Freelance is the new job market and has several people who are itching to hire. But it is also a sensitive market, and you need to be careful before settling on what you want to hire. You need to ask many questions if you are to get the right person for the job, but what are the right questions to ask a freelancer before hiring them? That’s an idea that several people will struggle with for a while. So if you are looking for ideas on the right questions to ask, you need to read on.
Experience
Among the first questions you should ask, this applies for anyone you want to hire, is how long they have been doing it for. For example, if you hire a freelance paraplanner, know how long they have been doing business for. If it’s possible, are they in the niche you’re in? Getting to know how long they have been doing their job will give you an idea of what to expect.
Work Samples
The next thing you need to ask them is for their work samples. In the freelance world, a portfolio is crucial as they need to give you an idea of what they can do. Also, ask if they can give you a reference – this too should come in handy.
Skills and Tools
For example, you want to hire a freelance graphic designer, and you need to know that they have the proper tools to deliver the project. Of course, skill should also come in handy, as you’d have seen in their samples, but still, ask and even give a test to gauge.
How Much They Charge
You have a budget, and you need to stick to it –you can still be flexible. However, it would help if you found out how much the freelancer charges before moving forward. You also need to know how they charge – on a project, per hour, or what other arrangement.
Working Hours and Availability
Asking how you can get in touch should be a crucial discussion. You don’t want the freelancer to feel like you own them. Seek to set out the proper communication hours that work for both of you. Also, if they charge on the hour, you need to ask about the working hours. You can then keep track of the work when they work or set alarms for when they should be done for the day.
Reviews
It is always good to find out what reviews the freelancer has before you hire them. Ask the person for reviews from previous clients – honest reviews. You need to know how other clients rated their work and what they said about it. Since you already have references, you can then counter-check to see if they match up. How they handled unhappy clients should also be part of the conversion on this question.
What To Ask Your Freelancer
If the above questions don’t get you the correct answers in your search for a freelancer, then not many will. However, these are some of the crucial questions you need to ask a freelancer before you commit.