Test Drive oDesk
oDesk is an exciting new paradigm that offers multiple advantages– remote, low-cost and low overhead work product without upfront outlay; a wealth of skilled contractors to select from; pay-for-performance; flexibility with a built-in background structure and real-time monitoring. However, with all these pluses, buyers are left with the same final hiring decision they have in any employment situation.
New buyers and experts familiar with oDesk face the same question and the same challenge.
The challenge.
How can I be confident that I’m hiring the best person for the job at hand?
Although relevant for first time buyers and buyers seeking expertise in an area they have never hired for, any long term relationship is going to have the same initial trial period. I want to know not only that the people I hire are qualified, but also that they are going to fit my organization and the way I conduct business..
Examining provider profiles, portfolios and feedback is the suggested method, and for many jobs, this is sufficient. But this may not be enough. There’s more to it than selecting a qualified person: Will this person work well with me? Will they meet my specific expectations, time constraints and budget? Will our relationship be effective and productive?
The solution.
There’s a way to test drive providers at oDesk with little risk. A way to answer the important questions and ease the worries that come with any new hire. And it can be key when filling a longterm position.
The idea is simple. Post your Job and expectations normally, but when you find providers that have the qualifications necessary, hire them with limited hours and assign a portion of a project (or a smaller but similar project). You can create a small project and test several providers. The cost is minimal, as little as a single hour’s time for each provider.
The commitment is limited, but the experience of working remotely and using the oDesk tools with a particular provider can be invaluable. If evaluating provider profiles, work samples and cover letters is the gold standard, test driving would be the platinum standard. You get to see how one (or multiple) providers actually performs with a task you set. And you get to find out how you perform as a team.
More Advantages.
As a manager or business owner, you know that jobs evolve– the goal posts change, deadlines and scope get modified, new ideas pop up and new concerns need to be addressed. Test driving allows you to do an initial shake-out and tighten your focus before you decide on the right approach. It may be that the job requires a different mix of talent than you originally thought. Perhaps your deadline or budget was too optimistic. Test driving is a way to clarify things.
Test driving by limiting hours also protects you from an unscrupulous provider who ‘milks’ time. If a provider cannot produce a quality product in a reasonable amount of time, you’ve made a mistake hiring at a rock-bottom hourly rate. Trying before buying will allow you to find out before you’ve committed.
Finally, test driving lets you filter a larger set of qualified applicants to find the best fit. By hiring several providers and test driving, you can see exactly what you will get for your money and keep the best of the group.
–Bill Morrison, Guest Blogger
This is a succinctly written; well-worded article, with helpful guidelines, that really need to be noted by existing (or potential) oDesk buyers.
I had a lousy experience with odesk.com, my bottomline reccomendation. 2 different providers were very misleading. Big waste of time and money. Do not ever pay someone overseas until they complete the project. Negotiate all contracts make sure you aren’t paying out money until you receive at least minimal deliverables. Odesk.com seems like a popular site but I highly prefer the escrowed payments systems at rentacoder.com much more protection for the software buyer.
Smart content! Will visit again=)
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I have a question, when you do a test drive for a job is it best to let the providers you choose this is starting out as a test on the first assignment before we decide to move into a more permanent position
I have used odesk for our website http://www.lifestyleshomedecor.com for building incoming links and had great success.
Hi, great tips. I’ve always used their feedback to determine who to hire. It also always helps to ask for samples of previous work. Some service providers do lie and cheat but I’ve had lots of good luck using odesk. thanks again for all the helpful tips.
oDesk increased my income 3 times to my previous job plus more freedom.
Thanks a lot oDesk
how do i test drive
if i want someone to work for 4 hours in total for a small project – when u hire them the option of hours per week comes up – if i type in 4hours, will they be paid weekly for 4 hours even though i need a once off job?
please assist
Thank you
@agprops – if you set a weekly limit of 4 hours, they can bill up to 4 hours every week that the contract is open. If you wish to have them work 4 hours only, set the weekly limit when you hire them for 4 hours, then change the limit to 0 before the end of the first week. The change will take effect at the start of the following week, and they will be unable to bill hours to your contract. Please contact the support team directly for further assistance with weekly limits: http://www.odesk.com/help
I am new to oDesk after being referred by a friend and so far I have been reasonably impressed by it’s ease of use and the standard of contractors online.
I have yet to see how the online logging of hours works and am looking forward to growing my business further.
so how do i post a test job?
Andy, it’s easy! Simply create an account at http://www.odesk.com as an employer. Click “Recruit” and “Post a Job” and detail out the job you need done. What separates a test job from the rest is how you approach the work: break it down into a few, short-term pieces and (once you interview the most suitable applicants) hire the most likely candidates to tackle the first piece of your job. Those who succeed can be given the second piece to work on, and so on, until you are left with one stellar contractor and confidence to work with them on an ongoing or as-needed basis in the future!
I am new to oDesk after being referred by a brother and I have been reasonably & carefully impressed by it’s ease of use and the standard of contractors online.
I have yet to see how the online logging of hours works and am looking forward to growing my business further.