Biljana Dimitrievska is a global remote talent specialist and the founder of SkillSpotterZ, a recruitment platform that connects high-quality talent from various countries with companies in the USA, Canada, the UK, and Australia. With experience in the world of human resources, built through work for major brands in the US, she turned the challenge of a global pandemic into an opportunity for hundreds of young people. By founding SkillSpotterZ, Biljana created a bridge that connects Macedonian and international talent with the best companies in the world. In this interview, you will learn how one idea and a lot of courage can change not only a personal story but also the future of an entire community.
Can you tell us more about the vision behind SkillSpotterZ? What makes it different from other platforms?
SkillSpotterZ aims to remain a personalized platform, operated by the hands of people, specifically, by recruiters, rather than by Artificial Intelligence or automation. Our goal is to promote skilled freelancers, virtual assistants, digital nomads, and remote workers in their best light and in the most humane way possible. Since we focus on human development, we chose not to depend on investors, allowing us the freedom to grow at our own pace and stay fully committed to our mission.
A good comparison would be UpWork, where quantity dominates. There’s a massive number of profiles, and everything is automated. There are no recruiters to match freelancers with companies. At SkillSpotterZ, it’s completely different. The platform is free for job seekers, payments and contracts are made independently and outside of the platform under the parties’ own terms. Freelancers can even link their social media accounts, websites, and portfolios to their profiles, making them much more accessible and visible to potential clients. Depending on the type of job and worker experience, our recruiters also directly post job openings on behalf of private companies and personally connect candidates with employers.
How does SkillSpotterZ work and what types of freelancers usually join? What are the most in-demand skills on your platform?
We designed SkillSpotterZ to be simple and easily accessible. Registration is via email, and every user creates a profile that acts as their personal portfolio. Users can upload documents, write a short bio and pitch, list their work history, and link to external websites, social media, and portfolios. With one profile, users can create multiple resumes, different portfolios tailored to different job applications.
The platform welcomes freelancers from all industries, not just those seeking short-term gigs but also those looking for long-term, stable, full-time remote jobs. That’s why many of the listings on SkillSpotterZ are full-time and have specialized titles. Currently, the most in-demand skills are in the areas of customer service, web design, SEO, and branding. However, we are seeing growing interest from companies who realize that many roles can be performed fully remotely. Some high-demand fields include:
- Sales and Customer Service
- Tech and Development
- Communications and Content Creation
- Specialized Roles: Legal Assistant, Real Estate Virtual Assistant, Medical Billing Assistant, Podcast Editor, and E-commerce Specialist
What should a freelancer know before applying to SkillSpotterZ? And how do you help freelancers stand out to potential clients?
The most important thing I want every freelancer to know before joining SkillSpotterZ is that they should treat their profile as their personal brand. There’s no need to feel overwhelmed – the goal isn’t to spend countless hours setting up; it’s to present yourself strategically and smartly.
Here are five essentials to stand out:
- A well-written bio – think of it as your short “pitch” to the client: who you are, what you know, and why they should hire you.
- A brief but targeted work experience and projects section – highlight relevant engagements that showcase your expertise.
- Links to portfolios, websites, landing pages, social media – the more examples, the better.
- Taking our available “Skill Assessments” to verify and showcase your abilities.
- Reaching out to us and sharing your story – we feature selected freelancers on our blog and social media once a month to help them gain visibility.
Once these elements are set up, our team of recruiters actively works behind the scenes – recommending freelancers directly to companies while freelancers can also independently apply to open positions.
What should clients know and how can they register on the platform to find freelancers?
We always inform our clients that we do not offer thousands of profiles. Quite the opposite, what we offer is 100% ready, verified, and high-quality talent for their projects or roles.
Client registration is quick and easy. However, if a client profile looks incomplete or raises a potential “red flag,” our recruiters intervene immediately and make contact.
We often suggest that clients allow us to handle the search and selection process, especially for full-time positions or larger projects. For small and short-term gigs, we guide clients on how to use the search tool effectively to find the best fit.
What are your thoughts on the development of the freelance scene in Macedonia? Are young people informed and encouraged enough to work as freelancers?
Macedonia has enormous potential thanks to our strong work ethic, intelligence, and perseverance. However, if I had to rate the current freelance scene compared to other countries, I would give it a 2 out of 10. This is mainly due to a lack of information, absence of practical education, poor payment solutions, and a lack of legal frameworks protecting freelancers as active participants in the economy. Development is inevitable though. The wave of global remote hiring will reach us too. But without government support and educational initiatives, this growth will be slow and accessible to only a small circle of people.
How can freelancers from small countries be competitive in the global market?
Without a platform that actively promotes them and without legal protection, freelancers from small countries struggle to reach the top of the global market. However, individually, a freelancer can still become competitive through continuous education, skill development, and understanding of different cultures and global trends. Knowing languages, work cultures, regulations, and understanding specific markets and industries, not just currently but also in terms of future growth, is crucial to standing out globally.
What are the biggest challenges freelancers face today?
One of the biggest challenges is market saturation and fierce competition. In the past, having one skill was enough to work across multiple industries. Today, multiple skills are needed, but targeted within one specific industry.
My advice: “Master one industry at a time.”
How can freelancers build their personal brand?
From having a personalized website or landing page, to maintaining a professional social media profile, to writing and sharing expertise – these are key tools for personal brand building. Freelancers from developed countries have long used this approach. They present themselves authentically, offer value, and educate both clients and the public about their expertise. Everything must be genuine, without copying others, and they must share real information. That’s the recipe for building trust and long-term recognition.
What personally motivates you to continue developing SkillSpotterZ and working with freelancers? What are your future plans for the platform?
My biggest motivation is the belief that through SkillSpotterZ, we can start a new era of remote and freelance work in Macedonia. Success stories no longer have to begin with emigration. Together with freelancers, we aim to write a new chapter – one where young people can work fairly, stably, and remotely from home, without seeking opportunities abroad.
This is also the vision for the future development of the platform. Opening doors for people in economically weaker regions and creating a borderless work environment. SkillSpotterZ should be a source of opportunities, support, and education for anyone who wants to start or grow in the digital remote work world.
Check out the SkillSpotterZ platform on this link https://skillspotterz.com/ and find your first international client, for free!
