As a corporate planner or business owner, has your organization recently laid off full time staff? Where do you find qualified and experience contractors to help support your business? How do you ensure freelancers will represent your organization and provide the service level that clients have come to expect?
While many meeting planning firms, incentive houses and DMC's may be finding financial relief by letting go employees, the challenge still remains to service current and prospective business. Partnering with freelancers can be a saving grace for many organizations, especially during today's economy.
However, will just any freelancer do? Qualifying temporary staff can be daunting but extremely necessary. Hiring someone sight unseen, via email correspondence or without a phone interview is very risky. Planners should give careful consideration before offering a project to a contractor they have not worked with previously.
International Network of Travel Directors (INTD) understands the importance of streamlining the contracting procedure between planners and freelancers which is why we have integrated a four-step screening process to ensure a successful hiring experience.
Step 1: Review member's online profiles thoroughly. Note their previous destination and project experience, references, reviews, current resume, etc which can all be found on a member's profile.
Step 2: Schedule and conduct a phone interview with your most qualified applicants.
Step 3: Check references (also listed on member's profiles).
Step 4: Provide a contract that details compensation and per diem, cancellation and rebooking, service and project description, dates of service, act of God policy, etc.
To make the screening process even easier and more efficient, INTD has developed a comprehensive resource section for planner members which include sample interview questions for freelance candidates, sample service agreements, how to conduct reference calls and what to ask, tactics to distinguish a good candidate from a not so good candidate and much more….
Word to the wise: NEVER hire someone without following a screening procedure first.
Want to learn how freelance travel professionals can save your organization time and money or need a Travel Director referral for your next meeting, event or incentive program? Contact International Network of Travel Directors at 800.353.5651 or search our membership database by visiting http://www.intdonline.com/profiles.
Like this article? Please help us improve and let us know your comments, feedback and suggestions by posting your thoughts on the message board.
While many meeting planning firms, incentive houses and DMC's may be finding financial relief by letting go employees, the challenge still remains to service current and prospective business. Partnering with freelancers can be a saving grace for many organizations, especially during today's economy.
However, will just any freelancer do? Qualifying temporary staff can be daunting but extremely necessary. Hiring someone sight unseen, via email correspondence or without a phone interview is very risky. Planners should give careful consideration before offering a project to a contractor they have not worked with previously.
International Network of Travel Directors (INTD) understands the importance of streamlining the contracting procedure between planners and freelancers which is why we have integrated a four-step screening process to ensure a successful hiring experience.
Step 1: Review member's online profiles thoroughly. Note their previous destination and project experience, references, reviews, current resume, etc which can all be found on a member's profile.
Step 2: Schedule and conduct a phone interview with your most qualified applicants.
Step 3: Check references (also listed on member's profiles).
Step 4: Provide a contract that details compensation and per diem, cancellation and rebooking, service and project description, dates of service, act of God policy, etc.
To make the screening process even easier and more efficient, INTD has developed a comprehensive resource section for planner members which include sample interview questions for freelance candidates, sample service agreements, how to conduct reference calls and what to ask, tactics to distinguish a good candidate from a not so good candidate and much more….
Word to the wise: NEVER hire someone without following a screening procedure first.
Want to learn how freelance travel professionals can save your organization time and money or need a Travel Director referral for your next meeting, event or incentive program? Contact International Network of Travel Directors at 800.353.5651 or search our membership database by visiting http://www.intdonline.com/profiles.
Like this article? Please help us improve and let us know your comments, feedback and suggestions by posting your thoughts on the message board.