WELCOMING BACK OUR OLD FRIEND CAVALRY AS &FRIENDS DIVIDES INTO TWO!
Breakups can be tough, but this one? We’re actually pretty stoked about it! You can soon say hello (or perhaps, welcome back) to our old buddy Cavalry. Here’s the scoop: A few years back, our content production team at &FRIENDS joined forces with the freelance talent platform Cavalry. Together, they formed a powerful partnership, supporting each […]
WELCOMING BACK OUR OLD FRIEND CAVALRY AS &FRIENDS DIVIDES INTO TWO! Read More »
Breakups can be tough, but this one? We’re actually pretty stoked about it!
You can soon say hello (or perhaps, welcome back) to our old buddy Cavalry.
Here’s the scoop:
A few years back, our content production team at &FRIENDS joined forces with the freelance talent platform Cavalry. Together, they formed a powerful partnership, supporting each other and our clients, becoming a powerhouse in the production industry and for creative freelancers everywhere!
But very soon, the journey will take a turn. While still staying best buds and partners, we’ve decided to part ways as two separate entities to bring clarity and reduce any confusion for our amazing users.
But very soon, the journey will take a turn. While still staying best buds and partners, we’ve decided to part ways as two separate entities to bring clarity and reduce any confusion for our amazing users.
So, what’s the deal now?
&FRIENDS will be all about content production needs, while CAVALRY FREELANCING will be the place for our freelancers and hirers to connect and thrive.
&FRIENDS will be all about content production needs, while CAVALRY FREELANCING will be the place for our freelancers and hirers to connect and thrive.
Do you need to do anything?
Not at all! Your profile will stay just the way it is, along with your logins. The way you will use the platform won’t change; it’s just getting a fresh coat of paint.
and what about fees?
Nope, Cavalry will still be as free as ever for freelancers to sign up and use. And guess what? If you book a project, there are zero commission charges. So, keep doing what you do best, and let those gigs roll in.
Keep your eyes peeled as the relaunch of Cavalry is only a short while away now. Rest assured you’ll hear about it first!
5 MINUTES WITH &FRIENDS CEO, TOM MABERLY!
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Tom Maberly comes from a family of thesps and creatives. His grandfather on his dad’s side was an actor, part of a troupe with the likes of Dame Ellen Terry, and so were both of his sisters. Tom’s family name was consistently on stage and screen, but he chose to remain very much behind the camera – “Far too self-conscious to be on stage,” he admits.
This, however, didn’t stop him from pursuing creativity. Like many, he fell into the career path, in his case through the journalism pipeline. Starting off as a runner on the production side of IMG (Endeavor), which managed swathes of sports broadcast, Tom started working his way up from there. IMG is also where he learned the true power of a ‘global network’.
Fast forward, today Tom has a digital marketing and media operations career spanning 20 years of work. For the last seven of those, he has successfully managed creative production company &Friends, achieving 30% year on year growth.
In 2020, Tom set up a c-corporation in New York City to support both clients and creative services talent with a more ‘agile way of working’ in content production. And, in 2022, &Friends acquired Australian tech company Cavalry group, with the vision of streamlining the way companies and talent work together via a next generation and proprietary talent management system. Since then, the two companies have decoupled and are continuing their parallel growth, with Tom at their helm.
LBB’s Zoe Antonov spoke to him to find out about the twists and turns of his career.
LBB> What were your first professional steps towards entering this industry and what lessons did you learn from these first years?
Tom> I cut my teeth working predominantly on non-live magazine shows and documentary making which was a lot of fun, and also meant some great travel during my twenties. Due to the nature of the programming, we were creating content for the fan, first and foremost.
Entering the marketing and advertising world whilst still at IMG taught me the importance of thinking of the audience first, as opposed to the client/brand first. It meant that, when starting Mr White (now &Friends), we were quite editorial focussed, and this was reflected in the types of client we won in those early days.
LBB> When did you establish &Friends and why? What has this journey been like for you and has the company become exactly what you wanted, or is it something totally different that you didn’t know was possible?
Tom> We started our production company as ‘Mr White’ at the back end of 2016. We could see that agencies needed more flexibility and resources on tap. So, Mr White was called so, in order to tap into that zeitgeist – a kind of ‘White labelling’, the no fuss guys, in and out, do a great job but let our clients take the credit, pick us up, put us down, only use us when you need us… you get the picture! But in reality we ended up working predominantly into brand marketing teams, acting as an extension to their team.
Cut to seven years on, and we’re now technically a technology company – an outcome that wasn’t planned from the start.But because of the way we were working, brand direct, from the outset, we could see how agency land was changing, and how business and agencies, both large and small, all needed access to freelance talent. Talent we now provide via our proprietary platform, Cavalry!
LBB> What did starting your own shop mean to you and how did it level up your career?
Tom> Starting with two other partners meant that we had defined roles, but in reality it was very scrappy at the start, so we were wearing out our soles treading the pavements and getting our name out there as much as possible initially. The challenges were the normal start-up ones, I’d say – proving and gaining credibility, but also being able to punch above our weight whilst maintaining a lean core.
It taught us how to create crack teams according to the objectives of our clients. Creatively, we knew we could produce great work by nurturing the few clients we had, so that we could build the relationship, create trust between the two groups, and then push the boundaries thereafter. Also key, strategically, was hiring according to the work, bringing in specialists not generalists, which has in turn, paved the way for our business to evolve and focus on the talent.
LBB> You wear many more hats than just ‘founder’ today – tell me about the other roles you occupy in &Friends and how that works out for you. Do you get a second to breathe?
Tom> Jack of all trades, master of none! Running one, and now technically a second business, means you need to learn new skills all the time – gain knowledge and upskill regularly. But free time is key to longevity. We’re not here to build and sell immediately, we’re here to build and nurture, so mindfulness is high on the agenda for me personally, and for the team. For me, for example, finding free time during the kids’ school holidays is a non negotiable.
LBB> So let’s talk about Cavalry. In 2022, you merged with the freelance platform – why was this a good idea for &Friends?
Tom> We acquired a freelance talent marketplace, built on a sophisticated tech stack – it’s called Cavalry, and it’s a talent management system with freelancer marketplace dynamics. Think Fiverr but more curated! Since merging, we’ve built the freelancers pool into an 11 thousand strong creative community, globally distributed and ready to be mobilised. “Send in the Cavalry!”
All our production teams now find their on the ground crew from the platform, but it’s far from being just a crewing platform. On the platform, you can hire strategists, UX/UI (user experience/ user interface) developers, GFX designers, art directors, social media managers, the list goes on.
Why was it a good idea? Because it was clear that the big agencies, in particular, couldn’t support the same fixed cost base they once did, with retainers not being what they once were. So they needed the ability to scale up and down according to the work. In reality, because of covid 19, technology advances and just the way people want to work these days, some major talent gaps have been forming. So building a friction free way to access much needed talent was a no brainer for us.
LBB> Tell me about the ‘decoupling’ from Cavalry.
Tom> When we merged we wrapped both businesses up under ‘one roof’ because at the time it seemed important to be a single joined up business with one pathway to growth. But in reality the two businesses have such different needs that it’s hard managing both internal messaging, as well as external PR and messaging backed by just one brand.
So we’re now separating out the two businesses (brands), so that we can communicate more clearly to both the creative community and our potential customers. A fairly big job, but a critical one.
LBB> How do you feel your creative vision has changed, and how have you as an individual? Has the industry changed much too?
Tom> I’m less at the coalface creatively right now, so in terms of comparison it’s hard to judge ‘like for like’ with my previous projects. However, the main difference from my standpoint is that creative development is hard right now with the pressures marketers are faced with, i.e. tightened purse strings, and the constant pressure to create more with less! It’s not doom and gloom though, it just means making sure we can be adaptable. The industry has changed, so it’s no good expecting the old ways of working to be replicable forever.
LBB> What is your favourite thing about the industry right now and what is the role you believe you occupy in it?
Tom> The exciting thing is that the industry is opening up much more right now. What I mean by that is that there was once a very clear hierarchy in agency land, but that has been slowly unravelling these past five to ten years, opening doors for new players in the market, be it specialist agencies or tech start-ups entering the arena.
It’s a good thing. And our place, or role if you like, has evolved given our move into the talent space. Essentially, we’re still at the end of the marketing funnel if being engaged as &Friends – so if our customer needs a production partner to bring their vision to life, we become the extension of their marketing team and deliver creative, production and asset(s) delivery.
But we’re also now in every section of the funnel because of our talent management platform and freelancer marketplace – with anyone from a UX/UI developer to content creators and social media managers (and everyone in between). So now, when Cavalry is being engaged, we can be touching much more of the industry, i.e. every step of that marketing funnel potentially, from strategy (brand, creative, media), to design and delivery – and that’s really important for us right now.
LBB> And equally, what is your least favourite thing about the industry? How can you/do you use your position as a leader to change that?
Tom> One thing is a clear lack of female representation when it comes to directing. How is it that our teams actually struggle to fill a female director referral when certain clients stipulate this, when women make up 50% of the population?!
With Cavalry we’ve created a mentorship programme accessible via the Cavalry platform. My feeling is that people generally do have the appetite and wish to give back, so we’ve just got to make sure there are enough easily accessible avenues people can take to give back more.
LBB> What excites you most about the future right now?
Tom> That people want to work the way they want to work and that we can allow that to happen! People should have the chance and ability to manage their time in a way that suits their needs, rather than just being told. For too long there has been a real bias towards FTEs (full-time equivalents), so let’s get to a place where freelancers, the foundations of our industry, let’s be clear, are seen as a critical part of the marketing mix… Not as commodities!
7 Questions to ask in an interview with a freelancer
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7 Questions to ask in an interview with a freelancer Read More »
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
6 Key Strategies to get booked on freelance Gigs and Outshine Competitors
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6 Key Strategies to get booked on freelance Gigs and Outshine Competitors Read More »
In today’s bustling freelance landscape, where competition is fierce and every opportunity counts, it’s essential to ensure your profile stands out from the crowd. &FRIENDS is global, yet we’re not the biggest player in the game – a pro for our freelancers who aren’t up against thousands of their competitors for each project they apply to.
Nonetheless, you’ll still want to do what you can to set yourself apart. So here’s a step-by-step guide to help you elevate your freelancer profile and land more gigs:
1. Define Your Niche: Think quality over quantity here – Choose your specialisms wisely, focusing on authenticity and expertise to showcase your true talents. Remember, clients are looking for specialists, not generalists. So even though you can select up to 4 specialisms on our platform, there’s nothing stopping you from selecting just 1 or 2.
2. Be Transparent and Authentic: Build trust by being genuine about your skills, experiences, and limitations. Clients appreciate honesty and authenticity, which fosters strong relationships and opens doors for networking opportunities.
3. Network Effectively: Engage with fellow freelancers and online communities, leveraging platforms like &FRIENDS for exposure and connections. Join our “FRIDAY FRIENDS” spotlight to expand your reach and connect with potential clients. Email community@andfriends.world to find out how you can get featured.
We are also now taking expressions of interest for our new Mentor Program from Senior Freelancers. Learn more here.
4, Showcase Your Portfolio: Impress potential clients by including a link to your portfolio directly on your &FRIENDS profile. Enhance visibility by adding visuals within the platform, highlighting relevant work that aligns with job opportunities.
Note: adding your work directly to your profile means a client won’t have to click away from our platform where you might have applied for the job, and in their search for talent, it appears as the below- an instant stand out in comparison to a freelancer with zero visuals!
5. Deliver Outstanding Service: Beyond landing the gig, exceptional customer service sets you apart. Proactive communication, reliability, and stellar performance ensure repeat business and glowing referrals. Remember, happy clients are your best marketing tool.
6, Flaunt Your Unique Value: Identify your competitive edge and boldly promote it. Whether it’s competitive rates, specialised expertise, or unparalleled creativity, make sure clients know what makes you stand out from the crowd.
Bonus Tip: Seek Feedback: No one is perfect, and it’s always good to have a second pair of eyes look over your profile. Ask a friend or colleague to review it and provide constructive feedback to help you refine and improve.
With these actionable steps, you’ll transform your freelancer profile into a powerful tool for securing gigs and forging lasting connections in the freelance world.
Help article : Setting yourself up as a business not just a freelancer
IWD: MEET THE WOMEN OF &FRIENDS
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Lucy Anderson is the Operations Manager and Producer at &Friends. She has been with the team since the early stages of the company and has over 10 years of experience in the field. She has worked on all aspects of production from small online content to animated Netflix series, branded documentaries and TVCs.
What first attracted you to production – and has it been an industry you’ve always worked in or did you come to it from another area?
I always loved photography growing up but decided it was more of a hobby and wasn’t interested in photography as a career. For this reason, I later found myself in production.
What was your first role in the production world and how did this experience influence how you think about production now?
My first role in the production world was working on the client side as a sample assistant. I used to get to go on shoots and I got so excited by them!
How did you learn to be a producer?
I was trained by the many talented producers that I worked with.
Looking back to the beginning of your career, can you tell us about a production you were involved in where you really had to dig deep and that really helped you to grow as a producer? I think every job I do helps me grow as a producer but getting thrown into the deep end definitely accelerates this growth.
A good producer should be able to produce for any medium, from film to events to digital experience. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why/why not? I think the skill for all these mediums is the same however to be a good producer lots of it comes with experience, each shoot I produce I learn something new which I can take to the next shoot with me, and when I produced my first shoot I had been a production runner learning how to do the job. If I were to produce an event I wouldn’t know all the finer details or what the ‘watchouts’ were – it probably wouldn’t go so well.
What’s your favourite thing about production and why? I love it when everything finally comes together– you feel this big sense of achievement and satisfaction.
How has production changed since you started your career? The lead time from project sign-off to shoot has been reduced and everything is needed yesterday.
And what has stayed the same? The fun of the job and working with so many talented people
What do you think is the key to being an effective producer – and is it something that’s innate or something that can be learned? Well organized, a quick problem solver and calm. It’s a mixture.
As a producer your brain must have a neverending “to do” list. How do you switch off? What do you do to relax? Exercise is the best way for me to de-stress and switch off
What’s the key to a successful production-client relationship? Have fun and make sure you listen to what the client wants!
Why is there a lack of women in the creative industry?
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Why is there a lack of women in the creative industry? Read More »
The creative industry has arguably been a bit of a boys’ club for too long, but hey, the winds of change are blowing! More women are stepping into leadership roles, shaking things up in the industry. However, let’s not sugarcoat it—there are still some hurdles that women face in the creative world, whether they’re permanent or freelancers, which keeps the boys’ club vibe alive and kicking.
According to research by Creative Equals, only 17% of UK creative directors are female. Yeah, that’s a low blow, especially considering the number of women in creative arts courses. So, what’s up with that? Why aren’t more women in the field?
We conducted a poll on our social media platforms to gather insights directly from women. The findings indicate that prejudice and stereotyping is the most prevalent issue (44%).
We believe there are other common challenges that can get in the way
Work life balance: Working crazy hours on set doesn’t make it so easy to have a flexible work schedule (which is not just an issue for women in the industry), plus the limited access to childcare makes it all the more challenging.
Gender Bias: We can’t deny that historically leadership positions were mostly performed by men. Whilst we believe the societal opinion and stigma has changed around this, it’s not something that shifts overnight. Men have always been associated with leadership and authority roles and these traditional roles have continued to influence people’s perceptions of a woman’s capabilities in a leadership position today.
Pay inequality. The cherry on top. Yep, it’s still a thing, with women getting shortchanged compared to their male counterparts for similar roles. Recent studies suggest women earn on average 16% less than their male counterparts globally.
So, it’s no surprise that some women might decide to take the high road before they begin right after graduation. Financial uncertainty, limited career growth, and a lack of a work-life balance.
But, it’s not all doom and gloom for women – How can we get women to feel empowered to enter and progress to leadership positions in the creative industries?
Here are a few ideas:
Advocacy Groups: Picture a gang of awesome folks rallying for change and shining a light on gender inequality. They’re all about equal pay and opportunities, and they’re not afraid to shout about it!
Mentorship and Networking Programs: Ever wished you had someone in your corner, cheering you on and showing you the ropes? Well, that’s what these programs are all about! They hook you up with experienced pros who can offer support, opportunities, and a whole lot of wisdom.
Training and Skill Development: Let’s amp up those skills! Specialised training in leadership and entrepreneurship isn’t just about learning new stuff —it’s about feeling empowered and ready to take on the world. Think of it as a power-up for your creative journey!
And hey, let’s not forget the real MVPs here—women! They’re the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and economic growth in the production industry – just like their male counterparts. By busting stereotypes, challenging biases, and fighting for equal pay, we can make sure they shine as bright as they deserve to. Let’s keep breaking down those barriers until gender disparity is a thing of the past!
Freelancing and keeping your full-time job, can it be done?
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Freelancing and keeping your full-time job, can it be done? Read More »
Ready to start your side biz but have no idea where to start? Let us, the (self-proclaimed) freelancing gurus, lead the way.
If you’re an expert freelancer, jog on but thanks for stopping by, if you’re a newbie to this let’s start from square one and get you set up for success. It will take time especially since you’re juggling a full-time job so carve out a little chunk of time each day, week, or weekend to pave your path to greatness.
Chat to your employer: First things first, have a chat with your employer. Whether you spill the beans about your new venture or not, it’s always wise to give your contract a once-over to make sure you’re not stepping on any toes.
Assess Your Skills and Interests: Identify your skills, expertise, and interests – What kind of skills could you potentially offer as a service? Consider also any hobbies or passions that may give you an edge over competitors in certain areas – But sorry, being a beer pong champ doesn’t count here!
Define Your Niche: Determine your target market and the specific services you’ll offer within your niche. Resist the temptation to cast your net too wide; trust us, targeting a specific audience will pay off big time in the long run.
Build a Portfolio/Website: Time to show off a bit – build yourself a portfolio or website that screams “hire me!” Showcase your work, flaunt those testimonials, and oh, don’t forget to throw in a snazzy profile pic.
Set Clear Goals: Establish realistic goals for your freelance business, including how many hours per week you’ll dedicate to freelancing, income targets etc.
Set your rate: This can be hourly or daily, base this on your level or expertise in the field you have chosen. Do a bit of research on industry averages to find your sweet spot.
Market Yourself: One of the best ways to market yourself and find work as a freelancer is via freelancer platforms like Cavalry. We post freelance projects but will also showcase your profile, increasing exposure for your business by connecting you with companies that are looking for freelancers in your niche.
Pitch directly: Like most things in life you usually have to go out an get it ! So while waiting for a project to pop up that suitable for you, you can take action by pitching directly to a company or individual you think might benefit from your services. Craft a killer email thall make em sit up and take notice.
Create a Schedule: If you are still going to be working a full-time job you will need to create a schedule that works for you as start to accept freelance work. Ensure you’re mindful of the project deadlines and working hours of those clients. Try to allocate specific hours each week to freelance work, be mindful of overworking. Never forget the importance of work life balance!
Manage Your Finances: As your freelancing projects ramp up, you might consider separating income from freelancing and your full-time work to track income and expenses , and don’t skimp on tracking those expenses for tax purposes.
Evaluate and Adjust: Last but not least, don’t forget to check in with yourself regularly. Maybe freelancing has become more than just a side hustle – we’ve got faith in you!
So, there you have it – a roadmap to kickstart your freelancing journey. We hope this gets you fired up and ready to take the plunge. Let’s make magic happen! 🚀
Emerging trends in production
In the ever-evolving landscape of production, staying ahead of trends is crucial for professionals aiming to deliver cutting-edge content. Each year, more and more trends and technologies emerge and shape the future of production, revolutionising the way we not only create, but consume and interact with media. We asked you (our Linkedin followers) via a
In the ever-evolving landscape of production, staying ahead of trends is crucial for professionals aiming to deliver cutting-edge content.
Each year, more and more trends and technologies emerge and shape the future of production, revolutionising the way we not only create, but consume and interact with media.
We asked you (our Linkedin followers) via a poll what you thought these emerging trends would be (we chose our top four faves).
Virtual Reality
Blurring the lines between the physical and virtual worlds, virtual reality has gained momentum with techniques like green screen filming and computer-generated environments. Virtual reality, augmented, reality, and extended reality are all pushing the boundaries of storytelling.
UGC
UGC is more prominent in content today because of the diverse perspectives it brings from everyday individuals , it fosters a more inclusive representation of different communities. The user contribution to the brand can also foster a sense of community to a brand which might in turn come with trust due to the authentic nature of the content.
Interactive content
If you think about how much we actually consume day to day, you’ll want to switch off your phone/ tv. But you won’t, cause you’re addicted. No judgement. But this is why interactive Content is shaping the future of production, it’s encouraging the audience to actively participate and interact with content rather than passively consume it. Given this action, it’s likely to be retained at a higher level. Interactive content can also be quite personalised as opposed to a lot of the mass marketing we see daily.
Short form video
These days, with the amount of media we’re consuming, our attention spans are limited, so audiences prefer bite-sized content to consume during a break or when on-the go. – A short form video is the answer. Most of the time this content is viewed on mobile and on social media where these platforms prioritise short form content i.e Tiktok.
Short form videos are easily digestible, usually straight to the point so more likely to capture and retain audience attention as opposed to long form videos.
Ways of working
Remote Collaboration and Cloud-Based Workflows:
The global shift towards remote work has significantly impacted production workflows. Cloud-based collaboration tools and Global Freelancing platforms, like &FRIENDS, allow for diverse skillsets, enhanced efficiency and creativity at a GLOBAL scale.
Sustainable Production Practices:
The production industry is becoming more environmentally conscious. From eco-friendly sets, eco-friendly travel options and sustainably sourced materials, audiences have demanded a shift toward being being more green and socially responsible in content production and &FRIENDS is on board. As an example &FRIENDS has partnered with Ecologi to offset our productions.
Get Ahead of Your Freelance Needs with Talent Pools
What if you could avoid the stress that comes with short lead times and compromised freelance choices? What if you could get ahead of your freelance needs by having a deep, and vetted freelance team at your disposal? Sounds great but a lot of work? Not with &FRIENDS Talent Pools. For the first time,
Get Ahead of Your Freelance Needs with Talent Pools Read More »
What if you could avoid the stress that comes with short lead times and compromised freelance choices? What if you could get ahead of your freelance needs by having a deep, and vetted freelance team at your disposal? Sounds great but a lot of work? Not with &FRIENDS Talent Pools.
For the first time, the process of building, managing, and replenishing your ideal freelance team has been made effortless.
Ways You Can Use Talent Pools with &FRIENDS
PRE-BUILT TALENT POOLS: Your &FRIENDS Account Management team can help build out your talent pools. – If you have an Account Managed service, we are on hand to help build out talent pools for you. This means that if you foresee an influx of projects, and need to start thinking about scaling up, your dedicated Account Manager can begin building out your talent pools and get your “digital bench” ready – ensuring you have pre-vetted, quality talent already waiting in the wings! (This is a separate function from simply posting a job brief for a specific role across set dates).
UPLOADING YOUR BLACKBOOK: Add your blackbook of freelancers or employees and organise them into talent pools how you like. Blackbook freelancers are FREE to book via &FRIENDS. You can use Talent Pools to organise your own freelance talent in one place, including bulk messaging, briefing, booking, etc.
SOURCING / PREPARING YOUR OWN TALENT POOLS: Source talent from our global community and build your own talent pools. Maybe you just hired the perfect freelancer for the gig, but were impressed with some of the other talent from the shortlist? – Add them too your talent pool- Think of it as your shopping wishlist!
HAVE FREELANCERS COME TO YOU: Once you create/open the talent pool, you have the option to make it public, allowing freelancers to ‘apply’ to your pool. Freelancers that match your needs can find your Talent pool and get in touch so you don’t have to make the first move. You will be able to review their profile before deciding to accept them into your pool of expert freelancers. You can keep this pool as exclusive as you want.
In any case, talent pools will save you from having to source for candidates and post briefs each time you have a new project.
Having organized Talent pools allows you to:
- Monitor availabilityChat with freelancers
- Rate freelancers
- Write notes of all interactions
- Book them through &FRIENDS
- Access contact details
- View their profiles and work
- Best of all, building a team is free on &FRIENDS, and you only incur fees when you book freelancers (and only those who are part of our community and not your own blackbook).
Tip: Clients tend to divide pools between specialism and level of expertise as we have on the platform. Lead, senior, midweight, Junior.
Start Building Talent Pools
Book a Demo
Why you should (slightly) customise your freelancer profile
The beauty of having a profile on a freelancer platform like &FRIENDS means you can apply for a project with just a click of a button. However, you know that all jobs are different and require various skills and specialisations. Taking a moment to tailor your profile before hitting the apply button not only
Why you should (slightly) customise your freelancer profile Read More »
The beauty of having a profile on a freelancer platform like &FRIENDS means you can apply for a project with just a click of a button. However, you know that all jobs are different and require various skills and specialisations. Taking a moment to tailor your profile before hitting the apply button not only shows attention to detail but also demonstrates a genuine interest in the position.
&FRIENDS specialises in freelance roles, and these projects can vary from days to weeks and sometimes months.
Production Work
For most production roles, employers will likely want to see your website and portfolio. It’s best to input this information when creating your &FRIENDS profile.
Work
In terms of customisation, you can add projects and examples of your work to the portfolio section on your profile. If a brief provides details about the project, such as specific skills in a particular platform or a specific technique, this is the perfect place to showcase it. Why not save them the time of scrolling through your website to find evidence or information about this project? Plus, it only takes a few seconds.
Skills
Skills are different from specialisations; your specialisation is your main job title, and the ones you input on your profile will alert you via email. Skills are listed separately, and you can add several of them by pressing enter after each skill. If you notice key skills needed for a job, a great idea is to add them here. If a client decides to use the search functionality to find freelancers or is sifting through numerous applicants, they can filter based on your skills.
What a client sees when they view the portfolio section of your profile
DESIGN/STRATEGY
For roles that aren’t centred around production, whether it’s freelance or full-time, it’s crucial to tweak your profile based on the provided job description. If you’re not relying solely on your CV, it’s a good idea to edit your bio to align with the job description, highlighting the relevant experience you’ve had for that specific project. Often, brands are on the lookout for professionals who have worked with similar brands, making it valuable to list the brands you’ve collaborated with as a way to underscore your fit for the role.
Another effective method for customizing your profile is to feature your experience and projects under the designated section. We acknowledge that you’ve already uploaded your CV, which may encompass everything, but each client navigates the platform differently. It can be time-consuming for them to download separate CVs off the platform. Instead, having a quick read through your bio and viewing a couple of past projects listed within the platform is often more convenient than having to exit to access different documents.
Below is an example of a bio (keeping it concise is key), but take note of the mention of brands she has collaborated with.
This is an example of a Freelancer listing a related past experience, simply listing the date, project and client.
Get Ready to land your dream project – Customise your &FRIENDS Profile Now
