Hiring in the Cloud
People are people are people. As with contractors, just because you have all these advantages of hiring online doesn’t mean there isn’t a very real world out there with all kinds of people in it.
Elance works hard to ensure that the highest-quality freelancers are available—and they will be increasing these efforts in the future—but you must still do your due diligence.
Hiring in the cloud isn’t that much different from hiring in person. You will pick winners and you will pick losers. In the cloud, you don’t have to keep hiring the ones who don’t meet your needs.
But great talent exists online, and if you follow the guidelines set forth in this book, you will be well on your way to success as a client.
When you find talented contractors, nurture the relationships, and hire them over and over again. This is how you begin to build your virtual team. To keep good-quality people, you must also be a good manager and leader. The Elance system is there to connect you with this talent and to enable the smooth flow of business.
The Least You Need to Know
• The virtual work world is one of the fastest-growing segments in the world.
• You’re free to grow your freelancing business as quickly or as slowly as you like.
• Clients don’t just save money; they also save time and potentially have fewer hassles along the way.
• Freelancing requires self-motivation and discipline.
• You might make a bad hiring choice on Elance, but you don’t have to rehire them.