What makes a great freelancer? What qualities do clients look for in a freelancer? What do they expect when they make a hire?
Needless to say, exceptional skills and high quality of work are what make a freelancer stand out from the rest, but they’re not enough to make clients come flocking at his virtual doorstep. Below are the main attributes that a client wishes to have in a freelancer:
Professional and Responsible
What good is a highly-skilled worker when you can’t rely on him? It would be totally useless having exceptional talent in your team if he isn’t dependable. And it doesn’t help either when your ace freelancer has the propensity to pass the buck; is inclined to badmouth people he works with; or is lazy, arrogant and self-centered. Professionals work with integrity, and know how to value a client’s time and money.
Communicative and Articulate
Your English doesn’t have to be flawless, as long as you know how and when to talk, and what to say or ask. The thing with clients is most of them don’t know what exactly it is they want. They’re not writers, designers or developers – they just want things done. That’s where the freelancer comes in, and where his services are needed the most. What clients really appreciate is when a freelancer is meticulous and thorough; they expect him to ask questions and clear things out when he is confused or unsure of the job details.
Interactive and Proactive
Clients love it when freelancers have that “Just call-and-I’ll-be-there” attitude, without appearing as if you were trying to curry favor. Regular reports on progress and constant updates tell a client that you’ve got his back. But while clients may want their freelancers to be interactive, they also expect their team members to be proactive and think for themselves. When potential problems set in, clients would rather have these solved than find out about it on their own.
Flexible Yet Organized
Probably the characteristic most indicative of a fantastic freelancer is being able to catch every mood swing and spec change that’s thrown at him – and still keep his cool. A client’s ideal worker is one who can get with the program at very little notice; when the client says “Jump!”, the freelancer says “How high?”, that sort of thing… and still be able to land on both feet, with poise and not a hair out of place. Even with the spec changes at the last minute, the freelancer is expected to give good results every time.
Patient and Consistent
Considering the above requirements, the client is obviously demanding and expects the world of his freelancer. Truth be told, all he really asks is that the freelancer be patient with him and with the job at hand. He truly has a hard time trying to convey his needs and apprehensions about the project. But as long as someone continues the work and guarantees that they will see the project through to its completion, he’ll be fine. It hurts a lot when the worker just suddenly jumps ship in the middle of the everything.
Do you possess all the virtues mentioned above? Are you a client’s dream come true?
