Did you know that 91% of millennials don’t plan on staying in one job for over two years? This has led to a dynamic job market conducive to freelancers and contractors.
Thanks to the evolution of employment in recent years, the future of work is uncertain for most business owners. Hiring Freelancers and retaining your workforce is entirely different today. The increasing popularity of a contingent workforce and flexible working conditions have changed how companies hire and retain top talent.
Finding and retaining top talents in your company also requires a massive evolution in your recruiting process. Business owners also need to change their attitude towards freelance management.
So how will you retain your top contractor and freelance talents? Read below tips to find out.
Review Your Working Conditions
Hiring and retaining the best freelancer starts with you. How easy is it to work with your company? Today, freelancers will not work for companies that make their job hard.
Most freelancers’ contracts only last for several months, with a choice of renewal if both parties agree. Every time the contract ends, the freelancer or contractor will evaluate their priorities and reassess their relationship with your business. If they’re not willing to work with you anymore, they will not renew their contract.
This leaves you with a gap that will likely take a lot of time and money to fill. Additionally, some freelancers will not offer you their real reasons for leaving your company. You may also notice that they are always fully booked when you approach them for more work.
Before hiring freelancers and contractors, it’s advisable to start by reviewing your company culture. Focus more on devising a culture of inclusiveness and engagement and check up on your freelancers from time to time. The time of employees withstanding poor treatment and toxic working environments is over.
Be Professional
Sadly, most businesses don’t appreciate or respect freelancers because they are not permanent employees. However, if you’re not professional and respectful in all your dealings with your freelancers, they are more likely to leave.
It’s essential to maintain a professional working relationship with all your freelancers. This will ensure that all parties have a positive experience throughout the project duration. Lack of professionalism may result in a negative experience and a loss of workforce.
Ensure you share the right documents, including the work agreement and contract, on time. This helps eliminate doubts on payment terms and the scope of work expected. Ensure you also clearly communicate with the freelancers about their targets and goals to avoid future disappointments.
Provide the Resources Needed for the Job
A common trend among employers today is failing to provide freelancers with the resources they need. Most employers expect that freelancers come with the resources they need for the job. This is a mistake that will negatively impact your business in the long run.
If you have a permanent employee, you will provide them with the software, devices, and tools to effectively do their job. Why should freelancers be any different?
Are you wondering how to retain freelancers? You can start by providing them with the resources they need to do their jobs.
Providing your contractors and freelancers with adequate resources will improve their productivity. It will also ensure they meet their targets. If you don’t offer your freelancers the right tools for the job, they are more likely to do a substandard job.
Evaluate Your Recruitment Process
Freelance management and recruitment are slightly different from hiring full-time employees. Freelance managing is also different from permanent employee managing. When hiring freelancers, you should look at their skills to see if they fit remote working conditions.
Unfortunately, most recruiters are used to hiring employees who can fit in their specific working environment. However, today the recruitment process involves recognizing dependable freelancers and assessing their skills. Below are essential skills every freelancer should have:
- Hard skills such as editing, writing, accounting, and bookkeeping
- Time-management
- Negotiation skills
- Excellent communication
- Decision-making skills
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving skills
Today, freelancing is becoming a widely accepted career choice. Additionally, businesses are also accepting these dynamic changes. By 2019, over 35% of the U.S. workforce consisted of freelancers. This number is only getting bigger thanks to the COVID19 pandemic.
Fair Pay and on Time
According to a Freelancer’s Union report, 70% of freelancers have had difficulty getting paid at least once throughout their careers. This has contributed to an average loss of $6,000 per freelancer annually. Most businesses hire freelancers then fail to pay them for their work.
This is extremely unfair because the freelancer dedicates their time and resources to work. Sometimes, this happens because of unclear payment terms.
To avoid such a situation, ensure you have a formal contract. The contract should clearly state the payment and work engagement terms.
After drafting the contract, share it with your contractor and ensure they sign it. Make sure you also communicate with your freelancers and contractors about their pay. After the freelancer completes their job, ensure you pay them as per the contract.
If freelancers are not paid fairly, and on time, they are less likely to renew their contracts. This leaves you going through the recruitment process again, wasting essential company resources.
Now You Know What You Need When Hiring Freelancers
Hiring freelancers and contractors may seem new and intimidating for most business owners. However, the benefits of remote work are undeniable. You will get access to top talents in the industry and save money on the recruiting process. You will also enjoy an outstanding level of flexibility when working with freelancers.
If you’re wondering how to retain contractors, check out JobBliss for contractor management resources. JobBliss will connect your business to the right freelance talents in the market.
Our primary goal is to help businesses seamlessly connect with their remote workforce. Contact us today for the best remote workforce management resources.
