oDesk Community - Coffee Break - Comments

advice on hourly rate

jstyma — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:44:39 +0000

From what I've heard, most buyers don't bother with negotiating over the provider's requested hourly rate. They'll generally just take it or leave it. When it comes to fixed rates, however, they are generally open to negotiation. However, I have never been hired. This is just something I picked up somewhere in the oDesk help section.

Wow!

jomans — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:41:20 +0000

I agree! This is some of the less evasive technique for monitoring that I have ever encountered as well! It is actually quite convenient, there's no reason to be creeped out about it, the whole point is make sure that you aren't cheating out just to get paid. I find it understandable, I know I wouldn't want to pay someone for doing nothing!

Nothing confusing about my

ebrown04 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:39:40 +0000

Nothing confusing about my post. I haven't worked since Oct. 2007 and signed up on Odesk in Nov. 2008

Yes, you can list MS Word,

mmiguel — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:36:00 +0000

Yes, you can list MS Word, MS Excel, Photoshop as skills. Transcriptioning? Hmmm... baka po transcribing or transcription. Yes, skill din po yun. Add anything na kung saan talagang magaling ka para your name will appear sa search pag may buyer na nag-enter ng mga skillsets katulad ng ilalagay mo sa profile mo and then, once hired, you can really prove to them na you really possess those skills (which gives you a better chance to be hired again by the same buyer(s).

Based on oDesk rules, bawal

mmiguel — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:31:24 +0000

Based on oDesk rules, bawal nga yun pero unfortunately, hindi editable ang mga cover letters once you've clicked the Apply button. So next time na lang.....

Don't work or submit reports

mmiguel — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:29:28 +0000

Don't work or submit reports until you're officially hired.

thanks po for the tips! ^^

kweni16 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:11:17 +0000

thanks po for the tips! ^^

New record?

doreenmartel — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:01:36 +0000

Could be a new record - signed up 10 hours ago and complaining about the system!! Didn't read the help information obviously or would have understood this was an optional feature! I've been here over a year and have never used a web cam on ANY job. Doreen

Also sensitive

doreenmartel — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:00:16 +0000

Hi, I hope I can ease your concerns. I also run a very strong anti virus software as well as a firewall. I have been at oDesk for more than a year and have logged about 1500 hours. The 'screen shots' that are logged are directly related to the assignment you are working on - so for instance if you're working for client XYZ you log into oDesk team to "XYZ" Team Room and while you work on that project oDesk team logs your keystroke and mouse movement *count*. Pictures of your working screen log every 10 minutes and they look like this:

as you can see it shows an open word document that I was working on at that time.

If I am answering emails, running a chat program or entering passwords (which only occurs very rarely) while I'm working the person looking at my work diary could see those ***** that go in for passwords but they couldn't 'decode' them. Any concerns about this can be mitigated by suspending oDesk team while you're doing these processes.

Buyers have no access to your desktop - they can't see what software is loaded on your computer unless you happen to be using your software menu while you're logged into Team and it happens to capture the image while your there (Hope that makes sense).

The images are captured in your work diary (what you see above in the image) and the buyers can review them when they approve your time log (some do, some don't). I am unfortunately unsure as to what the retention time is but for instance using the same client listed above I can see screen shots from March of 2008 *though it wouldn't allow me to paste it here*. So my sense it as long as your account is active the screen shots remain in your work diary.

In all the time I've had oDesk team running (Since September of 2007) I've never one time after getting over my initial squeamishness of having the image captured had a security concern.

Hope this makes sense!

Doreen

I think

doreenmartel — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:48:56 +0000

Initially the post says she just signed up - but that doesn't negate that she has not worked since November of 2007! I was confused at first too - had to read the post twice

Hi there...

ravendano — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:22:54 +0000

I have a total of 260 logged time on oDesk Team and I feel very comfortable with it. The only things that oDesk captures are your screen snapshots, once every 10-min interval, the number of keystroke and number of times you pressed the mouse on the same 10-min interval, that is all that get recorded on your diary and you can edit them until the next monday.

webcam is a totally optional tool, I haven't used it while logging time on oDesk Team.

Regards

odesk Privacy/Security concern

bstapera — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:07:36 +0000

I am another newbie. I have no problem with a tracking software for hourly jobs. If I was on the other side, I would like to have that option available to me as well. However, I may have not found the right area to read up on the software "capture" feature.

Coming from a military background, security was a big thing. Can anyone tell me how the tracking feature works or direct me to where I can read up on it?

I maintain other personal & sensitive information on my computer's desktop & the external drives that are attached. Is it simply better to setup a separate desktop profile on your computer to run the software & work, or is the tracking software more than a simple "print screen" feature and active key capture technology (i.e are my internet passkeys & password files, personally identifable information at risk with the use of the software)?

Also, how does this information get stored until final billing. Is it uploaded to odesk at intervals or stored until you "submit" your timesheet, so to speak? The reason I ask is because of antivirus software options & my security settings I have currently set on my computer that may/may not have to be changed depending.

thanks in advance.

Hi Elizabeth,Are you sure

deepa7476 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:05:23 +0000

Hi Elizabeth,
Are you sure that you actually "signed up" and applied since Oct 2007, coz, your profile says member since

Member Since: November 13, 2008

Do not just wait, keep

okudamanova — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:28:45 +0000

Do not just wait, keep applying. Especially in the data entry field, there is great competition. Sometimes it takes 1-3 months to get your first project on oDesk.

I would also tweak your profile a little bit:
* Change the picture to something that would show you in a more "professional" situation
* Change the objective to say how can the Buyer benefit from hiring you, as opposed to just listing your experience

Also make sure that the coverletter you submit when applying are always custom and address each particular opening.

Good luck,
Olga

Don't rely on customer service.

fcuevas — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:56:59 +0000

Most of the customer service reps of local banks aren't familiar with Paypal but he/she is right in saying that they aren't affiliated with Paypal.

A bank doesn't need to be affiliated with Paypal for cashouts. Just add your bank account in Paypal and withdraw it.

I forgot the bank code for BDO, look it up at google using "paypal bank codes".

Edit:

Complete Bank Name: BANCO DE ORO

Bank Code:010530667