What Is The Difference Between Proven & Declared Skills

What Is The Difference Between Proven & Declared Skills

One of the big problems that often arise from using freelancers is that anyone can claim that they are highly skilled in just about any field they choose. They can “declare” that they have the ability to complete jobs even if they have zero actual or “proven” experience.

This can lead to confusion and friction between a freelancer and the client that has hired them to complete a job.

Declared Skills
When a person or freelancer declares a skill, it means that they are declaring, making it known or openly avowing their skill as a fact. It may be because the freelancer thinks that they have a skill whether or not in truth they actually possess that skill. Or in a grimmer scenario, it can be an out and out fraudulent statement in an effort to get money from the client.

When a client hires a freelancer, it is usually with the understanding that they are capable of completing the specific task for which they were hired. Mistakes can lead to many potential problems for the client who may have deadlines or specific obligations and frustration for the freelancer if it turns out that they just don’t have the claimed skill.

Declared skills are often found in any type of ad posted both on line or off, and frequently show up even in professional resumes.

Proven Skill
A proven skill on the other hand, is one that has been proven by having successfully completed a body of work that proves the freelancer does have the actual ability to complete the work. Having numerous examples of proof where the skill has been used to successfully complete jobs increases the likelihood that the freelancer will also be able to complete the clients current job.

An example of this type of proof is the ability of clients to rate the work completed by freelancers. This rating is then available for other potential clients to see when they consider hiring the freelancer.

By having this proof the client has the ability to check on the satisfaction of former clients and make an informed decision on whether or not to hire that freelancer.

Often times, when there is little financial risk or in an effort to save money, a client will knowingly hire a freelancer who has yet to prove his skill. Then the declared skill can be be proven by successfully completing the work that has been assigned.

How To Avoid Problems
Even when both parties think that they completely understand or have communicated the specific requirements for a job, there can still be problems that arise. The more complicated the work the higher the probability of snags.

A good freelancer will make every effort to insure that the client is happy with the end product including revisions or even producing new work.

Indeed, it is a common occurrence for tweaking to be needed on work no matter how much proof of skill the freelancer has shown. The best way to make sure that both parties are happy is by frequent communications. In most cases, a problem only becomes a problem when neither party wants to correct or describe the issues that are causing an issue.