The Advantages Of Hiring A Former Freelancer

There is no question that the popularity of freelancing is increasing. According to Forbes, 38% of the U.S. workforce did freelance work in 2023, an increase of 4 million people compared to 2022.

As much as freelancing provides individuals with a distinct sense of autonomy and an opportunity to work with a wide range of clients, many freelancers face changes in their long-term goals, or an ambition for more security, which leads them to consider a shift or return to full-time employment. 

Christine Campbell works full time in marketing for an oil and gas company. Prior to this, she was a freelancer for 12 years. She made the decision to approach a staffing agency with the aim of securing a role that provided job security, health insurance and a steady pay-check – three things not guaranteed as a freelancer. She credits her freelancing career with setting her up for success in a full time role.

“You learn a lot as a freelancer,” she said. “For me, that was writing, but you also learn a lot about time management. You learn about the business side of things, just keeping your business afloat. And you end up being a very persistent person as a freelancer, and you develop a very thick skin.”

These are just some of the many advantages that an employer should consider when choosing to hire a former freelancer.

Renee Barber, Global Director of Recruiting, and Amy Sharp, Manager Client Engagement and Talent Acquisition for TYR Talent Solutions, both said freelancers have specific skillsets that they are looking for when hiring.

For Renee, she looks for skills that are more common with freelance candidates, including their ability to adapt and work flexibly.

“If it’s a quick turnaround project, sometimes those freelancers can pick up hours that the 9-to-5 team can’t,” she said. “It’s just really opening people’s eyes to the qualities [of freelancers], and their ability to jump in and help quickly.”

Renee said she appreciates the self-sufficiency that freelancers have, which can support them in a new role.

“Freelancers aren’t used to having somebody who manages them on a micro level,” she said. “They have that ability to adapt quickly and get up and going. They’re able to work without direct oversight.”

Renee said she has also found that freelancers are great at problem solving.

“They’re so used to not having that collaborative work team environment they really have to get creative in solving their own problems,” she said. “You get a fresh perspective from freelancers, efficiency and strong communicative skills.”

For Amy, the thing about freelancers that stands out to her the most is their ability to explore problems from new angles.

“I do believe that freelancers bring more creativity than usual,” she said. “They do have to think outside the box in order to get to the end result a lot of the time.”

So, how can a freelancer best position themselves when appearing in front of a hiring manager?

Renee recommends leaning into the diverse experience that freelancers offer, such as providing a breadth of knowledge from working in various industries, which offers an advantage over an employee who has stayed within the same organization.

“If you were selling yourself to a hiring manager as a freelancer, those are the topics you hit on, the ability to fast track, hit the ground running, your work ethic,” she said.

For freelancers who are looking to make a change, Renee suggests it is not only about the role you are seeking, but the company.

“Look for a company that is really going to leverage your specialized skill set and value what you bring coming from an independent worker,” she said. “t needs to be a company that really supports entrepreneurial mindsets, because that really is what a freelancer is.”

Amy said she only sees hiring resistance from those companies who struggle to understand freelancing.

“Having those conversations with them and consulting them to get that better understanding of why that freelancer would be a value to the organization has changed minds,” she said.