Search for Providers

To browse providers:

1. Go to Find Providers & Jobs > Find Providers.
2. Click on a category or subcategory name to view all those providers.
3. Sort your results and look for providers who seem promising. This is our least detailed search option and the number of results can be overwhelming. A keyword search is generally much more useful for finding qualified candidates.

To browse or search group members:

1. Go to Find Providers & Jobs > Groups. Click on the group you're interested in viewing.
2. Type a keyword in the Search Providers and click Go. Alternatively, click the See all group providers » link at the bottom Group Providers box.
3. Sort your results and look for providers who seem promising. From your search results page you can perform additional basic keyword or advanced searches (just start at step #2 in the directions below). Only group members will appear in these search results. You'll know you're on a group member search page because the group's logo will appear above the search box at the left of your results.

To perform a basic keyword search:

1. Go to Find Providers & Jobs > Find Providers.
2. Enter a Keyword in the Search Providers box to the left. In basic mode, the complete provider profiles from every category are searched.
3. [Optional] Check the Search titles only box to limit the search to keywords in providers' titles. Providers generally feature their top skills in their titles so this is a good way to further narrow down the number of results.
4. Click the Search button.
5. Sort your results and look for providers who seem promising. This is a more detailed search option than browsing, but with common keywords the number of results can still be overwhelming. Try additional keywords or searching for something more specific.

To perform an advanced search:

1. Go to Find Providers & Jobs > Find Providers. Click the Advanced link in the Search Providers box at the left.
2. Set your optional search criteria. The default for each setting is to show all. Set more criteria to narrow your search results.
   
   • Keywords: (like above) Check the Search titles only box to limit the search to keywords in providers' titles. Providers generally feature their top skills in their titles so this is a good way to further narrow down the number of results.
   • Category / Subcategory: Choose one or set to all. Definitely check out the category and subcategory where you posted your job. If most of the providers you like aren't listed in the same subcategory as your job, perhaps you should edit your job to categorize it more appropriately.
   • Feedback Score: Specify the minimum you'll accept, but remember that this will exclude provider who have not yet earned feedback.
   • Hours Billed: Choose 1 hour or $1 option to include providers with no hourly history, but who have completed fixed-price assignments. Check the Last 6 months only box to find users with recent activity.
   • Min / Max: Set an hourly rate range. The hourly rate is set by the provider for display on their profile. They may apply to your job with a higher or lower rate. You may negotiate this during your interview.
   • Location: Choose a location (most buyers select Anywhere). This is the geographic area where the provider resides. Check the provider's profile for more specific location info such as country, city and time zone. Users in far timezones may be happy to work the night shift to accommodate your schedule and users who currently reside in one country may have local knowledge of another where they used to live. If you require users in a particular area, please say so in your job description, but make sure you explain your reasoning. For example, "need a US-based administrative assistant with easy access a US post office to drop off correspondence - New England preferred for quicker postal delivery to our contacts."
   • Provider Type: Choose individuals, affiliates or both. Affiliates are members of provider companies. You may be put in touch with their manager to assist with selecting the best member(s) for your job. They may also offer assistance scoping or managing jobs requiring technical skills unfamiliar to you. (Read more about affiliation with provider companies.) Choosing an individual means interviewing the specific provider who would be working with you and establishing a relationship with a particular person instead of a company.
   • Last Activity: Set a timeframe to exclude providers who haven't been to oDesk for a while (and are therefore less likely to reply to your invitation in a timely manner).
   • Test: Choose a test the provider needs to have past (if any). You'll probably want to sort your results by Test Score.
   • Portfolio: Check the box to see only users who have added portfolio items to their profiles. The portfolio items are not necessary from work completed on oDesk.
   • oDesk Ready: Check the box to see only users who have passed the oDesk Readiness Test. We strongly encourage you to set this restriction. Users who aren't oDesk Ready may not be sufficiently familiar with our features and policies to properly work on your job.
   • English Level: Set the level you would find acceptable. This is a self-assessment. We also offer several English skill tests to prove their skills. You can evaluate their writing skills by reading their profiles, cover letters and portfolios and their overall communication skills in your interview. Many providers are not native English-speakers. Reading and writing in another language are usually much easier to learn than listening and speaking. A job that only requires communication via email may need lesser English skills than one involving a lot of time on the telephone.
3. Press the Search button to view the list of providers who meet your criteria. Sort your results and look for providers who seem promising. This is our most detailed search option. We suggest you try several search combinations.

1. Go to Find Providers & Jobs > Find Providers.
2. Browse or perform a search.
3. When you find a provider you'd like to save, press the Save as favorite link next to their title in the list of search results or slightly above their title in the provider's profile.
4. [Optional] Enter a Note. Tell yourself why exactly you're saving this particular provider. It can be hard to remember later!
5. Press the Save as Favorite button.

1. Go to Find Providers & Jobs > Find Providers.
2. Browse or perform a search.
3. When you find a provider you like for your job, press the Interview button on their provider profile. You can also select multiple providers to interview in your search results. Check the boxes to the left of their titles and press the Invite Selected to Interview button at the top of the list.
4. Enter a Message. Make it personal and be sure to tell them why you think they'd be such a great fit for your job.
5. Press the Send button. The provider(s) will need to accept your invitation before you can discuss the assignment.

Few providers will accept an invitation from a buyer who lacks a verified payment method. They know that we cannot pay them until you verify. We recommend you at least begin the payment method verification process before you send any invitations - it will greatly improve the chances that the providers will accept.