The future of work is no longer a distant vision, it’s happening right now. Companies across Europe and beyond are increasingly relying on freelancers, contractors, and independent experts to deliver fast, flexible, and specialized results. But how do businesses make these collaborations work in practice?
To find out, we sat down with Maciej, Head of Delivery at Devire’s Center of Excellence for Recruitment and RPO Delivery, who has spent over 15 years shaping recruitment strategies for companies like Tesla, Uber, and many more.
Our conversation was packed with lessons, stories, and real-world insights into the opportunities and challenges of building the independent workforce.
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Freelancers = Instant Impact
When asked about the biggest difference between freelancers and full-time hires, Maciej didn’t hesitate:
“When you hire a freelancer, the expectation is instant value. You’re not investing months into onboarding — you’re bringing in an expert who can deliver from day one.”
This “plug-and-play” expectation is both a challenge and an advantage. For clients, it means results come fast. For freelancers, it demands sharp expertise and readiness to hit the ground running.
Communication is Everything
Maciej stressed that hard skills alone aren’t enough:
“A freelancer can be the best coder in the world, but if they don’t communicate, the whole project risks breaking down.”
Strong communication ensures not only smooth delivery but also trust between all parties. Interestingly, Maciej sometimes values communication as highly as technical skills:
“Equally important as programming skills, for example, are the abilities to communicate well, adapt to a fast pace, and align with the client’s expectations.”
The lesson? For freelancers, being a great communicator is just as critical as being a great technician.
The Challenges on Both Sides
From the client’s side, compliance is often the biggest hurdle:
“Larger companies have procurement procedures and legal blockers that slow down the process. Sometimes it’s not a real issue but just a mental barrier.”
From the freelancer’s side, project attractiveness is the key factor:
“Top experts have options. They won’t drop everything for a project that doesn’t excite them — or doesn’t pay fairly.”
This highlights the importance of realistic expectations. Not every company can attract the “Beyoncé of freelancing,” but there’s a vast pool of highly skilled, reliable professionals ready to deliver.
Speed and Networks Matter
In the world of freelance hiring, speed is everything.
“Sometimes we place a freelancer within 24 to 48 hours. To do that, you need a strong talent pool — not just a database, but relationships.”
Databases provide names. Networks provide trust. As Maciej explained, the best freelancers are often recommended by other freelancers, making referrals one of the most powerful hiring tools.
Success = Repeat Business
How do you measure whether a freelance collaboration really worked? Maciej’s answer was refreshingly simple:
“Success isn’t a nice email saying, ‘Well done.’ Success is when a client says, ‘Let’s do it again.’ Repeat business is the ultimate proof.”
This reaffirms that freelancing is a business. Reputation and reliability aren’t just soft factors — they’re survival strategies.
AI & The Future of Recruitment
Naturally, we had to talk about AI. While Maciej sees the hype, he’s cautious about its immediate impact:
“We’re already seeing AI-generated job descriptions and AI-generated CVs — sometimes completely detached from reality. The danger is we end up matching robots to robots instead of real people to projects.”
Still, he believes freelancers who equip themselves with AI tools will stand out:
“A freelancer today can be a one-person army — not just with skills, but with the tools to deliver more, faster.”
The Role of Staffing Companies
With freelancers becoming mainstream, where do staffing companies fit in? According to Maciej, their role is shifting from “providers” to trust brokers:
“Clients don’t always trust freelancers they don’t know. But when a trusted consultant recommends them, the relationship becomes easier. We reduce the fear of the unknown.”
This human trust layer — something AI can’t replace (yet) — is what keeps staffing companies relevant.
For companies considering freelancers for the first time, Maciej’s advice was clear and simple:
“Don’t overthink it. Find a trusted partner, set clear expectations, and just try. The best way to learn is to start.”
Key Takeaways from the Episode
- Freelancers deliver instant value — but only if expectations are clear.
- Communication skills are often as important as technical skills.
- Clients worry about compliance; freelancers worry about project attractiveness.
- The best matches come from networks, not just databases.
- Success = repeat business, not just one-off praise.
- AI will transform recruitment, but human trust still matters most.
Working with freelancers isn’t just about filling a gap — it’s about building agility, speed, and innovation into the way companies grow. As Maciej put it best:
The future of work is already here. The companies who learn how to collaborate with independent experts will have the edge.
