The oDesk Perspective: 10 Ways to Give Yourself a Raise
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The global economic downturn has everyone nervous. Being an oDesk provider means that you’ve already extended your reach beyond your local market, and the amount of business passing through oDesk’s marketplace is growing exponentially. More businesses are discovering the value of remote workers, and you’re already here on oDesk, building your reputation.
There’s no better time than now to hone your competitive edge, both to increase your volume of business, and to make yourself worth more money to your next buyer. Here are 10 ways to boost your marketability — and your hourly rate — even in this economy:
- Round up your rate so the buyer sees a flat number (consider the buyer’s markup: If your rate is $20, the buyer is charged $22.22. Raise your rate to $20.70, and the buyer sees $23).
- Request feedback comments and recommendations from past buyers—sometimes happy buyers rush through the feedback process. Ask the buyers you’ve done the best work with for a quick update.
- Study profiles of individuals who have similar skills to yours but charge higher rates: What do they have that you don’t, and how can you get it?
- Expand your skills based on those with the highest demand — consult the oDesk Trends pages.
- Take our free skill tests and get top industry certifications through our collaborators on the partners page.
- Add your rarest skills to your profile. We’ve got more than 10,000 jobs posted at any time — you never know when someone is going to want your expertise at VAX Mainframe programming, or your Arabic-English translation skills.
- Increase your visibility and reputation: Establish solid profiles not only on oDesk, but on LinkedIn and your professional website. Link your expanded portfolio to your oDesk profile, and link your oDesk profile back to your other sites.
- Improve your oDesk profile, especially if you haven’t done so since you originally wrote it. Now you know how buyers think, so give them what they’re looking for.
- Step up your job search: scour listings for things you know you’re qualified to do, write a great cover letter for each application and be responsive when you get the call.
- Don’t undersell yourself and compromise your rate. It’s the buyer’s job to try to keep costs down, but it’s your job to politely stand firm on the rate you know you deserve.
There will always be someone with a cheaper rate than yours, and there’ll always be someone costlier. Buyers weigh costs against reputation, skill set, and experience. Set a rate that reflects your talent and your feedback score, and do everything you can to demonstrate you’re worth a that rate in your profile, cover letters and portfolio. Prove you’re worth your premium rate and you’ll keep busy even during difficult times.
Pothi Kalimuthu
October 25th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I like the first idea (Rounding up the rate. I just did it for my profile after reading this post). Thanks a lot for other points too.
Murthy Rao
October 28th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Hello,
Great post!!! It will be use very much for me….
Thanks a lot!!!
abid
October 28th, 2008 at 12:13 am
some tips are really good,
avardhan
October 28th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Very nice and deeply thought post.
I like it and definitely try to implement.
tin
October 28th, 2008 at 12:42 am
Will surely do these things!!! Thanks!
Bhautik Desai
October 28th, 2008 at 1:20 am
i am MCP waiting for Buyer since long time.
I have Total 3.5 Years of Experience in Microsoft Technology
I have cleared 3 Test in Odesk
Each buyer is looking for Provider who have worked on Odesk at least N’ Numbers of hours.
But how can a new Provider can start a work
How can 0 Hours provider can start if each buyer is looking for N Number of hours exp.
- Bhautik
erratica
October 28th, 2008 at 1:33 am
Bhautik- That’s also my problem when I was a new provider in Odesk. Due to that, I needed to just grab the job with a low wage. I wish there’s a better way.
Jpittenger- Thanks for the tips! It’s wholly useful for us.
Dawn
October 28th, 2008 at 2:34 am
These are some great, doable, tips. Thanks.
However, I’m with Bhautik. I get the odd query, but as a new buyer, I feel I will never start off. It’s similar on other sites too. This is despite having above average scores on various tests.
neac
October 28th, 2008 at 2:55 am
a very smart tips! its really raising your personality and talent…
Mohammad Naderozzaman
October 28th, 2008 at 3:11 am
I do agree with the 10 ways to raise. But one thing makes frustrating probably not only me but other providers that in some cases the buyers used to take too long time to recruit and to deploy into the assignments.
Sunder Thadani
October 28th, 2008 at 3:55 am
I find there is nothing for the services [it is touching goods only not services like consultants, representatives, agents, etc who are also in business]. Kindly help and guide me.
Thanks, and best wishes for the team.
LabVIEW Developer
October 28th, 2008 at 5:56 am
Will point no. 1 of rounding up rate make any good?
Ejaz ul Haq
October 28th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Really great tips, may all 10 are not my required, but just need to concentrate on what we are lacking out of these 10.
I am a member of oDesk for the past 3 months with 0hrs, would request oDesk help team to come up with more tips from time to time. I wish I could have those emails once again from the oDeskt which I got from them in my first 15 days of membership. A lot of hints and clues in those emails but lost them all.
jakuas
October 28th, 2008 at 9:10 am
hi
i’m new to odesk and thinking of following some of these suggestions. let’s see how it goes
saif
October 29th, 2008 at 3:28 am
great tips. thak u.
Loyne
October 29th, 2008 at 5:39 am
I’m new too and upgrading. I don’t have the luxury yet of spending more time online since I’m setting it up yet. Hopefully, I can expand my workspace.
chandramohan
November 4th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
hello sir
I am realy expecting your any one project I don’t like Rs. first any one form filling or data conversion work give to me
next consider the work and Rs details thanking you
by
mohan
drew
November 9th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
tip number 1 is a good idea, i just did it on my profile, thanks
cathy mossop
November 26th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I also am new to odesk. I am very excited and looking forward to getting started. Thanks for the tips.
Tega Jessa
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:02 pm
I found my first odesk hourly job doing simple things. I found a job I felt strongly I could do. I also tried to make to a strong cover letter. I used any viable experience. For me I have written a lot of papers for college. I used this as proof of my writing skills. Also I stated the goals I wanted for the project. My thing is expanding my skill base. Suprisingly I found a buyer wiling to give me a chance and I logged in my first 11 hours. After that more regular has started coming in.