The way we work is changing faster than most companies realize.
What if your biggest hiring mistake isn’t who you hire, but how you think about hiring altogether.
In the latest episode of The Independent Workforce Podcast, Przemek Glosny, CEO of Useme, shares how he helps 50,000+ companies, including IKEA, Samsung and HBO, access freelance talent faster, smarter and more strategically.
Most companies don’t actually lack access to talent, they lack the mindset to use it. As Przemek explains, freelancers are no longer just “extra hands”.
They represent expertise on demand: specialized, fast and often more impactful than traditional hires.
The real shift? Moving from hiring people to buying outcomes.
If you’re still thinking in roles instead of results, this conversation might change how you build teams entirely.
Build your Freelance Network
Companies that work with freelancers gain speed, flexibility, and specialised expertise without increasing permanent headcount. Whether you’re launching a new project or scaling your team, working with independent experts can help you move faster.
👉 Browse 70,000+ freelancers on freelancermap
👉 Sign up and post a project to start receiving proposals
Key takeaways:
- Hiring full-time for every need is becoming inefficient by default.
- Freelancers increase expertise while reducing hidden operational costs.
- Cheap talent” creates expensive problems—value beats price every time.
- Most failed collaborations come from bad communication, not bad talent.
- The winners will be companies that combine FTE + Freelancers + AI.
Enjoyed this episode?
Subscribe now on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcast
From “Hiring People” to “Buying Expertise”
For years, companies approached work the same way:
We have a need → let’s hire someone full-time.
But as Przemek shared, that logic is quietly breaking.
“You don’t need to hire a full-time employee to get the job done. You can just buy the expertise when you need it.”
This is the shift most companies still underestimate.
Because freelancers aren’t just filling gaps—they’re bringing external perspective, speed, and specialized knowledge that internal teams often don’t have.
And in many cases, they don’t just execute.
They redefine the problem entirely.
The Power of “Recurring One-Offs”
One of the most interesting ideas from the conversation was this:
“It’s not about one-offs. It’s about recurring one-offs.”
In practice, this means:
You don’t hire a new freelancer every time.
You build a trusted circle of experts you come back to.
It’s flexible—but still relational.
And over time, this becomes a competitive advantage:
- Less onboarding.
- Faster execution.
- Better results
Because every time you return to the same freelancer…
you’re not hiring from zero—you’re building on history.
Need specialised IT talent quickly?
Companies use freelancermap to connect with experienced freelance developers, consultants, and tech specialists.
> Get started & scale your team flexibly
The Pricing Trap: Time vs Value
One of the biggest mindset shifts happening right now:
“We are moving from paying for time to paying for value.”
Yet many companies still evaluate freelancers based on hourly rates.
Which leads to a paradox:
They hesitate to pay €1,000 for something that could generate €10,000 in value.
But they’re comfortable paying €100 for something that delivers almost nothing.
The best companies flip this:
They don’t ask “How much does it cost?”
They ask “What value will this create?”
Why Most Freelancer Collaborations Fail
It’s rarely about talent.
It’s about this:
“The biggest challenge is a good brief and clear communication.”
Companies often say: “We need a website.”
Great freelancers respond with: “What’s the actual goal?”
More leads?
Better conversion?
Stronger brand?
Because without clarity, even the best expert will deliver…
the wrong outcome.
Trust Is the Real Differentiator
Another subtle but powerful point:
Freelancers don’t work like employees.
They:
- don’t sit 9–5 waiting for instructions
- don’t respond instantly 24/7
- don’t exist inside your company structure
But what they do bring is ownership.
“If you just say yes to everything the client asks, they might get what they asked for—but they won’t be happy with it.”
The best freelancers challenge, question, and improve your thinking.
And that only works if there’s trust.
The Future: Local Talent, Global Work
Looking ahead, the model is becoming clear:
- Companies hire globally
- Talent works locally
- Collaboration happens in the same time zones
“You don’t need to bring people to your country anymore. You can connect where the talent is and where the demand is.”
For Poland and Europe, this creates a huge opportunity:
👉 Access to global clients
👉 Strong local talent pools
👉 Flexible, scalable teams
Tips for Success
- Replace “we need to hire” with “we need to solve this problem.”
- Evaluate freelancers based on value delivered, not hourly rate.
- Treat freelancers as partners—not temporary workers.
