For most people, figuring out and finalizing the location to live their lives is a very crucial and impactful call to make. Be it to raise a family, to work remotely, if you’re single, married, or looking for the best climate - it’s a hassle to figure out the perfect location for you.
This is the problem statement Gisele Sitdykova had on her table - and she knew there was a better way to solve this, other than endless tiring sessions googling. With her strong background in data, Giselle came up with a much easier tech solution, and Dwellics was born. Merging ‘Dwellin’ and ‘Statistics’ - that is exactly what the company does: Bringing data to the forefront to help you make better decisions.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Giselle Sitdykova to discuss her venture and the staffing strategy.
Q. Hi, Giselle! Let’s start with the usuals: Please tell us about yourself and your company.
GS: I’m Giselle Sitdykova, Founder and CEO of Dwellics, the company that creates personalized city rankings across 100+ data points. I built a career in data management and reporting in the Mortgage industry before I created Dwellics.
Q. Can you talk about your staffing strategy for your product development and Go-to-market?
GS: I love working with people who see what needs to be done and are eager to implement their ideas. Therefore, I always look for exceptional people at a value price. I hire 2-3 or more and leave the best fit on the team to figure out.
Q. Since you used freelancers, can you tell us more about your selection criteria and how you found them?
GS: I post jobs/projects on various freelancing platforms, then I go through all the responses and select the most passionate answers. The majority of responses look like this: “Your project is interesting, I’m the most qualified to complete it. Here’s who I am and I’ve got great reviews.”
The most passionate people don’t write like that - they don’t follow specific rules or structures. They make very interesting connections between their experiences and my project, then suggest their vision of where they’d like to take the project and why: the “why” is very important to me.
I select people who explain why they chose specific steps, why they don’t recommend other ways, why they ask the price they ask etc. I look for people who like learning and trying new things, so they can stay on the team when a project is over and work on other projects. Some people measure work in hours, while others measure it by accomplishments, even if paid by hours.
I carefully select each freelancer’s fit to the existing team, so the information would flow freely within the entire company and the best ideas would be supported at all points.
Q. What are the pros and cons of working with freelancers?
GS: "Freelancers do not expect to work full-time, so I don’t need to pay more than their contributions. They work with their own tools, so I don’t need to invest in their computers and some (sometimes very expensive) software. When they work, they contribute fully, they are engaged. If they don’t like working for me, it’s easier for them to leave, so there are no unhappy team members."
There are cons, but they are manageable. Freelancers speak a lot of different languages and communication in English may be challenging, so the most of communication happens in chats, often with Google translators. Honestly speaking, I cannot fully unplug - someone is working and asking questions 24/7, since the team consists of people in Europe, the US, the Middle East, Canada, and Australia. But the biggest con is probably the fact that I don’t have common friends with freelancers, so I cannot get firsthand references about them.
Reviews may be unreliable and freelancers get an opportunity to remove some negative reviews. Hiring a freelancer may be hit and miss - but it’s a risk worth taking.
Q. Would you consider a similar strategy and plan for your future projects?
GS: Yes, I love working with freelancers and am a supporter of the freedom it offers them when compared to full-time employees.
Q. What advice do you give to other entrepreneurs for staffing their projects?
GS: Make several posts for the same project in different categories. For example, I searched for an Analyst with Python skills and I was looking for a Python programmer with analytical skills at the same time. This helps uncover hidden gems with a variety of skills. Hire several at a time for a small part of a project, so you can compare quality and leave the best one to complete the entire project.
Q. If a service such as a P2P hiring marketplace is available to you to connect you with vetted and verified tech service companies for staffing your projects more affordable and with quality, will you use that?
GS: Sure, I’d give it a try! Why not!?
Q. Any other thoughts?
GS: I believe the P2P model and freelancing with all the freedom it offers are shaping the future. These practices may lead to a more competitive workforce that values personal freedom. I’m excited to see what impact it will have on politics and global processes - and what changes it brings forth to the way we view workplaces.
Giselle Sitdykova, like several other founders, is now switching to picking out suitable resources from an on-demand talent pool to get their projects done on time, hassle-free, and responsibly.
Food for thought :
- According to a study by Upwork (source), it is anticipated that by 2025, 22% of Americans will be doing their work from home.
- An average of 13,000 posts per month were added to the IT employment market in the first half of 2021 (source)
Looking at this, given the crunch for resources, the next best ‘traditional’ step for most founders and team leads would be to hire freelancers to complete parts/whole of projects in the pipeline. But the fact that the extent of professionalism, quality, and accountability that a freelancer brings to the table is as unstable as the current economy. So, as a founder, what do you do?
What if there was a platform that hosts a talent pool from where you can source on-demand, vetted, verified professionals to complete your projects?
If this sounds like something you want to do for your business, let us help you!
Go on to P2P Hiring Marketplace, create an employer’s account, and get started on your journey!