When you've been on oDesk (or any other freelance job board) for a while, you can rest on your laurels when bidding on jobs and let your work history speak for itself. When you're just starting out, however, having a great profile is crucial. Regardless of how long you've been freelancing on the outside, when you join a ... more »
Up until now, my posts have been strictly provider-centric - there are many ways that a provider can get scammed or lose out on an opportunity because they just don't know any better. Buyers, however, are just as susceptible to "wrongdoing" in the freelancing world. It's nice to think we can find someone to do ... more »
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 »