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3 Pros and Cons of Working with Freelancers

With the wide use of the internet and modern platforms, the process of hiring people is also changing, with a significant rise of remote workers in recent years. We saw the biggest rise in remote working during 2024 when many people were lockdown because of the coronavirus. Besides remote workers, hiring freelancers is also a popular way to get assistance during the short-term period.

There are many online platforms where you can get in contact with people interested to work as freelancers. Some of the best ones are UpWork, Freelancer, Fiver, and jointohire.com. The benefit of these platforms is that you can easily find people from the branch you need. Also, they provide both the company and freelancer with security.

A lot of people today are interested in working from home, and freelancing is the easiest way to find some short-term or long-term jobs. On the other side, companies find this method quite convenient, especially if they need some tasks completed in a short period. In this article, we are going to introduce you to some of the most important benefits and downsides of working with freelancers.

Advantages of Working with Freelancers

Great Selection of Skills and High Expertise

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Using some online platform where you can hire people provides you with the ability to search among numerous skills and easily find proper work that is most suitable for the tasks your company requires. Also, you can save a lot of money since you don’t have to hire a person only because you need assistance on one project. Moreover, you can choose between several candidates by checking their resumes, history of previous projects, and by interviewing them.

It is More Affordable Solution

Hiring a full-time worker brings various expenses besides his salary. On the other side, finding someone who will help you only on one project is a much cheaper solution, and you don’t have to pay for his insurance and taxes. Besides the option to hire someone for just one task, you could also choose to hire several freelancers for some long-term tasks, which can also decrease your expenses. There are many people from developing countries who are willing to work for less than the average salary. That way, both the company and the worker have their advantages because the worker will still earn much more than the average salary of his country, while the company will save money as well.

Flexibility

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When it comes to communication, freelancing platforms offer you the ability to contract workers by sending them a message or make a call. Freelancers will respond as fast as they can on your message, and you can explain to them about the project and deadlines. Setting deadlines is very important, especially if you need them to finish something in the shortest time. Remote workers are used to dealing with situations where they have to finish some projects as fast as they can.

Downsides of Working with Freelancers

They Are Not Loyal to The Company

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You cannot expect that a freelancer will share the ambition and values of your brand. Most of these people are sometimes working with several companies at the same time, and their main goal is to finish the task you gave them and move on to other projects. On the other hand, you could find a remote worker that will share your values and become loyal to your company by hiring him in the long-term period.

Poor Communication

The main issue most people have with freelancers is poor communication, which can lead to project delay. You are not able to control remote workers in the same way as standard people in the office. Therefore, communication with them is more difficult. Also, a person who is working with you can be from the other part of the world, which means that he is available when it is nighttime in your place. In that case, be sure to provide the worker with deadlines and a proper introduction of the project.

Risk of Disappearing

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Most online platforms for remote workers have introduced an option where you can pay someone only after the project is closed. This way, you can avoid issues with people disappearing before they finish the job. However, there is still a chance that a worker will change his mind and leave you without your requirements. On the other hand, leaving the task before it is done will not go in favor of the worker as well, since he will not get paid. Moreover, if you need some work in a short time, you should pay attention and look for people with a rich portfolio that seems like the best option.

Best Methods for Hiring a Good Freelancer

When you visit some websites for freelancers, you will see that there are thousands of people seeking a job. However, choosing a proper one is not a simple process. You should create some standards according to the level of experience and expertise you need. For example, if you need a worker for a simple task, you could hire a beginner and pay him less money. On the other side, you should not try to save when it comes to delicate projects that require experienced experts.

The first thing you should look at is a portfolio. In most cases, every worker has an available resume on his page where you can check whether that person is reliable for your requirements. Also, you can create a test where you can check his skills, or create a video call where you can interview that person. After you hire a worker, proper communication can be crucial for the quality of the job.

The Bottom Line

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When we look at the current trends, more people are becoming interested in working from home. Also, modern digital services and devices allow us to communicate with people from the whole world without any struggles. The main advantages that a company could get from hiring a freelancer are spending less money and getting a professional with advanced skills.

About Suzan Vega