Freelancers often come to us not fully formed and in need of hand holding, which is counter to the image many people have of the independent, self directed idea of freelancing. On the other hand, lots of FTE perform with exactly the kind of proactive style we want from a freelancer. We often make misguided hiring decisions by over-focusing on these assumptions, and also by under-focusing on the full scope of the work we want someone to do. If we bring on a freelancer to handle a marketing function, for example, but our fledgling business is still in the process of figuring out internal processes and team dynamics, whoever we hire might also need to be savvy at navigating interpersonal tension and a high degree of ambiguity. If we recognize that we need those skills, in addition to the marketing skills we're hiring for, we're much more likely to get the right person for the job, regardless of how they might be categorized (freelance vs FTE).
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