Work Your Way With iHire’s New Freelance Marketplace

Have you ever wanted more flexibility in how, when, and where you work, while getting paid for your in-demand skills?

Look no further than iHire’s new freelance marketplace.

Unlike crowded, global freelance platforms, we match you with verified, U.S.-based employers in your exact industry. No noise or struggles to stand out – just the right opportunities to do what you do best and grow your career on your own terms.

How to Find Freelance Jobs on iHire

To find freelance and independent contractor jobs on iHire, sign in to your account or create one.

If you’re new to iHire, you will be asked a few questions to customize your account. When asked to specify the type of work you’re interested in, be sure to select “Freelance.”

New users should also set up their iMatch Job Search Preferences to ensure matching jobs are best aligned with your skills and career goals. (Learn more about iMatch here.)

Before you apply for freelance jobs, you’ll need to have your portfolio in order. Select “Resumes/Portfolio” on your dashboard to begin building your portfolio.

First, enter your contact information. Freelancers must have verified email addresses and phone numbers on their account. After you input these details, you’ll receive verification codes on your phone and email. Once you’ve confirmed your email and phone, you’ll see a green “Verified” check mark next to them on your portfolio.

Then, upload a photo or avatar for your portfolio. This must be an actual photo of you, which helps establish trust with employers, makes your profile more credible, and enables employers to quickly connect a real person to your freelance application or proposal. (Note: your photo will not be visible when applying for jobs that aren’t freelance.)

Fill out additional areas of your portfolio, including:

• Summary
• Personal links (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter/X, and online portfolio URLs)
• Profile tagline (a short headline to promote your expertise)
• Work experience
• Achievements
• Education and credentials
• Affiliations

Next, upload or link to work samples. Use this section to show examples of previously completed projects.

Include a detailed title, a description of the project scope and requirements you fulfilled, and any relevant attachments and/or links that help showcase your capabilities.  

While freelance candidates aren’t required to upload a resume, we encourage you to do so. If you don’t have one to upload, you can build one from your portfolio using iHire’s Resume Builder.

How & Where to Find Freelance Jobs on iHire

Now, you’re ready to find freelance work on iHire. Head over to the “Search Jobs” tab on your dashboard.

You can easily drill down into freelance jobs by selecting “Freelance” under the “Employment Type” filter.

Click on any job posting to learn more about the opportunity. You’ll see the full job description/project brief, an at-a-glance job summary (including hours per week, budget, duration, and experience level required), as well as required skills.

All freelance jobs are marked “Confidential” when you find them in our freelance job search engine. You will see the name of the employer after you receive an offer.

Find Freelance Jobs (and Much More)

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How to Apply for Freelance Jobs

To apply for a freelance or independent contractor job, select “Submit a Proposal” near the top of the posting.

On the next screen, confirm your contact information and verify your phone and email if you haven’t already. You can also upload or change your profile photo and opt in to receiving text message updates regarding your freelance proposal’s status. If the employer has included additional prescreening questions, they will appear in the next step.

Now, it’s time to write your proposal, which is similar to a cover letter in a traditional job application. A strong freelance proposal shows you understand the client’s needs, explains how you’ll help them meet their goals, highlights your relevant experience, and lays out your timeline and pricing.

Here, you have the option to create an AI-generated proposal in seconds. Hit “One-Click Proposal,” and our AI tool will create the proposal based on your portfolio, resume (if you’ve uploaded one), and job preferences. You can edit and adjust the generated proposal as needed before submitting it.

While it’s optional for freelancers to include a resume, you may do so here. Choose from your saved resumes, add a new one, or select “Apply without a resume.”

In the next step, you’ll enter a bid. A bid is the compensation amount you’re asking for. It can be an hourly rate or a fixed total payment. If you’re unsure how to price your work, check out this article in our Resource Center.

At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see the total compensation you’ll receive, plus the 8% iHire service fee, if selected for the project (learn more about our payout process here).

In the final step, you’ll have a chance to review your entire proposal before submitting it. Select “Submit Proposal” when you’re ready to move forward.

After submitting your first freelance proposal, you will be asked to input a payout method to ensure you are paid on time if your proposal is accepted. You can securely connect your PayPal account in just a few clicks.

What Happens When You Receive an Offer

When an employer sends you an offer, you’ll receive an email notification (and text, if opted into SMS), and will also see the opportunity under “Offer Received” in your Job Tracker.

The company name is now visible – it is no longer confidential.

When you click “Review Offer,” all milestones – the deliverable(s) the employer is asking for and when everything is due – are listed. You’ll also see an offer summary with the total payment you will receive upon completion.

Click “Accept Offer” to move forward with the project.

Once you’ve accepted, you’ll see the full agreement under the “Active” tab in your Job Tracker. The agreement is a legally binding arrangement created when you accept an offer, formalizing project scope, milestones, deliverables, and payment structure.

Congrats, you’re now ready to get to work and begin your first milestone! Once a milestone is marked complete by the employer, you’ll receive your payout.

Start Your Freelance Job Search

Ready to being searching for your first (or next) freelance gig? Sign in your account or create a new one to get started!

For more details on how to bid for freelance jobs, craft effective proposals, and stand out as a freelance job seeker, visit our Job Seeker Help Center and Job Seeker Resource Center.