How to Hire your First Freelancer
Business going well? Great! Let’s get you the help you need to reach your goals and give you the work/life balance you got into freelancing for!
We’re sharing our step-by-step guide to hiring your first freelancer as a small business owner or freelancer yourself to help you get hiring as soon as you’re ready!
Decide where you need help
Think about what you really need - do you need expertise or do you need time back in your business? Are you looking to hire for a certain position or for someone to help with a certain list of tasks?
Create a task list or scope of work so your candidates can decide if they’re a good fit for the job. This is also the best time to determine the budget you’ll be working with for hiring your first freelancer and do a little research on what the going rate for this position looks like. We’re big fans of paying freelancers what they’re worth, so don’t skip this step!
Find Qualified Candidates
Once you have figured out where you need help, it’s time to advertise your position! Write out a job description to accompany the task list you’ve created, adding in as much detail as you can think of to help your candidates find + apply for the position.
When it’s time to start your search, try searching the Freelancing Females Directory or post a job listing on a platform that your ideal candidate will likely be found. Filter through qualified and experienced applicants to get closer to find the perfect freelancer. Use code ‘FIRSTJOB’ to post your first job on the Freelancing Females job board.
Interview Process + Selecting the Best Fit
Start by asking questions that help you understand your candidate's background and how that can help you reach your goals. Situational questions can show you how a potential employee will handle things that come your way, so consider creating some questions based on your biggest problems as a business owner.
The interview process is a great time to see how you vibe with your candidate as well. Working with someone who has a similar personality to you can make work a lot of fun and actually help you get more work accomplished.
After you’ve interviewed at least a few candidates, it’s time to make a decision! Send your chosen freelancer an email congratulating them and giving them the next steps for working together if they choose to accept your offer. Additionally, take some time to reach out to those who were not selected to wish them luck in the future and let them know you appreciate the time they gave you.
Onboarding + Paying your Freelancer
Is your business set up to seamlessly integrate a new employee into your workflow? Get them familiar with your processes and how they can deliver completed work to you, as well as what communication tool is going to work best for your time together. Schedule some time together to go over everything they’ll need to know when it comes to working together.
When it comes to paying your freelancer, find a program or system that works best for you. They can send you invoices directly or timesheets that you deliver payment for. Helpful tools for paying freelancers are Square, PayPal, and direct ACH deposit from your bank!
Once you’ve successfully onboarded your first freelancer, enjoy this time together and do something great with the extra hours in your day! Before you know it, it’ll be time for your next freelancer to help with another aspect of your business as you continue to grow. Happy hiring!