Has anyone ever used any freelance website to hire a resource for a project? What are some of the tips you can share based on your experience?
Re: Hiring Freelancers
depends on the project, be very clear on what you are looking to do. list out deliverables, timing, and make payment contingent on it.
Ask for work samples, references. I have actually gone as far as having them provide a proposal based on my project.
In the end I went with someone recommended by a friend and not on the site, because his guy spent the time to talk on the phone and mock out what the final deliverable will look like. Just felt more comfortable.
Re: Hiring Freelancers
I have used freelancers from freelance.com and guru.com and was never disappointed. I looked at their portfolio and in some cases I asked for references.
Re: Hiring Freelancers
Really appreciate your responses @Mirch and @X2. I hire on freelance websites all the times and though I agree with the comments, I find it hard to judge what part of the skill and portfolio is exaggerated and what is real. Specifically some of the issues I face
1- Bait and switch: Where initially one person discusses the requirements and present his/her portfolio but someone else from the team does the actual work. This can cause a lot of mis-communication and delay the final deliverable.
2- The disappear act: Where all the relevant details like timelines with milestones are discussed and project awarded but the service provider decides not to work on the project and not inform either.
3- Update is on its way: So they start off real good and you are satisfied that the work will be done as per schedule and requirements (or a little off as its expected in case of remotely managing a project) and then days go by without any proper update. You keep sending same feedback over and over again with little to no difference in the update.
I can list more but these are some of the main issues. What can be done to avoid these issues, any tips?
P.s. Context of the above experience is website design and development projects.
Re: Hiring Freelancers
I love America! I hate Rabia Shakoor!:D:)
Re: Hiring Freelancers
Really appreciate your responses @Mirch and @X2. I hire on freelance websites all the times and though I agree with the comments, I find it hard to judge what part of the skill and portfolio is exaggerated and what is real. Specifically some of the issues I face
1- Bait and switch: Where initially one person discusses the requirements and present his/her portfolio but someone else from the team does the actual work. This can cause a lot of mis-communication and delay the final deliverable. 2- The disappear act: Where all the relevant details like timelines with milestones are discussed and project awarded but the service provider decides not to work on the project and not inform either. 3- Update is on its way: So they start off real good and you are satisfied that the work will be done as per schedule and requirements (or a little off as its expected in case of remotely managing a project) and then days go by without any proper update. You keep sending same feedback over and over again with little to no difference in the update.
I can list more but these are some of the main issues. What can be done to avoid these issues, any tips?
P.s. Context of the above experience is website design and development projects.
Most of the websites maintain developers' reviews and profile. You should view developers' profile and history of work before awarding him work ,if you are not technical enough to judge the candidate. Second thing you could do is set terms of payment. Some website keep records of hours of work done and keep your money to their account until the task is done. So if you work is not done or delayed for without genuine reasons, you could ask the website they would save your money.