TalentDesk 101: Guide to using the platform as a manager

10 Feb 2021

5 mins read

Contents:

  1. Introduction to TalentDesk
  2. Inviting freelancers
  3. Accessing your freelancer database & viewing profiles
  4. Creating projects
  5. Creating and managing tasks
  6. All you need to know about budgets
  7. Support

1. Introduction to TalentDesk

TalentDesk is an end-to-end workforce platform for clients and freelancers to collaborate on projects across the world.

Step 1: Setup your profile and add a picture of yourself by clicking here!

2. Inviting freelancers

How to invite freelancers

Freelancers can be invited onto TalentDesk by heading to the ‘Team’ section on your left panel, choosing the ‘Providers’ subsection and then selecting ‘Invite providers’. After adding the relevant email addresses, be sure to include a custom message outlining why you’d like the freelancers to join TalentDesk (you might want to outline that you’ll be using TalentDesk to manage and pay your freelancers).
Finally please ensure you include the relevant onboarding form.

3. Accessing your freelancer database & viewing profiles

Finding specific individuals

Navigating to the ’Provider’ subsection within ‘Teams’ gives you an overview of your entire freelance and contractor database. Be sure to filter and search according to specific criteria such as availability, language, and skills to find suitable individuals.

Viewing the freelancer profiles

In the ‘About’ section of their profile, you can see key information such as their availability (updated by them), skills, contractual information, reviews left by managers, notes, various rates, and the projects they’re involved in.
You also have the ability to confirm whether they have added their payment details under their profile.

Finding freelancer onboarding forms

When freelancers join TalentDesk, they must submit an onboarding form which typically covers various types of background information. To find the onboarding form of a specific freelancer, locate their profile in the ‘Providers’ section within ‘Teams’ and select the ‘…’ to the far right of their name. Click on ‘View onboarding submission’ to pull up the form they filled.

4. Creating projects

How to create a project

To create projects, head to the ‘Projects’ tab and select ‘Create new project’. Fill out all the required fields.

Once you have created a project, follow these steps:

  1. Invite managers to the project
  2. Add a budget for the project
  3. Click on ‘Start Project’

Inviting team members to a project and starting it

In the ‘team’ section, select the down arrow and invite anyone else from your team after creating the base for your project.

5. Creating and managing tasks

How to create a task

Tasks are created within a project. After creating the project, select ‘Create task’ and provide key information such as Task Title and Description.

Assigning and managing tasks

Assign tasks to freelancers at a specific rate by clicking on “Add Providers”. Use the following functionalities within tasks:

  • Progress tracking: Track the progress of specific freelancers via the progress tracker.
  • Discussion board: Discuss collaboratively via the group chat within the discussion subsection.
  • Deliverables: Exchange deliverables with freelancers.

Completing tasks and approving worksheets

Once a task is completed, click on the “Complete Task” button to raise a worksheet for your freelancer(s). For best practice, create a separate task for each freelancer.

Important: All worksheets must be created and approved by specific dates for invoices to be generated on the next working day:

  • 7th of the month
  • 14th of the month
  • 22nd of the month
  • Last working day of the month

6. All you need to know about budgets

As a manager, track your budgets under the ’Finance’ section of your account. Here, you can view everything from current budgets to your allocation history.

How to add budget to a project

  • Budgets can be added when creating a project under ‘Advanced options’.
  • Further budget can be added by going into ‘Purchase Orders’ and selecting ‘Request budget’.

Requesting budget Add the amount needed into the request box and then click on ‘Find manager’. Only managers with enough budget will appear as an option.

Leftover budget in a project post-completion If your project is complete with leftover budget, return the funds to your budget pot by closing the project.
Once you close a project, the option to ‘Return funds’ will be available.

Selecting a manager as a payments reviewer In organizations with