One thing that comes up often in the oDesk Community Forums is the topic of rates. More specifically, people assuming that what they are being paid is a wage, therefore demanding a minimum to be set. What a lot of people new to freelancing aren't aware of is that they are not paid a wage, rather a contract ... more »
Everyone wants to be "in the loop", and everyone wants to know whether or not they've done a good job. This is understandable - it's human nature. Especially in the world of freelancing, our reputations as honest, hardworking providers are at stake. We all want to do a good job, and we want other people to ... more »
Often, when browsing jobs on sites like oDesk, the occasional job will appear where a buyer requests providers be "tested". Now testing, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. Many buyers (myself included, when I post data entry jobs) will give all interviewees the same test to complete to see who can follow directions. Many buyers make it ... more »
In an earlier post about cover letters, I mentioned a cover letter checklist. With every cover letter you write, whether it's applying on freelance job boards like oDesk or applying to a normal job, you'll want to be sure to include vital pieces of information. At the same time, however, you do not want to recycle your cover letters. ... more »
When browsing through sites such as oDesk for Data Entry jobs, the first thing anyone will notice is the average pay rate of those jobs. Here's a list of the average "data entry" hourly rate from the oConomy: Job Category Average Rate Admin Support - Other $6.47 / hr Admin Support ... more »
When using sites like oDesk for freelancing bids, along with having a complete profile and a full portfolio, it is imperative that you write great cover letters. Many new freelancers skip the third part, instead relying solely on their profiles and cover letters. This is a huge mistake. Using oDesk as an example, when ... more »