When the economy tightens—as it appears to be doing again—it's understandable why some companies become reluctant to hire. Budgets shrink. Caution creeps in. That one open becomes the lowest priority because adding full-time headcount feels like too big of a leap.
But here's the catch: the work still needs to get done.
Whether you're launching a sales-driving campaign, adding a new product feature, or building brand assets, your creative output directly impacts revenue and reputation. When you hold off on hiring, you're missing out on more than just candidates. You're missing out on all the power that creative projects have on the bottom line. That's where freelance and contract creatives come in. Here’s why now might be the smartest time to bring in flexible, high-impact talent.
1. Keep Momentum Without Adding Permanent Headcount
In moments of uncertainty, agile staffing strategies are often the most sustainable. Sometimes you don’t know what your company is capable of (or even what you need!) until you find the right people to take you to new levels of growth. Hiring full-time can be risky, but that’s where specialized generalists come in! These freelance specialists have experience jumping into the deep end of a situation to keep projects moving with plenty of ideas and extensive talent to bolster your team. The sooner you start looking for them, the quicker you will find them. Gather your team together and make a wishlist of the type of person, or people, you need on your team. We guarantee they’re out there, but the only way to find qualified candidates fast is if you start now.
2. Bridge the Gap with Targeted, Flexible Support
That open role that’s been lingering? It’s not just a vacancy—it’s a bottleneck.
Rather than waiting to find a unicorn full-time hire, a contract creative can fill that gap now. They don’t require extensive onboarding, and they come equipped with industry experience and niche expertise. It’s a low-risk way to keep moving, especially when the stakes are high and timelines are short.
3. Support Your Team—and Your Culture
Listen, we understand that the job market is tough right now. Even if your team is small but mighty, they can only carry so much. Remember that even hiring one new person can help relieve the strain on the people already hard at work. The more work there is to do and the more openings you have, the more likely your people will become burnt out and look for the exit. Overextending your core staff leads to burnout, reduced morale, and, ultimately, turnover.
So, show your people they are your priority! Avoid having to back-fill positions when people leave. Bringing in freelance or temp support sends a clear message: you value your people and their workload. A little extra bandwidth now can go a long way in preventing bigger headaches later.
4. Snag Top Talent Before Your Competitors Do
Think the best creatives are just sitting around waiting? Nah. Even in a competitive job market, qualified candidates are in high demand—and the best ones won’t wait around. The best freelance talent moves fast in any market. The quicker you act on hiring, the better your chances of finding the right person for the gig. Otherwise, your competitors may snatch up the best talent! Being quick with hiring also includes not making talent go through rounds and rounds of interviews. Keep your talent pool small and manageable. Or think about hiring recruitment pros (like us!) to quickly put you in touch with top-quality talent.
5. Skip the Regret: Think Long-Term, Act Short-Term
Most companies will take this advice and hire someone who is just fine for now, but might not work out in the long run. Rushed hiring decisions (especially full-timers) often lead to high turnover, increased training costs, and the loss of time and resources. Freelance and contract-to-hire arrangements let you test fit and performance before making a long-term commitment.
Think of it as talent piloting: you get the benefits of top-tier work now, with the flexibility to scale up or down based on performance, priorities, and budget.
TLDR? You still have work to do.
You still have goals to hit. Deadlines to meet, campaigns to run, content to ship. A pause in hiring doesn’t have to mean a pause in progress. The creative economy doesn’t stop moving—and neither should your team. Bringing in freelance support now can help you stay responsive, resilient, and ahead of the curve.
So don’t wait—hire today with Artisan. We have a proven track record of fulfilling urgent hiring needs in super-quick timelines. Our ever-growing list of qualified candidates looking for jobs is updated daily, so you won’t miss out on finding the best people for your team.
