1. What is your working process?
Clients are interested in freelancers who have a work process that is both effective and efficient. Without a process, it is easy for clients to assume that a freelancer is unorganized and will not meet the needs of the project. Define your work processes as best you can to the potential client, and let them know you are confident enough to make decisions but also understand when questions need to be asked.
2. What tech tools do you use on a daily basis?
This interview question demonstrates your willingness to stay sharp. Are you up on the latest technologies? Hiring managers are looking to gauge how strategically you approach your work as well as whether the company can support your equipment needs.
3. What is the benefit of the project?
For the most part, the client knows what the benefit is. However, they want to see if you know and if you can meet the project demands. Tell them truthfully what the benefits are and show them how you can make each one a reality.
4. What do people like most about working with you?
This is a fun question because it can throw freelancers for a loop and make them really think about what to say. The way that other people describe you also says a lot about you. Most freelancers will have an idea of what people would say about them based on their own self-awareness of their behavior at work.
If you can, call or email the freelancer's list of references to see if what they say about the freelancer matches up with the freelancer's response to this question.
5. What are your main sources for industry news?
Managers want to know that you're up on industry trends and that you draw inspiration from multiple sources. In addition to trade publications that focus on your area, don't forget to mention any creativity-oriented websites, blogs and social media accounts you follow.
6. What do other people say about working with you?
Be honest and provide positive examples of how you work with others. With this question, it would be useful to have a few recommendations from prior clients or other freelancers you have worked with in the past.
7. Are you able to meet the deadline?
If a client is asking if you can meet the deadline, the project is probably pretty time sensitive. Answer clearly with a "yes" or a "no," and provide reasons as to why you can or cannot meet the deadline.
8. What is included in your price? How do you charge clients?
This is a necessary question because all freelancers charge differently and utilize different pricing structures. You need to know if revisions or changes to the project will require additional payment if the project is a fixed price job. You also need to be aware of how hourly pricing will work if the job is going to be billed hourly. Discussing the approximate costs for projects and expectations on pricing from both sides can lead to a more harmonious working relationship.
9. Can you show your work samples?
Always be prepared with a portfolio of your best and most relevant work for each specific project. When you show the work samples, consider providing additional ideas of how you could do something differently that would be better suited for the project.
10. Tell me, has a client ended a relationship abruptly - if so, why?
Before you ask for references, get a sense of the relationships that haven't worked out for a freelancer. Try to not judge if a client wasn't seeing the results they wanted, as you never know what their expectations were like. Instead, look for how the freelancer explains the situation and if they learned any lessons from. Look for someone who's always able to take a lesson or action item from an experience.
