How to read a task brief
Eight lines to check in a task brief before you say yes: outcome, load, tools, scope and acceptance.
By Daniel Okafor, Chief Recruiting Officer · Edited by Helena Voss · Published
The eight lines
- Outcome: what exists when you finish.
- Deliverables: the files or decisions you hand over.
- Load: hours a week, a month or in total.
- Rhythm: when you work and when you report.
- Tools: what you need access to.
- Not included: what is out of scope.
- Acceptance: how the company decides it is done.
- Rate and start: the hourly rate and the first day.
Red flags
An unclear outcome, no acceptance rule, a load that is described as flexible without a number, or a request to start before the rate is agreed. Ask your recruiter to get answers in writing.
What open briefs look like today
Across the 30,017 open tasks on the site, 64% are fully remote; the rest are hybrid or tied to a city. Every brief states the format, so you know before you open it whether it is a standing role or a single deliverable.
| Format | Open tasks | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Regular role | 10,518 | 35% |
| One-off task | 9,716 | 32% |
| Task bundle | 5,461 | 18% |
| Expert hour | 629 | 2% |
| AI expert review | 3,693 | 12% |
If a brief leaves the deliverable, the acceptance criteria or the hours unclear, ask your recruiter before you say yes. A clear brief is part of what the company pays the 15% fee for.