As American companies continue to move away from the fixed labor costs of a permanent staff toward the variable cost of hiring temporary and freelance workers, HR professionals need to become better at interviewing creative hires. According to Forbes, by 2020 almost 50% of the American workforce will work as freelancers, and most of these freelancers will work in creative positions.
Hiring quality creative freelancers requires more than reviewing portfolios. No matter how outstanding a portfolio of a potential hire is, successful hiring necessitates evaluating the suitability of the person for your company. Before you onboard your next freelance creative, consider incorporating some of these creative interview questions into your standard interview.
How do you view the importance of communication in the successful completion of your job?
Teamwork and communication are important for any job. Finding a candidate who can communicate her ideas with others is critical. Many creative people are independent, finding it difficult to solicit input on a project.
Which of your creative accomplishments gave you the most satisfaction, and why?
The answer to this question lets you gleam insights into which types of projects candidates find worthwhile. Employees are more successful when they feel a strong connection with their work. Is your company's project something the candidate finds meaningful?
Where do you feel most creative, and are there any environments which lowers your productivity?
Creative people are sometimes quirky.Some need to work alone, others require loud music and late nights to perform well. It is better to know upfront. Compare the job seeker’s ideal working environment with the setting in your company.
What do you do when you are discouraged or your ideas are rejected?
Not every idea is good. The way someone handles rejection reveals a lot about the person. If the candidate is unable to cope with having something they worked hard on, and love, rejected, he may not be appropriate for your company.
How can your creativity add value to our company?
This question makes sure the candidate fully understands your company’s goals, and how he can contribute. A freelancer who doesn’t know the mission of a company is unable to provide your company with a high level of productivity.
How do you define success?
Success doesn’t mean the same for everyone, and it is critical the definition of success is shared by both the employee and the company.
Have more questions? Need help finding the right person? Let us do the dirty work! Contact us today to learn more about finding perfect creatives for your company’s next project.
