Hiring Freelancers: 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid

Hiring a freelancer is a great way to fill in the gaps if you lack resources in your company or if you need a one-off piece of work to be done.

Freelancers tend to be more versatile as they would have worked on different tasks, making it easier for you to find someone who can deliver what you need.

They can help you save costs as you only need to hire them when needed, making them excellent solutions for new businesses with a limited marketing budget.

But while there are many benefits to hiring freelancers like the ones we just mentioned, there are a few things you need to look out for before getting them on the job.

On that note, these are some common mistakes companies make when hiring freelancers:

Not knowing where to find freelancers

Where do you start finding freelancers in Singapore?

While you can always source for freelancers on social media, freelancer platforms, or even through a referral, not all of these may work for you. For example, if you’re looking for something specific like a brand logo design, you’ll need to narrow your search to platforms with graphic designers who specialize in this. Doing so helps save time by avoiding having to sift through tons of designer profiles.

Besides that, you also want someone who is credible, experienced  and communicates well – someone who comes from a trustworthy source.

Take note that there can be scammers even on reputable sites and apps, so you need to do your homework. Remember; if something is too good to be true, it probably is.

Watch out for freelancers who promise to deliver what you want but can’t support those claims with previous work.

Not going through their portfolio

You’re scrolling through some freelancer profiles, and you stumble across someone who seems to be the one you’re looking for: great reviews everywhere with people vouching for their work.

However, while good reviews are key, they don’t always reflect someone’s ability to do the job.

Ask to see the freelancer’s portfolio or previous work samples to ensure that you can truly get what you’re looking for. If they’ve worked on similar tasks before, that’s good news for you!

But even if they haven’t, their work will help you gauge whether they’ll be able to accomplish what you need.

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Lack of a proper agreement with them

When hiring permanent staff, you need to sign an employment contract with them. Similarly, even for part-time or freelance employees, you should have a proper legal agreement.

This is to ensure that both your and the freelancer’s rights are protected if there’s a dispute later.

The agreement should outline the exact work to be done by the freelancer so that they know what to deliver and you know what to expect.

Other clauses that you should have in the agreement are:

• The terms of payment
• Legal obligations of both the parties
• Penalties if a breach of the agreement happens

Even if you are hiring a freelancer for a minor, one-off piece of work, it’s still good to pen down your expectations on paper. Another helpful tip is to ensure that you have copies of all your transactions and payments with the other party.

Again, if a dispute arises, you’ll have evidence to show that you’ve done your part.

Setting unrealistic deadlines

You’re in need of work to be done urgently, so you hastily look for someone who can complete the task for you. In the best-case scenario, the freelancer can work following your timeline.

But, bear in mind that you risk getting poor quality work that was hurriedly done by giving them a short timeframe. Worse, they might even ruin the entire project.

Asking a freelancer to complete a piece of work within a fixed amount of time is fine, but ensure that the duration is reasonable. Be in touch with them well ahead of your deadline so that they can prepare in advance.

You also have the right to ask for updates on your work from time to time, but avoid asking for too many changes at the last minute as that would be unfair to the freelancer.

Setting wrong budgets

Besides not allocating enough time for a task, failing to set the correct budget is another mistake when hiring a freelancer. Again, if you’re looking for quality work, you’ll need to be willing to fork out a good amount of cash.

That doesn’t mean that you need to pay more than you should. Find out what the market value is before you approach a freelancer to avoid overpaying.

You’ll also need to bear in mind that pricing will vary depending on how experienced the person is. If you’re unsure of where to find out the best rate, speak to at least 3 to 4 freelancers to get a rough idea of the average price.

Once you’ve engaged someone to complete the task for you, the next thing is to pay them on time.

Firstly, agree on how the payment should be done – whether that’s full payment upfront, 50% upfront, and 50% upon completion, or other payment arrangements.

Then, when it’s time to pay, ensure that you do so on time. Just as it’s fair for you to expect the work to be delivered as promised, the freelancer also has the right to be paid on without any delays.

Preventing these mistakes can facilitate a smooth and successful hiring experience

Of course, there may be other mistakes apart from the points mentioned above, but stay calm. If this is new to you and you don’t know where to start, our corporate advisors can offer you the guidance you need. If you’ve worked with freelancers before, what are some hiring mistakes  you’ve avoided? Share your thoughts with us!

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