How to Attract Top Talent: 5 Strategies to Help Secure Freelance Talent Longer-Term

Back in the early 2000s, a global recruitment firm launched a new promotional strategy for its temps business. Taking the form of a direct mail campaign, it involved sending clients a box containing handcuffs and a pair of keys. The message was simple: If you like your temps so much, this is how to make them stay.

Today’s advertising standards would undoubtedly see this campaign kiboshed in the ideas room. But the challenge it sought to address is still very relevant. This is especially the case at the senior end of the market, where high demand for services means interims and freelancers are often enticed away by new projects, before completing their current assignments.

So, the strategies for making your business attractive to freelancers and ensuring that they fulfill contracts before moving on, are invariably linked. In this article, we will explore 5 ways in which companies can improve their appeal to freelancers. These approaches will help firms hire the best people who remain committed to making an impact during agreed time frames.

• Offer flexible work arrangements
• Provide competitive compensation packages
• Offer learning and development opportunities
• Foster a collaborative work environment
• Be transparent with communication

#1 Offer flexible work arrangements

Freelancers value the freedom to work on their own terms and at their own pace. By offering flexible work arrangements, businesses can attract freelancers who are looking for this level of autonomy:

• Remote work options: Allowing freelancers to work from a location of their choice can greatly increase their job satisfaction and reduce the stress associated with commuting.
• Flexible schedules: Freelancers often have other commitments outside of work, so the ability to set their own schedules can be a big draw.
• Project-based work: Businesses that offer this type of arrangement can attract freelancers who value the flexibility to take on multiple projects at once.

#2 Provide competitive compensation packages

With freelancers in high demand today, they have many options for where to take their skills. It’s therefore essential for businesses to offer competitive compensation packages to stand out from the competition and attract top talent:

• Competitive hourly rates: Offering fair and competitive hourly rates can help attract freelancers who are looking for well-paying projects. Weekly payment schedules are also in demand.
• Bonuses: Offering bonuses for meeting specific goals or targets can provide an extra incentive for freelancers to work harder and produce higher-quality work.
• Benefits: Providing benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans can help to make a business more appealing to freelancers, especially those who are looking for long-term work.

#3 Offer learning and development opportunities

Like most professionals, freelancers value doing interesting work as well as opportunities to learn and grow in their careers. Businesses that offer these opportunities can not only attract top talent but also retain it. Firms should stay current with the latest industry trends and technologies and consider offering:

• Training programs: Offering training programs on new technologies, techniques, or industry trends can help freelancers stay current and increase their skills and knowledge.
• Workshops and conferences: Attending events can provide freelancers with the opportunity to learn from experts in their field and stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends.
• Career development plans: Individualised development plans can help freelancers visualise a clear path for growth within the company and encourage them to stay longer term.

#4 Foster a collaborative work environment

The opportunity to work with a supportive and inclusive team is a key motivator for many freelancers. Businesses that encourage a collaborative work environment that fosters open communication and teamwork, can provide this type of environment. This will help freelancers feel more integrated into the company and encourage them to stay longer.

• Communication and feedback: Encouraging open and transparent communication, as well as providing regular feedback, can help build trust and foster an inclusive work environment.
• Team building activities: Organising team building activities can help freelancers feel more connected to their colleagues and build stronger relationships.
• Inclusion and diversity: Promoting diversity and inclusion can help create a work environment that is welcoming and inclusive to all.

#5 Be transparent with communication

Transparency in communication is also valued by freelancers. Businesses that prioritise this can increase their appeal to potential freelancers and retain existing ones. Companies should be clear about project expectations and deadlines, as well as compensation packages, to build trust. Regular communication, such as weekly check-ins, can also help engender a positive working relationship.

• Clear expectations: Setting clear expectations from the start, including project requirements, deadlines, and communication protocols, can help prevent misunderstandings.
• Regular check-ins: These can help keep freelancers informed about project progress and provide them with an opportunity to ask questions or provide feedback.
• Honest feedback: Providing honest and constructive feedback, both positive and negative, can help build trust and encourage freelancers to produce their best work.

Timeless solutions to attract and retain freelancers

Finding good freelance candidates is harder than ever before. This is especially the case at the senior end of the market where specialist skills within areas including but not limited to ec-ommerce & digital transformation, M&A, change management, crisis management, turnaround management, and operational management are in high demand.

Convincing freelancers to join your business over another isn’t easy either. The best freelancers are usually already in work and on the lookout for their next opportunity. To attract top talent or avoid hiring a freelancer only to have them leave prematurely before the end of their contract, requires a commitment to implementing the strategies outlined above.

Businesses that offer flexible work arrangements, competitive compensation packages, learning and development opportunities, a collaborative work environment, and transparent communication will tap into the valuable skills and expertise that freelancers bring to organisations while working towards creating a positive and productive working environment for all employees.

These articles might also be interesting:

• Why You Need To Hire A Freelancer: Benefits And Tips
• A Blended Workforce: Definition, Pros & Cons, And Best Practices
• Freelancer vs. Agency: Pros, Cons and What To Consider When Choosing
• Recruiting KPIs: Top 20 Metrics to Track & KPIs Examples