Top 17 Freelance Job Interview Questions & How to Answer Them

"Freelancing" comes with its challenges as the freelancer has to handle everything independently. Besides working in his field, he is the client hunter, the accountant, and the marketing specialist. So, to open the doors of opportunities and work with more clients, the freelancer must know how to be ready for the first step, the interview.

In this article, freelancers will find the most frequently asked freelance job interview questions with tips on addressing every question professionally and ensuring the project.

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Why do clients ask these questions?

While interviewing freelancers, clients don't want to know where they will be after 5 years or maintain a digital presence that meets the company culture. Most of the time, they don't need to know if the freelancer is a night owl or a morning bird.

So, they ask questions that focus more on results as they hire a freelance to solve a specific problem. They are expecting results from freelances faster than the ones they expect from a full-time employee.

Employers can easily judge freelancers as they have specific targets, even though they have fewer pay ranges and employment benefits. Besides that, the freelancer contract can immediately get terminated without prior notices.

That being said, in all full-time or freelance job interviews, the safest option is to concentrate on the interview process as it's the first gate to proceed for further steps. For freelancers, they have to direct their efforts to convince the client that they deserve the money and can accomplish high-quality tasks.

Top 17 Freelance Job Interview Questions & How to Answer Them

What do your teammates say about working with you?

The key to giving a perfect answer to this question is to be honest, and confident. Your answer should involve two main aspects: situations where you have collaborated with others and their feedback, and feedback comments from previous clients.

Can you achieve the goal of this project successfully?

Be honest and say it frankly if you can't accomplish the project, as this will be unveiled sooner or later. If your answer is "Yes," give examples of how you've worked on similar projects and tell the client how you've succeeded in achieving this. Try to highlight the skills that would help you in this.

Do you have a portfolio?

Your portfolio is your marketing copy, don't start searching for your first client without preparing a solid portfolio. This portfolio can include work samples from projects you've accomplished on a volunteering basis, or you did for a friend, for example, if this is your first freelance project. Your portfolio should include creative ideas on how you could accomplish the task innovatively.

You'll want to present some samples and explain how you fulfilled the client's goal in each case. Explain the project, how you went about accomplishing it, and how you ended up with the final result. Often, pick samples that are close to the project of the new client.

What are the benefits of the project?

Every client is fully aware of his projects' benefits. They want to see if you know what you're doing and fulfill the project's requirements. Tell them the truth about the advantages and demonstrate how you can accomplish each task.

Is it easy for you to meet the deadlines?

When a client asks if you can meet the deadlines, the job is almost definitely time-dependent. Answer honestly with a "yes" or "no," explain the reasons behind your yes or no, and support your answer with examples.

How do you go about doing your job?

Clients are searching for freelancers who have a productive and reliable work process. It's easy for customers to believe that a freelancer is disorganized and won't fulfill the project's specifications if they don't have a procedure in place. Define your workflow to the best of your ability for the prospective customer. Let the client understand that you are competent enough to make choices while still understanding what is necessary.

Mainly, the client aims to find that you're open to feedback and share their opinion on your work while still in process. Highlight that you're adaptable, inclusive, and flexible. You can mention some previous projects where your plan helped you accomplish your tasks perfectly on time.

Tell me about a situation when you've missed a deadline

While answering this question, keep in mind that the client has far more reason to be concerned about freelancers missing deadlines than employees because they aren't as easily accessible. Your, as a freelancer, should highlight that you are committed to completing tasks, no matter how daunting they might be. Say it clearly that you've self-commitment and accountability.

How much is your hourly rate?

This question is tricky as you don't know all the details about the project, and you don't see the client's attitude. Do your homework and research the rates on Google, freelance websites, or even asking your network. Yet, don't say a specific rate until you collect all the details you need, like how many meetings the client will hold, the payment method, and whether he is a reliable client or not?

After conducting a general overview, you can say a rate and don't forget to mention it in the contract.

Define clearly all the requirements and milestones of the project and state them in the contract. So, If the client has any other additional requirements, you could charge them separately.

What are your working hours?

That is your chance to show your zeal, inform the customer of your loyalty and reliability, and set some ground rules. Many clients give the appearance that they expect their freelancers to devote to them as if they were full-time employees, even if they don't enjoy their benefits. That doesn't necessarily indicate that they're attempting to exploit you; it may just be that they're accustomed to operating in that way for daily workers.

You don't have to promise that you will be available from 9 to 5. Yet, you can assure that you'll be available during emergencies or a regular morning meeting. That will show that you're accountable and interested to join their business.

If you can work during the regular business hours, mention it. You can also set deadlines for replying to messages or calls if you're a virtual assistant, for example.

Other questions that you can expect during your job interview are.

• What is your invoicing method?
• How do you prefer to communicate?
• Is it okay if I contact any of your previous or current clients for a reference?
• How do you handle angry clients?
• Has any of your clients terminated a contract suddenly before? What were the reasons?
• Does the project deadline appropriate for you?
• What are your skills that are relevant to my project?
• How many clients do you work for right now?

Preparation is the key to master your freelance job interview

If freelancing is your workstyle or you've just started it, confidence will be your biggest strength. Instead of dwelling on your past experiences, prepare yourself to stand out among others and prove your competencies. Make sure you research the company and read as much information about the project before meeting the client. This preparation will assist you in determining how to perfectly answer the freelance job interview questions and get more projects.