How to Run a Freelance Interview With Complete Confidence
So you’re ready to hire a freelancer to help you in your business.
Congratulations! That means you’ve stepped things up and hit some BIG goals. Give yourself a pat on the back.
You’re about to make some major changes and offload some of your most pressing tasks. Whew! Finally.
But the only thing is… this means you have to create a job posting and (that’s right) conduct a freelance interview.
Maybe you’ve never hosted an interview before. Maybe you’ve only been on the other side of the spectrum — which is nerve-wracking enough.
The good news is, that interviewing freelancers can be easier than you think.
Before I share all of my valuable tips, which I’ve learned from conducting tons of interviews and finding fabulous freelancers for my own company, I want to address a recently asked question.
Is a Freelance Interview Really Necessary to Hire a Good Fit?
When a client asked this question, it opened my eyes to an issue creative entrepreneurs face when hiring.
Are interviews really necessary?
My short answer: Absolutely!
Some people shy away from them because they seem uncomfortable for the interviewer and the interviewee.
But they don’t have to be. And you don’t need to have a ton of interviewing experience to lead your freelance interview with ease and confidence.
Interviews seem overwhelming to many people, but they’re one of the most essential aspects of finding the right team member. And I have a few tricks I’d like to share with you to make them less stressful.
This is especially for the introverts out there — I see you! Because I know talking to strangers and gauging their experience can feel intimidating.
Many of my clients struggle with interviews and get super nervous about meeting with people they don’t know.
Can you relate?
This happens to MOST entrepreneurs, especially when hiring for the very first time. You’re so not alone.
I mean, it doesn’t feel natural to ask others about their background, goals, and strengths and weaknesses within the first 10 minutes of meeting them.
But that’s what interviews challenge us to do, in the hopes that we find someone exceptional who can help elevate our businesses.
In my mind, interviews are required. It’s the only real way to find out whether you click with someone.
Without an interview, it’s easy to pick the best option on paper, but they may not be the right fit for you in the end — it’s one of the most common hiring mistakes.
Interviews are an essential part of the hiring process because they give you the information you couldn’t get any other way.
In your next freelance interview, use the following four tips so you can rock that interview and choose the perfect team member.
4 Freelance Interview Tips to Hire “Right” the First Time
1. Remind yourself it’s just an informal conversation.
Even though you both know you’re there to scope them out, remember that it’s just a conversation between two business owners getting to know each other.
You’re figuring out if you’re a good fit through a regular interaction — no need to make it more than that.
If they’re not a match, you don’t have to hire the person or feel bad.
For every position I’ve recruited for a client or hired in my own business, one or two duds have made it into the interview process.
You’re not obligated to hire someone just because you’re interviewing them.
2. Come prepared with all the questions you want to ask in the interview and the information you hope to get.
Preparation is key!
It’s best to have straightforward questions related to the job posting. This way, you can get all the information you need to make your final decision.
It also allows the interview to run smoothly and makes you look like you have this interview thing down pat.
I keep a list of the top five questions I ask in every freelance interview. They are my go-to’s that have landed me the best freelancers so far. And I’m sharing them with you!
You can find these freelance interview questions in my free mini-course, and keep them handy for your next freelance interview. (Be sure to keep a lookout for them on day 4 of the mini-course.)
3. Ask everyone the same questions (as best you can).
The more you can keep the questions the same, the easier it is to compare your candidates’ responses.
If you ask each person the same questions, your freelance interview becomes less biased.
It’s okay to be in the moment and ask appropriate follow-up questions because that only makes sense when having any type of conversation. But overall, if you keep the questions consistent, you’ll have a better sense of who answers them the best and to your liking.
4. Watch for examples or evidence that they have the experience they say they do (and you’re looking for).
Freelancers tend to be good at filling out applications because they do it often. So they can represent themselves however they want — whether they have the experience or not.
This makes it tough to know if they’re genuinely the experts they say they are.
But it’s much harder for a candidate to fake their experience in an interview. You can ask follow-up questions if they seem evasive with their responses.
You can directly ask them about the experience they shared in the application or probe more subtly by asking questions like:
Tell me about a time you overcame a challenge with a project.
What was your favorite project you’ve worked on, and why?
What led you to work in your niche?
A simple question can go a long way.
Remember: At the End of the Day, It’s Your Business
I know it can be challenging to decline people you’ve met that you really like but aren’t the best fit for the position.
But just because you like someone doesn’t mean they’re right for the job.
You can decline awesome candidates who just aren’t right with a short and sweet email. Let them know what they did well and that you’ll keep them in mind for future opportunities.
I also recommend declining all candidates who don’t get the job, even if you didn’t interview them. Most freelancers feel like their applications go into a black hole.
They put time, energy, and thought into applying and then hear nothing, which can leave a negative impression on your business.
Interview Candidates With Ease
Interviewing candidates isn’t so bad when you’re armed with a simple plan! After one or two interviews, you’ll have the hang of it and find your stride in no time.
And before you know it, you’ll have a system for interviewing candidates you can repeat again and again.
You’ll be able to see the value in a one-on-one conversation in your freelance interview and find the perfect fit for your business — every time.
Want more free tips and strategies on how to hire freelancers for your small business?
In my free mini-course, you’ll get one value-packed email a day for the next 5 days.
By the end, you’ll know all of my *exact* strategies to hire the perfect person and lessen your daily workload.
