What does a freelancer do?

Freelancers provide support and deliver work to clients who need specific services but prefer not to, or are unable to, hire permanent employees. Clients often contract freelancers temporarily, perhaps for a single project or a specific time. They may be paid hourly, per project, per submission or on a weekly or monthly basis.

Freelancers often contract with several clients at a time. This makes it even more important for freelancer-client contracts to be specific regarding work expectations, pay, time commitments and responsibilities.

Freelancer skills and qualifications

The skills and qualifications listed in your freelancer job description should include both general skills and job-specific qualifications. For instance, a freelance web developer may need to know how to code and identify opportunities to improve user experience. A freelance copy editor might need in-depth knowledge of grammar rules and the ability to adhere to branded style guides.

Here are some skills and qualifications that could apply to most freelancer roles:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Self-starter who can consistently work remotely and/or independently
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Excellent time management skills
• Familiarity with leading industry software, project management apps and digital communication tools
• In-depth knowledge of their chosen discipline(s)
• Comfortable pitching concepts and/or explaining instructions to clients, intermediaries and end users
• Inherent creativity for conceptualizing and problem-solving

Freelancer experience requirements

Freelancers are typically expected to have at least some experience in their chosen field. Freelancers can show their experience through a portfolio, samples, testimonials or links to published work. The required experience generally varies depending on the client’s budget and the expected scope of work. Projects that require high-quality output or specific expertise are more likely to prioritize candidates with extensive experience.

To attract qualified candidates, consider using your freelancer job description to detail project requirements and related experience. For instance, a listing for a medical copywriter may require 5-10 years of healthcare experience, along with several years of copywriting experience.

Freelancer education and training requirements

There are no formal education requirements for a freelancer. Some companies use skills-based hiring to attract candidates who may not have a degree but have extensive experience in their specialty.

Freelancers can also earn certifications to demonstrate their skills. You can mention these industry-trusted certifications in your freelancer job profile. Examples include content marketing or UI/UX design certifications.

Some clients may ask candidates to take a technical skills test or submit a paid sample to showcase their abilities.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this freelancer job description template doesn’t match your needs, check out these sample job descriptions for similar positions:

• Graphic designer
• Content strategist
• Copy editor
• Social media manager