptions.
If your job description is sparse or incomplete, how can a freelancer know if they offer the services you need? Fill out every part of the job posting, and include your expectations such as completion date and availability of the freelancer. This makes it more likely that the quotes you receive will be detailed and appropriate for the job you have in mind.
3. Overvaluing feedback scores.
You may find yourself relying heavily on feedback scores. While this does leave less to chance, it also causes you to pass over newbies who haven’t had a chance to prove themselves on Guru. Don’t completely rule out a newbie, just be sure that you ask them to provide samples of their work with their quote. Often you can hire a newbie for less than an experienced user and get similar output quality.
4. Rushing to a decision.
If you have an immediate need, it can be tempting to hire the first freelancer you find who has a decent record and submits a compelling quote. Stop yourself from acting on impulse, because it can end up costing you money you can’t afford to lose. Take your time searching for the perfect fit and evaluating quotes.
5. Overlooking cultural and personality differences.
One of the great things about Guru.com is how it connects people from all around the world. But keep in mind that you need to be able to communicate with a freelancer you hire to ensure your job is done right. If you ignore the fact that English is their second language or they aren’t available at the times you need them, you could find yourself in a difficult situation down the road. If you can easily have a conversation with the freelancer and you’ve carefully defined your expectations in an agreement, you’re off to a great start.
2 Comments
Hello,
I really enjoyed reading your article,it is well-said and communicated. I often find clients that have typical stereotype mindsets. I like what you said here, it is all about judging for oneself who is the best fit for his/her organization, than pre-judging them on the basis of their race, color, and country of origin….Thanks again!
This is a very good informative article. All my gripes about Guru clients have been addressed in this article. I’d say a good amount of Guru Clients seek illustrators the same as they would for plumbing repair. Some even just look at the estimated artist fee for getting the job done at the lowest cost. Some might not even differentiate between really well done art and mediocre art. So they go to India art studio sweatshops who cannot be reached due to time zone and language issues.