Employers

Post a Project or Search for a Freelancer

You can search for a freelancer by typing in a keyword relating to the job you want done, such as data entry, language translations, copywriting, accounting services, project management and more. You can also simply find Australian based freelancers in their different fields to see which freelancers will suit the project you need done.

Or if you want, you can describe the project that you need completed. Your first project posting is free and you will be notified of interested candidates for your project by email.

To post a project:

• Register – Your first project posting is free!
  
  
• Click on "My Account" in the main menu.
  
  
• Click on the "Post a Projects" button
  
  
• Choose from either a Standard or Permanent Project posting.

A thorough and complete job description is crucial in getting the right candidates for your job. It also reduces the chances of any misunderstandings. Fill in the necessary fields and type in a job description.

Unsure what to write in your job posting? Refer to next section below on Writing your Job Description.

Writing your Job Description

• Research: Do some before posting your project so you know what you need.
  
  
• Descriptive Project Name. A freelancer should be able to tell at a glance what you are looking for. A project named "E-Book", for example, may grab the attention of graphic artists, writers, web developers and others.
  
  
• Provide a Detailed Description: Be sure to answers as many potential questions a freelancer may have. Be clear, to the point and think what’s required from the freelancer. Here’s some details that are often overlooked:
  
  
• Special software skills required
  
  
• Length of writing projects (word counts, etc.)
  
  
• Language requirements (English, German, French, etc.)
  
  
• Platform (Unix, Windows, Mac, etc.)
  
  
• Programming language(s)
  
  
• Rights you are purchasing (full copyright, internet rights, etc.)
  
  
• Payment terms (up-front, milestones, etc.)
  
  
• Payment methods (PayPal, direct deposit, cheque, etc.)
• Category Selection: Select your job categories and sub-categories carefully.
  
  
• Budget Carefully: Consider your budget selection carefully. Don’t set a budget higher than you’re willing to pay, just to attract more experienced freelancers. Just be straightforward.
  
  
• Upload Examples of what you need. Warning: Borrowing content from websites, articles, programming code, or other sources that you do not have rights to as examples constitute copyright infringement!
  
  
• Give Your Project Time: Allow enough time for your project listing. Remember, the top professionals are usually the busiest so don’t list your project for too short a timeframe or you may eliminate some of the top contenders.

Cancelling or Amending your Posting

Here's what you need to do to Cancel or Amend a Project:

• Sign in
  
  
• Click on "My Profile" in the main menu.
  
  
• Click on the "Posted Projects" button
  
  
• Next to each project posting there will be an edit / delete button that you can select.
  
  
• No refunds are given to cancelled postings under any circumstances.

Please note: When you amend a project, you will be able to edit the:

• Budget: (Fixed amount /hourly rate)
  
  
• Project Duration and
  
  
• Job Description: (Free form text).

*No extra charges will apply if you amend a project.

Select the best Australian Based Freelancer for your Project

If you are interested in hiring a freelancer from the site without posting a project, request a proposal. In your request, make sure you are clear on the details of the project.

The terms and conditions regarding payment and timeframe of the project are discussed between you and the employer. ProfessionalPA acts as a noticeboard and is happy to help. Please refer to The ‘Most Popular Questions’ under the ‘Help’ section of the website which explains the correct steps for payment and timeframes.

After a potential freelancer has been selected, you can request him or her to take a skills test (see How Skills Test Works). This exam will test your freelancer’s ability in key areas so they can undertake your project. The cost to you is $38 per test if he or she decides to take it.

You can also request a verification check to be made on the freelancer’s qualifications such as University, TAFE/College and character references. The cost to you is $10.

Before the Project Begins

Once you have confirmed your selection of a freelancer, you will receive the contact details of your freelancer and they will receive yours.

1. To reconfirm your agreement with your freelancer you may like to issue them with an employment contract. As an employer you may already have one of your own or you may use this Sample Employment Contract and fill in your details.

2. Communicate frequently with your freelancer and determine the best way to send and receive work. Outline deadlines for jobs to be done and your expectations. The clearer and concise you are with your instructions, the less likelihood there will be of misunderstandings.

Pay Your Australian Based Freelancer and Leave Feedback

Once the job is complete, you pay for the actual results received and leave feedback on how it all went.

For larger projects you may want to consider milestone payments. This simply means breaking up the projects into small pieces whereby your freelancer completes a certain amount of work by a certain time and you pay him or her for the work done before moving on. It works very well and keeps the freelance project safe and running smoothly.

Leave Feedback for your Freelancer

Leaving your feedback as honestly as possible is vital because it allows other employers to see how your freelancer undertook his or her project.

If the project was completed correctly, a positive feedback can help the freelancer acquire more projects in the future.

On the other hand, if your freelancer did a poor job, it’s good to alert other employers of their efforts. This way they can consider whether they should outsource projects to them or not.