How To Hire Talented Employees On Remote Work Platforms

While there are endless benefits to outsourcing work to freelancers, many employers are wary of hiring people who they don’t know.

The advantages of using freelancers include saving money (hiring in-house staff usually involves higher compensation and benefits) as well as receiving consistent, efficient, and high-quality work from people who are specialized in their fields.

Yet, if you are new to hiring freelancers, the process of finding someone who is right for the job can be difficult or frustrating.

This is where remote work platforms come in.

Robert O’Kruk — an Upwork Profile Expert who runs the Digital Nomads Forum Facebook community — recently appeared as a guest on a Remotely webinar about utilizing Upwork. During the webinar, O’Kruk explained the function of remote work platforms.

“A remote work platform is like Uber or Airbnb. Uber connects drivers with passengers. Airbnb connects homes with people who need a place to stay. And remote work platforms connect businesses with people (or freelancers) who can do the work that people need help with.”

There are many freelance platforms to choose from when it comes to hiring. This includes Upwork, Fiverr, Hubstaff Talent, and more. At first glance, many of these sites can appear oversaturated with freelancers who might not always be the best fit for your project. However, if you are prepared to pay for qualified freelancers and use the effective hiring methods listed below, you can easily find the best talent for your job.

1. Hiring is an art form

The best way to start out with hiring freelancers on remote work platforms is to use those with a high success rate who have earned a substantial amount of money. Many freelance platforms, such as Upwork, show the freelancer’s history of work including reviews and income.

In the webinar, O’Kruk said that employers using Upwork should aim to hire a freelancer who has earned between 10 and 50 thousand US dollars and has at least a 90% success rate. “It’s pretty hard to achieve those things without being a great worker,” O’Kruk explained.

Using income and reviews is the safest way to start out on these platforms as you learn the artform of hiring. The more familiar you are with the process, the more intuitive you’ll become at figuring out who will be good to work with.

2. Post a detailed job description

The more specific the job description, the better. This means that the best candidates will be able to clearly identify whether the job matches their skillset and expertise. Vague or ambiguous job descriptions are less likely to attract talented and experienced freelancers.

3. Ask qualifying questions

Most freelance platforms ask applicants to include some kind of generic proposal when applying for jobs. But, as the client, you have the option of adding customized questions. These are important. You can tailor questions that are qualifying and will help you identify candidates that are best for the job. These will assist in determining whether the freelancer has the necessary experience and skills that the job requires.

4. Stick to a long-term mindset

The advantage of using freelancers is that you don’t have to worry about working with them longterm and paying for their benefits such as tax or insurance. But this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have a longterm mindset — even if it’s a one-off project. It’s always a good idea to find freelancers who you want to work with! This means that you’re more likely to have a pleasant experience working with them. It also means that if you need future work done that they are qualified for, you can reach out to them without undergoing the whole hiring process again.

Ready to get started?

Every remote work platform works slightly differently but these tips should help you get on the right track.

If you’re looking for further advice or assistance, the Remotely team can help you identify the best platform to find the best candidates for your business and get you started in the hiring process. Let’s find the perfect freelancer for you or your business!