How to choose a freelancer [2021]?

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding =”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text] How to choose the right freelancers for your projects?

Your business is experiencing a growth spurt : that’s good news. But you lack the resources to cope with this growth. Stéphanie and Isidore, your closest colleagues, cannot cope with this overload of work , despite all their good will.

You have identified new opportunities that could enrich your offer, but Stéphanie and Isidore are philistines of this new activity.

In order to develop a specific project , you need technical expertise , immediate operational know-how, which poor Stéph' and Iz' lack.

To meet these needs, you need flexibility and skill that you don't find among your employees. Don't panic, you can call on an independent consultant ! There is no shortage of freelance experts on the job market, they have never been so numerous: in 2018, INSEE estimated the number of freelancers at 2.8 million, an increase of 25% in fifteen years, or 10 times faster than the employed population!

This workforce constitutes a good solution for projects where the creation of a permanent contract is not necessary, and at a cost lower than the daily rates charged by consulting firms (see article: Daily Rates in Consulting ) .

But who should you entrust with subcontracting a project of high strategic value in your eyes? In other words, how to select the right independent consultant?

Don't panic, you will find the rare pearl. Roll up your sleeves and follow the following steps

• Determine the project precisely

This is a necessary step to find the match between your needs and the subcontractor. Would you like to outsource a function for a given time, strengthen a team with a technician on a particular project, call on a specific expert?

To see things more clearly, you should:

• To define in detail the contours of the project, the means implemented and the expected results: this clear vision will be useful both to you and to your future consultant
• To establish a schedule in which the completion of the project will fit: to help you “ time ” well, you can rely on the completion of similar past projects
• Create a budget : determining how much your company can invest in this project will help you choose your freelancer accordingly
• Anticipate possible challenges: you must assess political, legal and system hazards that could hinder or slow down the success of the project. It is in your interest that your future consultant knows them

You will then summarize this work in writing : the document thus written will serve as a roadmap and will be communicated to freelance candidates.

• Determine the profile of the independent consultant

The consultant must be adapted to your project, both in terms of their experience and skills, and their ability to work with your organization:

• Determine the necessary skills : here you draw up a typical profile of the desired consultant, both in terms of their academic training, their technical and IT knowledge, and their knowledge of your sector of activity
• Determine at which hierarchical and organizational levels the consultant will intervene: will he report directly to Stéphanie and Isidore, or will he work alongside more junior colleagues? Your freelancer must speak the same language as their interlocutors. This implies that he has a similar level of experience to them, allowing him to communicate effectively with them
• Determine who will work with the consultant : if carrying out the project involves him working with your teams, his way of working, or even his management style, will need to correspond to those of his “colleagues” for this mission. Stéphanie and Isidore are open and friendly, but they still have their little habits. If the mission is entirely the responsibility of the freelance consultant, it will be appropriate to choose a profile accustomed to working alone
• The culture of your company should not be neglected in the choice of your consultant either: ideally there should be a cultural “ match ” between your company and your consultant. Its integration with your teams will be much easier. To caricature, Stéph' and Iz', a bit hipster on the edges, will collaborate more easily with a bearded man in slim jeans and a lumberjack shirt than with an impeccable hairless man in a suit and tie

• Where to find the consultant:
• General or specialized platforms : online platforms offering numerous freelance profiles have multiplied in recent years. These platforms can just as easily be general, like Malt and Comatch (more relevant examples?), or positioned on specific professions. This is the case, for example, of Kang (design, graphics), Crème de la crème (technologies), WEEM (management and strategy), Kicklox (developers)
• Your network : the call for applications can be made via a publication on your site and on social networks. Word of mouth can also be a real asset in finding your subcontractor. Making a few phone calls costs nothing and can help “source” potential candidates
• Call on a service provider : faced with the rise of independent workers, the profession of Chief Freelance Officer is emerging. Halfway between HR and purchasing functions, this new profession ensures the coordination of the activities of freelancers on behalf of companies. The job can be subcontracted to a service provider, like Comet, a start-up connecting freelance developers and companies. If your activity requires working with a large number of freelancers, it may be relevant to equip yourself with solutions that allow you to manage your freelancers (Stafiz for example!).

• The selection of the consultant

Sending candidates your document presenting the project will allow an initial self-selection : theoretically, only candidates who recognize themselves in your description will apply. Once you receive the applications, you can:

• Study the application files to analyze the consistency of the candidate's background and validate their skills: you check their training, their professional background, in particular if the candidates have worked on projects similar to yours, in your sector of activity.
• Make profiles more reliable: taking references from former managers and clients will reassure you about the reliability of the candidate
• Meet the candidates: organizing one or more physical meetings, or telephone meetings (depending on the requirement of the mission), will be beneficial in several ways. These discussions will allow you to better gauge the personality of your candidate and analyze their soft skills . It is also an opportunity for Stéphanie and Isidore, leaders on your project, to judge whether the freelance consultant matches them in terms of behavior and culture. It is finally the opportunity for the candidate to ask all their questions relating to the mission, and thus to have the best understanding of it.

At the end of this process, you will be able to make your choice among the freelance candidates. Make sure that the lucky person is free from any commitment, and that they have the green light from your management or other decision-makers within your company. All you have to do is propose a contract to your consultant, and staff him on the project!

In conclusion , selecting a good consultant is not easy, and the procedure resembles that of traditional recruitment in many ways. Your project embodies your vision, even your dream. It is therefore essential to be supported by the most appropriate people to guarantee your success . This method should help!

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