Nailing the Interview
So you’ve focused your profile, updated your portfolio and learned to write a persuasive cover letter, all to land an interview with a buyer. Now what?
Here are some tips for effectively interviewing with remote buyers:
- First, the obvious: Be prompt, polite, professional and prepared. Consider the “Four Ps” the unofficial code of conduct in the oDesk marketplace.
- Be flexible. Time zones and communications preferences can be tricky; be willing to adapt to a reasonable time and the method — email, Skype, IM — that the buyer prefers.
- Given that, try to schedule your interview for when you are at your best. Do not interview at the end of your day, when you’ll be tired. Better to wake up early for an interview than to stay up late.
- If you are working on another job, make sure to stop at least an hour before your interview. You want time to wind down, get a fresh start, review any relevant materials, and make sure you’re giving your best.
- Make sure you won’t be disturbed — especially if you’re on the phone (or Skype) and at home, don’t let background noise or interruptions make you seem unprofessional.
- Bring notes. Have at hand examples of past work that are relevant to this job, and have pertinent links and reference contacts at hand.
- Double-check your portfolio. If there’s anything relevant to this particular opportunity that you’d like the buyer to see, get it into your portfolio or be prepared to otherwise direct the buyer toward it.
- Ask the buyer about his experience with providers. What bugs him about providers? What has he valued in remote workers in the past? Discuss how your strengths can make you the kind of worker he’s looking for.
- Are you willing to do a paid sample project, maybe an hour or two of paid work? Suggest a “test job” yourself if the buyer seems to like you, but admits she’s not yet sure which of her final candidates to select. Just being confident in your own skills sends a good message.
- If not a paid project, how about a very quick test, free? If you can quickly provide a small, customized demonstration of your skill set, it might be a worthwhile investment of time — particularly if the job has long-term potential. Just be cautious and don’t give away your work.
- Don’t undercut yourself. If the buyer doesn’t ask you to negotiate over your rate, don’t offer to knock it down. If the buyer brings up rate issues, compromise if it’s worth your while. Suggest a trial rate that goes to full price after you’ve proven yourself, or take the pay cut but build in a bonus for reaching agreed-upon targets.
- If you finish the interview promising to provide additional information or a link to an extra portfolio piece, do so promptly and include a thank-you note.
- Even if there’s nothing more to “deliver,” follow up on your interview with a short and friendly thank-you note. You may also add a line or two (but no more) to strengthen a point in your interview.
If you’re prepared and relaxed — you’re both professionals, after all, and you are both just trying to find a solution to the buyer’s needs — there’s no reason for the interview not to be a success. Good luck!
cool, when bidding giving project plan is sometimes more helpful.
Just want to say that feedbacks in your oDesk profile are the most important thing during any interview. If you have bad one be ready to explain the reason why you got it. Often just unassailable alibi can help.
Work hard to build your clear feedback history and forget about the most troubles.
i thisnk shoudl get some convestations about any work before starting.
I cannot believe the level of English in these comments! Surely that is the most important criteria on interviews?
Carole – I hope you are right – I’m pretty sure my language skills will outshine those posted here and enable me to grab the best assignments! Having just joined, I can’t wait to see what exciting projects await me!
@Carole and Maggie: LOL… hahaha…
Do we also need an interview if we’re working on a fixed price job?
There are some jobs in the Graphics Design Category which pay for like $5 to make one logo. Making a logo usually never takes me more than an hour to finish. Surely such a job will not require long formalities like an interview on Skype.
Along with Sadi… especially @ Maggie… already felt outshined and deprived of them best assignments…LolsloLs
People – love each other, arrogance and ignorance will burn in hellish conditions sooner or later ;D
to Marc: Interviews for such jobs would increased theirs costs irrationally (someone there is getting paid to interview you as well) ergo I bet you are right.
Marc, not just graphics design for lowball prices.
many postings in many different areas are far below industry norms.
I’ve seen many postings for Articles paying $1.00 USD for 350 words, yet I normally will get $200.00 USD to $500.00 USD for such an article elsewhere. Some places pay a fixed rate of $200 per article, others use a $1.50 / word rate.
Or a complete dynamic website for the Industry standard for a single static HTML page. ( $50.00 ) which is 1/10th the rate of a “customize existing script” site and 1/30th of a custom script.
Pick the postings that will pay you what you are worth to bid on.
Carol and Maggie,
written communication skills in English are important, but with many members not being Native English speakers ridiculing them for a lack of such skills just shows you up badly. Why not work with them to help them improve their written English skills instead? All providers benefit when we help each other improve our skills. The posted work will reflect that improvement in higher cash paid.
A second point about English, even Native English speakers have a difficult time with it far more often than any other language. English is the most difficult language on the planet. I.M. shorthand, like the often used lol, only makes it worse.
A final point on this topic, even the posted work often shows a distinct lack of skill with written English, from members who apparently are Native English speakers. It comes with the territory of being online, you have to either become a “Grammar NAZI” or let it go without comment.
Jacqui, you missed one for the “Obvious” section, be honest.
I have seen it in person with interviews I have conducted where prospective hires weren’t honest, some so glaringly that it was no effort to weed them out of the possibles list. Others only showed when they couldn’t perform the jobs. It’s unfortunate, but many people think that “stretching” the truth in an interview is acceptable. It’s grounds to cancel a contract.
Jaqui
no am always on yahoo or u can join me on skype fo yvonnevirgo 97 that my skype name
I’m a new odesk member.I’m very happy as joined with you.Thank you so much for your consideration.
I am new odesk User.I have seen it in person with interviews I have conducted where prospective hires weren’t honest, some so glaringly that it was no effort to weed them out of the possibles list. Others only showed when they couldn’t perform the jobs
Thanks
I am a new user for odesk. I got a good confident i will get a good job with good bid
I’m a new odesk member.I’m very happy as joined with you.Thank you so much for your consideration
I really thanks for providing us such a knowledge to give a person his first interview.
This information is very helpful for me to understand how i have to deal my clients.
thanks.
I will get a good job with good bid.
Thanks to Odesk team, for very necessary information being a part for preparing the interview, this is really helpful who is becoming new hires Odesk member to buildup his strong profile,
Thanks
Suvnil
hi
i am new on odesk so i don’t know how to face up interview i it possible to give me guide line
I am a new user on Odesk. Odesk is very good company.. I hope i’ll do my best & i got a good job with good Bid.. i dont know how they ques. me in interview. but i face interview best..Any body Have some idea to face interview easily . then told me. i’ll very thanking to ODESK to the bottom of my heart to giving us a new & alternate thinking.
Thanks
ODesk is very good company.
Thanks to Odesk team
Helpful Information new hires Odesk member to buildup his strong Profile
Thanks
Muhammad Sherjeel Khan
Please contract with me on Facebook.
I m new member for odesk.Im very happy join with you.I got a good confident i will get a good job with good bid.
Hi
I’m a new user of oDesk. I need hElp!!! Please Contract me by Skype or Facebook.
Thanks…
i am new on odesk so i don’t know how to face up interview i it possible to give me guide line
i am new on odesk so i don’t know how to face up interview i it possible to give me guide line and how
to pass odesk readness test can any 1 help me in this *removed by admin* i m waiting for ur reply………………!
Am new on odesk and trying to build my profile. I will need help n how to pass the odesk readiness test. How do I also take other odesk tests as well as prepping for interviews.
I am new on odesk so i don’t know how to face up interview i it possible to give me guide line and how
to pass odesk readiness test can any 1 help me in this *removed by admin* i m waiting for ur reply.* & how can i get job.
You may find the type of guidance you’re looking for from other users on the oDesk forums: http://www.odesk.com/community
I am a new user for odes k. I got a good confident i will get a good job with good bid.I do the work try best.
This is a Nice blog i like it very much.
I am newer in odesk. I have faced many interview. I have successed most of interview. I want to expart in interview. So please give me good suggestion about this.
I Need a job
I am a new user for odesk. I got a good confident i will get a good job with good bid.I do the work try best
I need a Job, So, Please give me advise.
I want to this job
I am a new user for odes k. I got a good confident i will get a good job with good bid.I do the work try best.
hi,I am a new user for odesk, my previous job was all about automotive wiring harness design and encoding was also included as part of the job. Is it possible for to get hired on data entry fields?as much, as a call center agent?
I am new on odesk so i don’t know how to face up interview i it possible to give me guide line and how
to pass odesk readiness test can any 1 help me in this *removed by admin* i m waiting for ur reply.* & how can i get job.
Thanks,
Ziaul Islam
Hello,
I was reading your job posting. I am an experienced administrative supporter and graphic designer but new in Odesk.
I am interested in your project. If you want quality work please contact me. And of course you can test my skill.
Will be waiting for your kind opinion.
Regards,
Aktar
I am a new user for odesk. i have a previous job was all about Data entry. i work for van horn legal group inc. Please Contract me as my fb or mail