Your Biggest Fears When Hiring a Freelancer?

18 replies
Hey Warriors,

I need two minutes of your time! I'm trying to create an article regarding "a client's biggest fears when hiring freelancers". As I'm sure that many of you have worked with freelancers in the past or do so currently, I hope that you can give me two minutes of your time and tell me what are your biggest fears (if any) when hiring a new freelancer.

Example: work won't be high-quality, delivery won't be done on time etc.

I really hope that I can count on you with this!

Thank you!

Andreea M.
#biggest #fears #freelancer #hiring
  • Profile picture of the author agc
    So I'm confused... are you are writing an article on managing freelancers, but you haven't actually managed any freelancers yourself?
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    • Profile picture of the author AndreeaM
      Hi everyone,

      Thank you for your answers! I didn't expect to receive so many replies to my post. I answered each of you below.

      Originally Posted by agc View Post

      So I'm confused... are you are writing an article on managing freelancers, but you haven't actually managed any freelancers yourself?
      Hi agc,

      Thank you or your response! No, not really. In fact, I am a freelancer writer and run a blog where I offer freelancers various tips.

      I think that finding out what are the biggest fears clients have when hiring freelancers can help us think of guarantees that we can offer to counter these fears. It's a win-win for both sides.

      Originally Posted by David Beroff View Post

      I don't have any fears. I break tasks down into tiny pieces, so that, inevitably, when workers wander away or whatever, very little is at risk. Even there, I work with marketplaces that use escrow and arbitration, and I have never lost one case or one penny.
      Hi David!

      I find your process to be very good and, yes, the risk of bumping into issues is very limited. Thank you!

      Originally Posted by Engineer2Blogger View Post

      I'm sure a lot of people are scare of freelancers stealing their idea/business. Also, it's an unknown territory for many.
      This is correct. But the same can happen with one of your employees. Thank you for your response!

      Originally Posted by PeckhamPirate View Post

      I'm a freelancer, I love it.
      I used to run e-commerce sites but the non-stop battle with Google just p****d me off royally and I decided to quit in favour of building other people's businesses. Now once a site's been built my work is done and it's a lot less stressful.

      I get most of my clients from sites like UpWork and I used to use Elance. For me the secret is in having plenty of good reviews and to write engaging applications.

      So I'd say use those metrics when employing someone to work for you. All the popular freelance sites have detailed profiles of service providers so start there, and rather than making your ads public just invite the kind of freelancers you'd like to work with - the ones with good reviews.

      Alternatively, avoid the stress and just give me a shout
      Hi,

      Indeed, I believe that feedback and samples are the best quality indicator. And, when I say feedback, I'm not talking just about the rating, but about what people are truely saying about the freelancer.

      Thank you!

      Originally Posted by rakota View Post

      I don't think it's a "fear" but it is annoying when it happens - Outsourcers going silent for a length of time. Lack of contact.
      Thank you! I was sure this one was on someone's list.

      Originally Posted by Rory Singh View Post

      Most people (especially those with limited budgets) fear losing money before they find a good freelancer or virtual assistant.

      Finding a good person to hire is work in itself and it does take money (and time) to 'test the waters'.

      So it can be a head ache to find the right person or people but that's part of the game.
      "Losing money and time" - checked. Thank you very much!

      Originally Posted by citationbuildingteam View Post

      When suddenly a freelancer stop communicating with you, or you need to talk to your freelancer for a rush job but he/she is nowhere to be found.
      Indeed. This is why it's great to also add freelancers on Skype, so that you can get in touch with them easier.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
    I don't have any fears. I break tasks down into tiny pieces, so that, inevitably, when workers wander away or whatever, very little is at risk. Even there, I work with marketplaces that use escrow and arbitration, and I have never lost one case or one penny.
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    Put MY voice on YOUR video: AwesomeAmericanAudio.com
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  • Profile picture of the author Engineer2Blogger
    I'm sure a lot of people are scare of freelancers stealing their idea/business. Also, it's an unknown territory for many.
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  • Profile picture of the author PeckhamPirate
    I'm a freelancer, I love it.
    I used to run e-commerce sites but the non-stop battle with Google just p****d me off royally and I decided to quit in favour of building other people's businesses. Now once a site's been built my work is done and it's a lot less stressful.

    I get most of my clients from sites like UpWork and I used to use Elance. For me the secret is in having plenty of good reviews and to write engaging applications.

    So I'd say use those metrics when employing someone to work for you. All the popular freelance sites have detailed profiles of service providers so start there, and rather than making your ads public just invite the kind of freelancers you'd like to work with - the ones with good reviews.

    Alternatively, avoid the stress and just give me a shout
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    Stylish, affordable web design, translation and copywriting.
    I'm available for hire...

    EnglishEffect.com
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    • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
      Originally Posted by agc View Post

      So I'm confused... are you are writing an article on managing freelancers, but you haven't actually managed any freelancers yourself?
      Think of her like a news reporter.
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      "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"

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      • Profile picture of the author wolvina
        Originally Posted by Jill Carpenter View Post

        Think of her like a news reporter.
        Haha, think of her as a freelancer having to write an article
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  • Profile picture of the author rakota
    I don't think it's a "fear" but it is annoying when it happens - Outsourcers going silent for a length of time. Lack of contact.
    Signature

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    • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
      Originally Posted by rakota View Post

      I don't think it's a "fear" but it is annoying when it happens - Outsourcers going silent for a length of time. Lack of contact.
      Right. That's why my specs state that I expect communication at least every 24 hours, and that silence for 72 hours automatically cancels the contract... period.

      Like I said, I've never lost an arbitration... partly because I properly prepare in advance.
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      Put MY voice on YOUR video: AwesomeAmericanAudio.com
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  • Profile picture of the author Rory Singh
    Most people (especially those with limited budgets) fear losing money before they find a good freelancer or virtual assistant.

    Finding a good person to hire is work in itself and it does take money (and time) to 'test the waters'.

    So it can be a head ache to find the right person or people but that's part of the game.
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  • When suddenly a freelancer stop communicating with you, or you need to talk to your freelancer for a rush job but he/she is nowhere to be found.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bubs2013
    When it's too cheap, the quality, 90% of the times sucks so bad.

    When the quality is good, 90% of writers I've come across are either, too expensive or don't keep their words when it comes to delivering on time.
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    • Profile picture of the author MikeVietri
      Well, I guess my biggest fear would be that they just go ghost on me and never reply to my messages again.

      But that is very rare,

      most people fear lack of quality, losing money, and so on.

      But I eliminate this worry by covering a few basic:

      1. clear communication is vital

      I use jing every single time I work with someone else online.

      jing is a screen capture software that allows me to record my voice and screen at the same time.

      this is how I explain what I want and how I want it.

      I also go through the trouble of creating extra material to make sure they understand what I want (ex. a word document with the checklist...)

      I also make my self available to them by telling them they can ask me questions

      2. I need to know if once I received the work, can I send it back to them for revisions

      because they are bond to mess something up the first time,

      so I review the work and send it back to them to correct it.

      3. do not be scare to spend money and try new people out.

      hiring people cost money and finding the right people is just a matter of trial and error

      but you will never find the right ones if you do not work with the wrongs ones a couple of times

      So just have fun and learn as much as you can!


      Hope that helped

      Mike Vietri
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  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    Originally Posted by AndreeaM View Post

    Hey Warriors,

    I need two minutes of your time! I'm trying to create an article regarding "a client's biggest fears when hiring freelancers". As I'm sure that many of you have worked with freelancers in the past or do so currently, I hope that you can give me two minutes of your time and tell me what are your biggest fears (if any) when hiring a new freelancer.

    Example: work won't be high-quality, delivery won't be done on time etc.

    I really hope that I can count on you with this!

    Thank you!

    Andreea M.
    In the past, probably capturing who Iam and what Iam about. This pertains to Freelance work that involved Writing and completing Articles


    - Robert Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author ratulin02
    When you are going to hire a new freelancer, you need to check their previous work history & feedback before hiring them. If you found most of the previous work history is good, then you can hire them. Thanks a lot.
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  • Profile picture of the author AndreeaM
    Thanks, everyone! Your answers have been really helpful. If any of you would like me to share the links to the article once it is published, please message me!

    Wish you a fantastic week!

    A.
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  • Profile picture of the author sjbackho
    I've run an IM/Web development company for the past 5 years... I've definately had my share of ups & downs with freelancers. as many stated the bad ones will just go MIA and leave you screwed needing to hire someone else and delaying delivery times. best advise ive seen on here is to set expectations in advance, break the project down into small tasks with specific deadlines, and ALWAYS have a plan B in case someone bails
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  • Profile picture of the author modgerody
    I'm usually worried most about the speed of delivery. I have had problems with dates being promised and then when the time comes, the delivery is no where near complete.

    I like to usually receive what I've paid for very fast, and I understand that people have lives to live, so it's unfair to request unreasonable deadlines. So I would definitely say that time of delivery is always a concern for me, because to the freelancer, when they delay a delivery, its not that big of a deal to them. It becomes just another day of work for them,and they know that there is nothing we can do but just wait, but to me its a day lost in my business waiting around.
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