When writing a resume, or in the case of online job marketplaces such as oDesk your profile, your objective should be a brief statement of what you can do, not what you want. Often, you'll see "stock" resumes with objectives stating something along the lines of: To obtain a position where I can maximize my management skills, quality assurance, ... 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 »
While working from home is completely achievable, it certainly isn't for everyone. One common trend I've noticed over the years is the impatience of the freelancing "newbie". Everyone is in a hurry to see results without stopping to think about how to accomplish them. Unfortunately, you can't take shortcuts When people hear "work from home", for ... 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 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 »