How to hire an AI specialist: a 7-point checklist

Hiring for AI work fails for the same reason most software hiring fails: the brief is vague. Before you post a project, write the outcome you want in one sentence, then list the inputs you can hand over on day one.

Ask for a sample that mirrors your task, not a generic portfolio. A prompt engineer who has shipped a support-deflection bot can show redacted transcripts and evaluation numbers; a generalist will show screenshots.

Agree how quality is measured before work starts. For content, that is a rubric. For automation, it is a pass rate on a test set. For image or music work, it is a reference board plus a revision count.

Fund the first milestone in Escrow Wallet so the specialist knows the budget is real and you keep the release trigger. Split large projects into three milestones rather than one lump sum.

Finally, keep everything in the JadeWorx thread. Files, revisions and approvals stay attached to the order, which is what our dispute team reads if anything goes wrong.