Option to hide hourly jobs in progress from profile.
Hi
I have a few buyers who keep an hourly rate assignment open because they may need me every now and again, problem is that the work is not often and I need to apply for jobs when I need work but potential buyers get the wrong impression of me being busy when I'm actually not regardless of the last activity date.
Do you think this may be a possibility?
Thanks
Dobee Design Studio
Thanks Olga
Ahh yes, very smart thing to do... wish I had thought of that way.
Many thanks.
That is pretty good advice,
That is pretty good advice, and is similar to what I used to do. Although I don't keep as many inactive assignments now as I used to, I would always tell people that I let people keep them open without closing them, even though they were technically over, just in case they ever needed something, they would have me at their convenience, without having to start a new assignment. I told potential new clients that if our assignment drew to a close, that I would extend the same courtesy to them also.
People always understood this explanation.
Thanks for sharing your
Thanks for sharing your insights. I didn't really think this way earlier.
I am also in the same kind
I am also in the same kind of a situation. I have an extremly good rapport with this buyer, and he wants me to be "on" his projects until things are decied further...
I have explained the situation to a new buyer (covering lettter).
but this is a passing thought to oDesk.
---- why would a buyer retain a certain provider.. only if things are working out for both.. and they have really formed a team. So, why comeup with new projects and postings ... just re-assign work when the need arises.. this surely adds value to the provider's performance level isnt it ?
Would it be possible to change the project status to - "on Call" , "Interim period - awaiting further instructions" ... to those projects where the buyer and the selected provider has been inactive for more than 2 - 3 weeks .... may be you cna give another catchy sensible term to describe the stituation.
This will also add to the transparency, as the buyer need not have to guess ".. is this provider juggling jobs.. or is he / she really free and awaiting further instructions".
good thinking
I think you're on to something... this is a good idea, it should be possible for the provider to set the status for a project on their profile too I think.
nice thought...
I am also in the same kind of a situation. I have an extremly good rapport with this buyer, and he wants me to be "on" his projects until things are decied further...
I have explained the situation to a new buyer (covering lettter).
but this is a passing thought to oDesk.
---- why would a buyer retain a certain provider.. only if things are working out for both.. and they have really formed a team. So, why comeup with new projects and postings ... just re-assign work when the need arises.. this surely adds value to the provider's performance level isnt it ?
Would it be possible to change the project status to - "on Call" , "Interim period - awaiting further instructions" ... to those projects where the buyer and the selected provider has been inactive for more than 2 - 3 weeks .... may be you cna give another catchy sensible term to describe the stituation.
This will also add to the transparency, as the buyer need not have to guess ".. is this provider juggling jobs.. or is he / she really free and awaiting further instructions".
-- this is definitely a good idea 
, i hope odesk will look into this and see what they could do...
Hi guys, Glad to know that
Hi guys,
Glad to know that you approve of my suggession. Both Provider and the buyer should be allowed to "mark project / proiveder as.. on Call.".. This will openup a whole new performance level for the providers & Buyers would not hesitate to have a long term association, especially when it comes bundled within oDesk.
Thanks again for your support
Another Reason - To display "on Call"
This Thread is yet another reason why we need to have a project status message other than , Compelted or In progress.
Buyer hires provider - job completed - buyer satisfied.
But donot want to end the project as he wishes to retain the provider in for future tasks.
(Now is a perfect time to ask for feedback for both)
Next step - the status changes to " __" some sensible term that says byuer wishes to retain this provider until more task/job comes up. .. This would reflect in the profile too.
Buyer may reassign projects - complete- feedback - Retain or not.
Finally when he ends the assocication - another feedback for this exteneded period.
Friends, what do you think ? Would this be workable for providers, buyers and oDesk ?
Hiding assignments you are
Hiding assignments you are hired for, but are not currently working on, is contradicting oDesk's commitment to the transparency of the marketplace. As you say, these Buyers keep the assignments open to be able to use your services now and then. So what happens, if "then" comes up during a very important phase of another project you got hired for.
For this reason, the Buyers need to be aware of the "dormant" projects to be able to plan around the possibility of their re-activation - and to discuss it ahead of time with you, which project will be given priority and how you will handle this situation.
Back when oDesk was only offering hourly assignments, we used to display actual hours worked last week - so the Buyer knew exactly how much time you had still available for them. But with introduction of Fixed price the time actually spent by a Provider on all the projects he or she is hired for is hard to track.
But, why don't you discribe the situation right there in the cover letter when you apply? This way the Buyer will know you are not that busy before they even take a look at your profile.
Use it to your advantage - say, "see how many jobs I have been hired for - and the Buyers were so happy with my services they decided not to end the assignment with me, so they can use my services again any time, plus it shows they trust me not to log any fake hours". You would have to change the wording, of course - but I hope you understand what I was driving at.
Good luck,
Olga