Freelance for clients who value your expertise
Join Trusty Oak’s Talent Network of US-based, fractional knowledge workers. Whether your strength is administrative excellence or a specialized skill, we’ll connect you with opportunities that fit your expertise.
Not sure which option is right for you? Scroll down to learn more about each path.
Quality client matches
Extra income
Ongoing support
Two paths to put your expertise to work
Whether you provide ongoing administrative support or bring expertise in a specialized field, there’s a place for your skills in our Talent Network.
Executive Assistants
Provide consistent, reliable support in areas like inbox and calendar management, scheduling, travel planning, and client communications. Our thorough vetting process ensures clients can trust you with their most important tasks.
Specialist Talent
Offer your expertise in areas such as video editing, paid ads, SEO, email marketing, sales enablement, CRM buildout, software development, and more. You’ll receive curated opportunities and can apply for those that align with your skills.
What We Look For
No matter the track, we look for freelancers who are dependable, detail-oriented, and collaborative. Clients count on you to be proactive, professional, and committed to delivering high-quality work.
How it works
The process looks different depending on whether you’re applying as an Executive Assistant or joining as Specialist Talent. Some contractors even do both — here’s what to expect for each path.
Executive Assistants
- Apply: Submit the application.
- Interview: We’ll do a deeper dive into your experience and skills.
- Background & references: Complete a background check and provide three professional references.
- Onboarding: Finish our online course and build your contractor profile.
- Wrap-up: Meet the team and get client-ready.
Specialist Talent
- Sign up: Join our Specialist Talent Alerts list.
- Get notified: Receive curated opportunities by email.
- Decide how you engage: Respond only when a project interests you, or complete our full vetting upfront to be ready for faster matches.
- Vetting: When you’re ready, complete a quick interview and provide professional references.
- Client-ready: Once vetted, sign your contract to start working with clients.
What to expect
No matter your path, we’ll set you up for success. Here’s what you can expect when you join our Talent Network.
Subscriptions
Ongoing month-to-month support.
Pay-as-you-go
Flexible support as needed.
Projects
Fixed scope with clear deliverables.
Executive Assistants
- Upfront vetting: Plan on 4–6 weeks before you’re matched with clients.
- Steady workload: Most EAs serve subscription clients (typically 5–10 hours per week), with ad hoc and project work in the mix.
- Ongoing support: Weekly pay and guidance from a dedicated Client Success Manager.
Specialist Talent
- Quick signup: Join the alerts list in minutes.
- Your choice: Respond when a project interests you or complete full vetting to move faster.
- Flexible work: Choose from subscription retainers, ad hoc support, or project-based work.
Why Trusty Oak?
We’re not a gig platform. We connect you with the right clients, support your work, and make sure you’re paid on time.
Reliable Pay
No guesswork, no chasing invoices. We make sure you’re paid promptly and fairly for the work you complete.
Thoughtful Matching
We don’t just pass along leads. We vet clients and connect you with opportunities that align with your skills and goals.
Professional Support
You’re not left on your own. Our team is here to answer questions, solve problems, and make sure you’re set up for success.
Ready to get started?
Note: We’ve moved the general application to these dedicated forms so each path gets the right experience.
FAQs
Get answers to the most common questions about joining our Talent Network.
Yes. All of our contractors must be based in the U.S. This is a non-negotiable requirement for joining our Talent Network.
No. Joining our Talent Network gives you access to curated client opportunities, but it does not guarantee placement. Engagements depend on client demand, scope, and alignment with your experience. Trusty Oak is designed to provide flexible engagements rather than full-time employment.
No. There’s no minimum hour requirement. Work availability depends on client demand, your skill set, and client alignment. EAs typically support clients on a consistent monthly basis, while Specialist engagements vary in scope and frequency depending on project needs.
Yes. Some of our contractors choose to do both — providing steady admin support as an EA while also taking on Specialist projects. If you want to be considered for both, apply as an EA and add a note about your interest in Specialist work.
All Talent in our network operate as independent contractors (1099), not employees.
There’s no set timeline. Matches depend on client demand, availability, and alignment with your experience and rate.
For Executive Assistants
Typically 4–6 weeks, including application review, interview, background check, references, and onboarding.
Most EAs serve monthly subscription clients, though ad hoc and project-based work may also be part of the mix. On average, EAs work about 10–15 hours per week for Trusty Oak clients.
Executive Assistants set their own hourly rates, and client pricing is built around that rate. We provide recommended tiers and feedback to help you position yourself appropriately based on experience and market demand. Setting a rate that aligns with your skill level and client expectations increases your likelihood of being matched.
If your experience aligns with our current needs, we’ll invite you to move forward in our vetting process. Because we receive a high volume of applications, we’re unable to respond to individual follow-ups. If selected to proceed, you’ll hear from us directly.
For Specialist Talent
We primarily work with Specialists across marketing, sales, software development, and data/analytics. Roles vary based on client demand and may include channel specialists (paid ads, SEO, email), sales support (outbound, enablement, CRM), developers, and analytics/reporting support. Opportunities vary based on client demand.
No. You can start by joining the alerts list and only complete vetting if you pursue a specific opportunity. If you’d like to be considered for faster matches, you can opt to complete the full vetting upfront.
Specialists may work on subscription retainers, ad hoc support, or project-based work.
Specialists set their own rates, and client project pricing is built around that rate. We can offer recommended pricing guidance based on experience level, scope, and current client demand. Setting a competitive rate increases the likelihood of being matched to relevant projects.