5 Ways to Attract Top Independent Talent

In 2024, there were more than 72 million independent contractors, according to MBO’s State of Independence report. Most of them have plenty of options when choosing the clients they work with. Independent contractors can fill high-demand roles in areas like management consulting, engineering, marketing, research, and product development.

As your company looks for new ways to achieve its goals—especially in a fast-changing economy—you also need to think about how to attract the talent you need. Understanding the motivations and needs of independent contractors can improve your chances of attracting and keeping the talent you want.

1. Help Independent Talent Find Project Opportunities

When looking for top independent contractors, managers and recruiters need to take a different approach than they would for traditional employees. For example, a company’s website should clearly show that there are opportunities for independent contractors. It’s important to include language that makes it clear what jobs are for full-time employees and what are for independent workers. This simple distinction is often overlooked.

Many companies use online platforms to connect independent contractors with available projects. These platforms can help companies reduce recruiting costs and speed up the hiring process. Independent contractors create profiles and either search for or are matched with jobs that are a good fit for their skills and expertise.

Explore: 6 Ways to Show Your Company Values Independent Work

2. Offer Flexible Engagement Options

Independent contractors have different levels of self-employability. Some companies mistakenly hire workers as independent contractors even if they don’t fully qualify. This can lead to a variety of legal and reputational risks.

The best option is to offer a range of engagement choices to meet the needs of different workers while also avoiding worker misclassification. This allows independent talent to work the way they prefer, without putting your company at risk.

Check Out: How Compliance Issues Can Undermine Your Reputation With Independent Contractors

3. Streamline the Onboarding Process

A fast and efficient onboarding process is key to client satisfaction. It should include clear project goals, defined responsibilities, and automated systems to minimize paperwork.

Independent contractors will also appreciate having an onboarding landing page with information on roles, self-assessment surveys, and automatic payment options. Meetings between managers and independent talent should be part of the process to discuss project scope, goals, and deliverables.

Don’t Miss: 6 Ways to Boost Independent Contractor Retention

4. Prioritize Freedom, Flexibility, and Communication

Independent contractors highly value freedom, control, flexibility, and clear communication. Creating an environment that allows them to work the way they want will help them feel respected.

Your managers should understand how to interact with independent talent, set clear expectations, and communicate openly to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Up Next: Retention Strategies for Independent Talent

5. Re-Engage Your Best Independent Contractors

After creating a positive experience for independent contractors, keep them in mind even after a project ends. Re-engaging those who have already demonstrated their expertise and built strong relationships with your managers is a great way to bring back reliable independent talent.

Having a pool of skilled, vetted independent contractors is a great resource when you need talent quickly. Re-engaging workers can make the process faster and help your company stay adaptable in a fast-changing work environment.

Take a Deeper Dive: 4 Reasons to Re-Engage Independent Workers

If you’re looking for additional support attracting top talent to your organization, MBO Partners offers a wealth of tools and resources to help. We cover a wide range of topics, including workforce compliance, contingent workforce management, Employer of Record (EOR) services, and more.