Making Your Profile Stand Out
I am brand new to oDesk and am in process of getting my profile set up. I have some questions about the true effectiveness of putting a ton of info on there, since buyers seem to be basing their provider choice more on cost than on experience until you have feedback.
If I were looking to hire someone who put that they worked a job where
Excel usage was part of their daily tasks but they hadn't taken the
basic testing to prove their skills, I would be very hesitant to hire
them, which is why I am trying to take all the tests that I possibly
can to show my proficiency levels.
I guess the basic question is this: how much store do buyers put in the user-entered info when choosing a provider?
"Crash course needed for us to make a good profile!"
"We need to have a crash course in how to make a good profile." The best way to get help with a good profile is to ask your community for help. This is how, ask them to give an example of a good catchy phrase. Even I know how hard it is to get a job on here and I am just as new as you are. But I find that if we link our comments to each other we learn how to write better on our profiles. You must be able to except good or bad criticism from everyone.
Hope this helps
Well, there is no rule that says how a profiles should be, for what impresses one buyer might not impress another. But here are few things i found to be very useful . Hope its useful to you as well.
Say, you are applying for "developer jobs".
Mention in your profile the "number of projects" on the said field... with one / two line explanation of each in the Resume
Next - have a full length documentaion on each project mentioned above and add to portfolio section of profile. Remember not to disclose any confidential information, without prior permission etc etc.
Donot forget to list "all the skills" that could land you a job.
Plus, if the skill has a oDesk test, be sure to take it. This certainly adds value.
Technically, this should complete your profile. But take time to write the Objective in your profile. Please donot paste some generic objective that you have been using since highschool. Probably buyers are bored seeing them as well.
All the best with your bidding at oDesk. Dont loose heart. It takes a while to land on the first job. but it will surely come.
All the best!
I've been wondering, too
I haven't put much time into my profile, not only for the reasons you mention, but also because some of the others that I've seen strike me as ... well.. implausible. People claim levels of fluency in English that are at odds with their written English, for example, or say things about their experience and levels of expertise that are obviously false. So how can a buyer know whether any of the profiles will be trustworthy? If I were a buyer, I wouldn't put much stock in them.
However, if providers who have worked hard on their profiles have found it useful, or buyers can share their impressions, I'd like to know.