Why Progressive HR Managers Are Working With Freelancers
How smart HR managers are benefiting from the power of freelancers
Freelancing is here to stay, not only because of the pandemic. According to Don’t Do It Yourself, with a total global workforce of around 3.5 billion, there are about 1.1 billion freelancers around the world.
Millions of people are choosing freelancing in addition to their current jobs, or as a way to start an independent business. Freelance workers know what they can offer, explore more business fields simply because of running a business themselves, and build large networks of like-minded people based on location, professional area, or career mission.
And they are not changing their mind. 75% of freelancers say that they wouldn’t trade their freelancing job for other types of work.
What should companies expect from freelancing?
In 2020, this trend was even more visible. As many people lost their jobs, and location was no longer an issue, freelance platforms saw a huge growth in new users and more work delivered. 67% of freelancers work with 2 to 5 clients at a time.
In 2021, progressive companies need to plan their HR activities and employer branding accordingly, to grow faster and ride the wave of the cultural shift.
Almost 33% of Fortune 500 companies turn to freelance sites to outsource their work.
“Using freelancers enables companies to innovate faster, adapt, and be flexible. Freelancers are better, faster, cheaper,” – said Matthew Mottola, Founder of Venture L during our Freelance Business Month.
Companies like Koch Industries have been thriving thanks to freelancers. Its Talent Advisor Preston Mossman shared these crucial points about what kind of work improvements companies can expect:
Cut project costs
Without a middleman, the freelancer gets paid a little more and the company is saving money.
Increased speed
Because freelancers tend to work faster. “When we post a project we hear back within a day or two, which is lightning speed from an organizational point of view! We’ve been able to speed up projects by weeks which means bringing a project to market earlier which is huge from our point of view,” – says Preston.
Access to more skills
Freelancers can bring skills companies can’t justify hiring an employee for. No matter how big your organization, you can’t have experts in every field. But you can access expert freelancers.
Ability to experiment
Companies can experiment in ways they couldn’t before. Where before you’d need to have a lot of certainty about an idea, now we can move much faster with independent contractors.
What are the skills HR professionals need to gain to work efficiently with freelancers?
Great HR managers already understand the necessity to adopt more agile and flexible approaches to hiring workforce. They also realise that this new world is demanding them to further hone their skills to ensure a long-term collaboration with self-employed and freelance workers.
As Waw Asia puts it, progressive HR managers need to possess these skills:
Understanding of how freelance economy functions
hiring a freelancer is not the same as hiring a fixed-term employee. The contractual arrangements around contingency workers, on-boarding and off-boarding processes are different and have certain specifics each HR should be aware of. Understanding how freelancers pricing their services and where to find them would help them to gain the best talent quick. Join Freelance Business below for more information on all these topics.
Self-discipline and planning
great challenges arise from poor time management, especially when working remote, across time zones and with different cultures.
Strong communication
and the ability to work with employees under different time zones and remotely – this involves learning as best as you can the notions of psychology,copywriting for better written communication, conflict resolution and world culture.
Coaching and advising
the most performant HR managers engage with the workers and contractors not only at the beginning of the project, but at every stage of collaboration. Strong relationships can help freelancers feel welcome in a company even if they are not the team members on paper. Such an approach can motivate them to perform better and communicate openly.
Persuasion and engagement
you don’t have to be a nominal leader to develop leadership skills. If freelancers disengage or underperform, like any workers, you need to re-establish the connection and reconnect them to your common goal and mission. You can easily learn new leadership skills online.
Collaboration with freelancers can be easy and enjoyable, with the fast results and deliverables, and lots of costs cut. To ensure the best collaboration, both parties need to invest their time and effort into building a respectful rapport, communicate clearly and think long-term.
Freelance Business is developing a network of independent professionals, leading organisations and freelance economy suppliers. We’d love to hear from progressive companies about their experiences hiring and working with freelancers to share them with our community. Get in touch with us [email protected]
Last year, we dedicated an entire week to the topic of Future of Work and HR during the Freelance Business Month. This year, we’re releasing our Freelance Business Book with collected actionable and brilliant ideas from the most talented speakers that shared their wisdom.
And the next Freelance Business Month is coming again soon. Subscribe to our newsletter to learn more or apply as a speaker.
Category
Recent Posts
The List of Freelance Events 2024
Freelancers may work independently, but they still want to be part of a community. Here is where freelance events come in. Both digital and live, the tradition of friendly and educational events for the freelance community has existed long before the Covid-19 pandemic...
The List and a Comparison of Freelance Communities
Throughout history, humans have naturally gravitated towards forming groups. From the earliest civilizations to modern times, the desire to belong has been ingrained in our social fabric. Group affiliation not only ensures safety, as seen in ancient tribes providing...
How To Grow A Freelance Business: Community, Advice and Support
Elina Jutelyte, Founder of Freelance Business, sat down with Travis Bennett, COO of Doerscircle to talk about the organisation's remarkable growth and to learn what attracts freelancers to Doerscircle. The growth of Doerscircle's community for freelancers highlights...
Freelance Business Community
You might also like
The List of Freelance Events 2024
Meet, learn and have fun with these events aimed at the independent crowd
The List and a Comparison of Freelance Communities
The article provides a comprehensive overview of more than 30 diverse freelance communities catering to professionals worldwide. Each community is meticulously detailed, outlining its name, description, offered services, membership fees, geographical focus, and unique features. From lobbying organizations advocating for freelancer rights to educational platforms providing resources and networking opportunities, the spectrum of offerings is vast.
How To Grow A Freelance Business: Community, Advice and Support
Delve into the dynamic world of Doerscircle with an in-depth exploration of its COO, Travis Bennett. Uncover the secrets behind Doerscircle’s extraordinary growth, skyrocketing to an impressive 60,000 members. Discover the common challenges compelling individuals to join this thriving community. Learn about the exclusive benefits offered by Doerscircle Premium membership. Plus, get an insider’s look at the ambitious expansion plans set to propel Doerscircle into the future. Don’t miss the chance to unravel the success story and future endeavors of this innovative platform
Unlock Your Earning Potential: A Comprehensive Guide to Freelance Fees Benchmark
For graphic designers, artists, copywriters, and all freelancers, setting your freelance rates is a crucial aspect of your business strategy. It’s a common practice to assess your freelance market and consider benchmarking your prices against others. Many freelance business experts often emphasize the importance of aligning your rates with industry benchmarks. However, the reality is not always as straightforward as it seems. In this article, we’ll explore the complexities surrounding the elusive concept of the freelance fee benchmark and why it is not always recommended to consult with any benchmark reports out there.
Fancy some smart ideas in your mailbox?
Sometimes we send you event invitations, information about freelancers work and life, business tips and tricks.