Over the years, the Artisan consultants have heard many tales of woe from freelance assignments that have gone pear shaped. Sometimes the fault lay with the freelancer; other times, the problems stemmed from the client. In nearly all instances, the mistakes could’ve been easily prevented saving time, money and unnecessary confrontation.

#1. “Yeah, I can do that…”

Be honest about your ability as a freelancer. Don’t accept an assignment simply because it is offered. If you’re not 100% convinced of your ability to achieve the required outcome, it is advisable to give a project some serious thought before leaping into it. If you arrive onsite and the brief seems far more detailed than you had anticipated, say something about it: either call your agency and let them know immediately, or let the client know so that alternative arrangements can be made. At the end of the day, your honesty will be appreciated, and the workload may be adjusted to suit your capabilities.

#2. “They don’t ask enough questions…”

During the briefing process, be sure to ask plenty of questions. Be thorough with the brief. Leave no stone unturned. Take the opportunity to verify your understanding of the brief so that both parties are on the same page. Ask about estimated time frames, and agree upon what the outcome is to be and in what time frame it will be achieved. Ask if there is a preferred method for completing certain tasks that could be achieved in multiple ways, especially if other people will be working on the same project.

#3. “They just don’t take notes… I’m not sure they’re listening to what I’m saying.”

Even if you’ve been given a written brief, take a notepad and pen so you can record answers to questions that might not be specified on the brief. Being proactive and taking down additional notes will suggest to the employer that the job is being worked on by someone who is determined to give 100% of their attention.

#4. “They did what I asked in a really weird way…”

Inevitably, a problem will present itself during the assignment, and you may feel tempted to assume the best way forward. Although it may seem a little more difficult to do it, depending on the situation, asking a question and getting an answer is going to be far more beneficial to you, and to the project’s outcome, than making an assumption.

#5. “They’re very good but they’re just too distracting in our studio…”

Obviously, assess the situation here. If you can see people are stressed out and the deadline is looming, it may be best to adopt a ‘heads down, bum up’ attitude. No clients want to find themselves in a situation where they have a freelancer onsite who just doesn’t know when to stop talking. However, a little personality to build a connection with the client will certainly go a long way in seeing a return visit request.

#6. “They spent half the time talking and texting on their mobile phone…”

Modern technology has made it so much easier for people to keep in touch and more often than not, agencies will try to contact their freelancers via mobile. Whilst many agencies, including Artisan, request that freelancers at least have their phone on silent if not turned off, you can understand freelancers’ concerns about losing jobs because they weren’t contactable. However, you can also understand that when someone has employed a freelancer to do some work, their time is their money. The solution is to keep mobile phone usage to a minimum and only during break times.

Likewise, this is also applicable to internet use. As freelancing work is paid at an hourly rate, there should never be a reason for you to find yourself idle and out of work. Put up your hand fifteen minutes prior to finishing the work you’re on and ask what’s next. This display of your proactive attitude will win you an enormous amount of trust.

#7. “We went to send this to the client and it hasn’t been done right…”

Understandably, a studio will get a freelancer in during busy periods. Freelancers move from studio to studio and encounter a greater number of clients than any one studio would have, working with various style guides, methodologies and processes. Whilst a company’s permanent staff would be familiar with the business’ everyday processes and styles, a freelancer coming in for the first time or after an extended break may not be as aware of these straight away. Spend five minutes to check the work with your onsite superior on a regular basis, as opposed to getting to the end of the week and having your employer discover that it just isn’t right.

#8. “No one knew where the project was at…”

Keep accurate notes (the note pad can come in use again, here) and be sure to debrief thoroughly at the end of the assignment. Never just walk out because your supervisor has gone. Always find someone to whom you can explain where the project is at, and ensure you get their name and title.

#9. “I didn’t fill in a time sheet…”

An agency will always pay their freelancer based on the number of hours that appear on an approved time sheet. Alternatively, if the freelancer is being paid directly, accurate records are the only thing that will prove the amount of time that they’ve worked and can subsequently invoice for. Approval must be given on each assignment or else it can become an instance of one person’s word against another’s.

#10. “Have to be honest… they looked like they had been out all night…”

First impressions count. If you’ve been out the night before and are feeling worse for wear the next day, you’re not in the right headspace to handle taking aboard a brief or completing detailed work to the best of your ability. In the freelance world, time is money. If you’re unwell or generally not at your best, you could tarnish your reputation...which will ultimately cost you a lot more than the loss of a day’s work.

Dress in a suitable style for your environment. Admittedly, the creative world tends to be a little more casual than most others, however rocking up in ripped jeans, unwashed and smelly t-shirts, and looking like you’ve just crawled out of bed will always be seen as unacceptable.

If you’re booked in for a 9am start, aim to arrive a little bit earlier so that you can make a coffee, get settled in, and start the work day in the right frame of mind.

#11. “Well, we’re not paying for that…”

No matter how good a freelancer is, mistakes can be made. When they are, both the client and freelancer will want to feel that they can reach an amicable outcome. If this can’t be achieved via negotiation, it becomes detrimental to the reputation of both the studio and the freelancer.

When studios and freelancers are working directly with each other, there is often little recourse when the outcome is unsatisfactory. If the freelancer manages to get paid, chances are that studio won’t use them again. At Artisan, we cover all of our freelancers with the required insurances that will allow you peace of mind. Provided our clients and freelancers work within our terms and conditions of business, they will have options that will allow the work to be completed to their satisfaction.

“The freelancer was great. The work was fantastic. We’ll definitely get them back in again…”

The bottom line is that most mistakes can be prevented through clear communication. Communicating is a responsibility of all parties, and often the real truth behind mistakes lies between the various sides of the story. Your Artisan consultant will always check in with you and your employer during the course of your assignment, to ensure that the client is having their level of expectation met, and that you are feeling confident and comfortable in achieving what is required. Take on board some of the tips listed above and you’ll be sure to minimise the most common mistakes.

If you want any further advice on how to make the most of your working relationships, get in touch with any of the Artisan consultants who’ll be more than happy to help.