The gig economy is booming, and freelancers are at the centre of it. Whether you’re a large agency or a startup, tapping into the freelance pool can be a game-changer for your projects, introducing people with specialised skill sets to take your project to new heights or simply enabling you to meet deadlines you otherwise wouldn’t be able to with the resources you have. So, how do you find the right fit?
Simple: ask the right questions! A freelancer can be onboarded in as little as a week, so onboarding can be short, as can the interview process. This means it’s imperative to cut straight to the chase.
Here are a few questions to inspire you to find your next freelance superstar:
1. What’s your creative process?
Every freelancer is different, having worked in many different organisational structures and cultures; they’ve picked up a few things along the way and cultivated their own ways of working, specifically their creative processes. This allows you to understand how they think and tick, and how adept they are at solving creative challenges.
2. Can you describe your general approach to working or tackling tasks?
Dive into their workflow to ensure it aligns with your project timeline and expectations. Are they methodical? Are they best left to their own devices or do they need hand-holding? Try to get an idea of whether they’re independent workers or collaborators. Ask general questions to understand what they view as important in a workplace and if it fits with your workplace culture. I.e. What do you think contributes to success when working with a client remotely?
3. How do you handle feedback?
Feedback is the lifeblood of any creative project, and how freelancers handle it can make or break the collaboration. Ask for an example of when they have received critique and how they handled it and moved forward. How do they navigate critique? Finding a freelancer who embraces feedback as a catalyst for growth ensures your project evolves into its best possible version.
4. Tell me about your favourite project.
Find out what makes them passionate, or rather how passionate they are about what they do. Their enthusiasm will illustrate how dedicated they are to their craft.
5. Tell me about a recent project you worked on that you feel best represents your work.
Use this type of question to gain insight into aspects of their professional capabilities and style and portfolio to decipher if their experience is compatible with your project requirements. This question can also provide a glimpse into their work ethic, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
6. How do you handle tight deadlines?
With freelance projects often having short timeframes, it’s important to understand how the freelancer works on a deadline and whether they have experience with tight turnarounds and time constraints without compromising quality. It’s hard to grasp how well a freelancer may handle a deadline until on the job, so you may want to ask specific questions around past experience with deadlines or hypothetical situations. E.g What would you do if you missed a deadline? How many clients do you normally work with at one time? Do you have any upcoming projects that might impact your ability to complete this one?
7. How do you stay Inspired?
Even the most talented freelancers need some inspiration here and there – try to get an understanding of what fuels their creativity to help them keep up their quality of work – or understand if you can provide the inspiration that fuels them to get the best output.
Freelance interviews can differ from long-term hires; you’re often looking for good quality work within tight timeframes. By asking the right questions to freelancers and listening with an open mind, you can uncover hidden gems and build lasting relationships that elevate your projects to new heights.
Help article : Get ahead of your freelance needs with talent pools
