4 Tips for Hiring Independent Contractors to Work for Your Business
These days you have more hiring options than ever if you own a company. There are millions of individuals that prefer to be independent contractors and work from home. Studies show 12.9% of the workforce in the United States consists of this type of worker. As a business owner, this can help reduce overhead costs and work to increase your profit. However, you will want to know specific things you can do that will enable you to make the right hiring choices and have the most productive employees in the process.
Tip #1: Tracking time
One of the challenges that many employers face when it comes to this type of employee is being capable of keeping track of the time that is worked. It can be difficult to know if the independent contractor is charging you correctly.
However, there are a few ways you can handle this situation, and one of these include allowing a set amount of time for each work project. This is ideal in alleviating any concerns about time not being turned in as it should be.
Of course, having a more elaborate time management system in place is something you may want to consider. You can even select a software program that you can download on your computer to be more capable of knowing what your employees are doing during the day.
Tip #2: Hiring the right person
The key to being able to select the best individual for the job is sure to depend on looking at this persons’ qualifications. You will usually want to ask for a resume that you can view to easily see the type of education this person has and the work experience in the process.
It’s important to conduct an interview with several people that work independently to allow you to choose the right one. Listed below are some questions you have on your hiring checklist to ask this person:
- What makes you feel qualified to do this job?
- Do you feel you can complete all the necessary tasks promptly?
- What skills do you possess that you feel could assist you in this position?
- Can you provide references that will vouch for you?
- Is it possible you can work the recommended number of hours this job requires?
- Are you willing to work on the weekends and overtime if that’s necessary?
Then after the decision to hire is made comes the paperwork for the HR folk.
Tip #3: Look online
You can find a wide variety of people that are looking for work online these days. There are numerous job boards and other organizations that allow people to post a profile and list a specialty that you may be in the market to hire.
Be sure to view some of these websites to assist you in making the right selection for your next position. You can get lots of information in a very short amount of time when you do!
Tip #4: Encourage a team spirit
One of the things you can do that will help a person working independently for you is to let this individual feel needed and part of a team. This can be done in a variety of ways that include being in regular contact with this person about upcoming projects.
Taking time to speak on the phone and through Skype is a much more personal way to communicate with this individual. In fact, you could use Skype to conduct the interview before making the hiring decision.
Another thing you can do if your independent contractor lives near your company is to invite this person to group events. You may have various times that all of your employees get together and ensuring the independent contractor is part of this group can encourage being part of a team.
Making the decision to hire this type of employee can be one that you may find hard initially. However, some of the advantages of doing so include not requiring office space for this person to work and not being responsible for many of the benefits that you must offer your other workers.
