Where To Find Outsource Staff
Most entrepreneurs and small businesses these days see outsourcing as part of their overall business strategy. And for very good reason! It’s a definite cost-saving measure because the company doesn’t need to hire a full-time employee to do the work. It can be a sensible strategy, saving time and money.
The biggest issue facing Australian-based businesses is how and where to find people to outsource to. If you’re looking for someone to outsource parts of your work to, here are some ideas which might solve your problem.
1. Advertise on social media pages
People who are interested in what you do will follow your social media pages to learn, to stay up-to-date, and to watch for opportunities to work with you. If you need to outsource work, post on your social media pages first. You already have an interested audience there and they are more thank likely familiar with your brand and services.
2. Mention vacancies on Facebook groups
There are many groups on Facebook for specialists and freelancers in a variety of areas looking for work. For example, search for “graphic designer jobs” and you’ll be surprised at the number of groups you find. Of course, they may not all be local to Australia, so it may take a bit more time to locate the Australian-based talent.
A second option is to search the many business groups in Australia and post about your job. If there are no eligible people in the group, they will undoubtedly be able to make recommendations.
3. Notify local or industry magazines and newspapers
Newspapers and magazines are excellent sources of work for individuals who need casual or remote choices. Place an advertisement and expect to run it for three or four weeks. Industry magazines will often be a great source of potential interns who need work experience and would be happy to work on a casual or on-demand basis.
4. Partner with educational institutions
Your local high schools and universities are a great source of students looking for work. Naturally, you will need to tailor the level of the work to the experience of the student, but many of the routine tasks you probably outsource won’t require degrees to do. Most universities or TAFEs will have a career centre of some sort, so make yourself and your opportunity known to them.
5. Place vacancy on SEEK
SEEK has a section for contract and temp work as well as for casual/vacation vacancies. It’s a great place to find people who really want to work and you can be really specific in terms of the qualifications you require.
6. Consider Airtasker
Airtasker is an Australian site which lets you outsource almost anything. Just post the task you need to be done, and you’ll receive a number of quotes to choose from. You’ll also see ratings for each Airtasker to help you select the right person.
7. Ask for referrals
Ask your current staff or industry colleagues for referrals. Coming from a trusted source, you can be reasonably confident the recommendations will be for reliable people.
8. Register with Upwork
Despite the fact that Upwork is an American-based site, many Australian businesses are using this tool to search for people they need. Remember however when quoting your fee, the website deals in US dollars only. If you hire someone on Upwork, you will have to continue hiring through Upwork to use their services, unless you willing to pay the opt-out fee.
Remember to choose wisely when you’re deciding which tasks to outsource. Some, like your bookwork, are best handled by professionals.
So, where are you going to start searching for outsource staff?