Here's how to summit a successful freelance application!
The project manager pulls the curtain.
In a previous article, we talked about how the manager, the freelancers and the client themselves see and experience each Briefly project. Let’s discuss this a little more, our project manager Zsu Zolyomi will invite us behind-the-scenes and guide us all through how a selection process takes place after the application.
After nearly a year of Briefly project management and thirty completed projects, it’s time to share with you the criteria that the PM choosing a freelancer for a particular project is based on.
In the project selection phase, the project manager has to play an HR role as well, and whether or not he or she has experience in selecting team members, tries to make or recommend decisions as carefully as possible, as the success of the project depends mostly on the skills and work ethic of the team members. In terms of project management, this is perhaps the most significant part of the whole project, so we try to gather information about the possibilities thoroughly.
Let's check out the portfolio!
Imagine you have a list of 15 names in front of you and you have to find the right expert for managing the social media surfaces of a gardening company. If you have no other clue than the name, it is unlikely that your intuition alone will lead you to the right solution. Therefore, in each case, look at the portfolio, the reference, the professional page of the freelancer who applied for the job, to make sure that they have the right background for the announced project.
If some of your work has not yet been uploaded to your profile, I suggest that you replace it as soon as possible before you apply for your next project. We know that in addition to a lot of creative work, there’s often no time to do this, but you really don’t have to overthink it: your portfolio can also be a PowerPoint uploaded to Google Drive with the projects, or even screenshots of jobs you’re proud of.
This facilitates smooth communication between the client and the freelancers, so they only have to focus on their own area.
Next up: The letter attached to your application!
When you log into the platform, you will see a small window for your personal message.
This is where you have to write your cover letter at Briefly and we highly recommend not to leave it blank, as it is possible that if you miss this step, the PM will not even consider your application at all. Furthermore, this is the perfect opportunity to sell yourself and convince the PM that you are the right professional with the right background.
Depending on the agreement with the client, the PM can send only one freelancer proposal for one position, but sometimes they send the TOP3 candidate. In both cases a motivational message can be crucial. If the project has caught your eye for some reason because you really want to work with a cosmetics brand or NGO, this is the best interface to get your message across to the PM. Believe me, it is often personal commitment or passion that will persuade the PM and the client!
I suggest that you avoid the message “I’ve been a copywriter for 5 years, you can find my work at the link above” as it reveals little about your personality or attachment to a topic or company, which of course is not a problem, but believe me, it will always be an applicant who also indicates these and it is more likely they will be the ones getting the job. So the bottom line is to always write a few lines about why you want to work on the project, sell yourself and grab the opportunity!
Let’s see the pricing!
In each case, the PMs will try to find out how much the project budget will be, so one important aspect, the decision of whether the pay indicated by the freelancer will fit into the client's budget can be clarified at an early stage. Tailoring your own pricing to different projects can sometimes be a very difficult question, so if you get stuck, feel free to proactively ask the PM for an opinion on whether the price you came up with can be realistic. There are projects where you have the perfect candidate but the fee is higher than what the client has indicated. In this case a good PM will try to find a proper fee between the client’s and the freelancers claims.
So keep in mind that you can also ask the PM for help with pricing during the application process.
The perfect match? It exists!
The Briefly platform has more than 2000 registered freelancers in 8 roles, so a variety of skills is guaranteed, and there are many wonderful moments when you have the perfect match: the freelancer has just the right knowledge, work ethic, skills and experience that the client needs.
In this case, there could be an endless list of good applications, however, there will be only one who steals the show!
The good news is that luckily, with a wide range and variety of customers and orders, there will definitely be a project in the future where you will be the perfect match!
+1 tip about what to avoid in your application
When writing an introduction, always keep in mind the information that will help you to apply successfully and avoid feedback on Briefly or the platform.
Of course, this also has a proper place, if something doesn’t work or you aren’t satisfied, feel free to email hello@briefly.work because we really welcome any feedback and will try to incorporate it.
If you want to get a closer look at the Briefly vibe, get to know project managers, or exchange experiences with other freelancers, check out the programs, live events and news on Briefly’s social platforms, because we’re planning some great things in the future.
We wish you very successful applications and exciting projects soon!
Do you feel that online marketing is not your world, but you want a professional online presence? With Briefly, you can easily find the professionals who will help you with it.
Register a project today!
If you want to work on an exciting project, register on Briefly and be part of our unique freelancer team!
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