Tips for New Providers - Part 1 - Hire
Welcome to oDesk! We hope you'll find exciting opportunities ahead and be able to make significant increases in your job satisfaction, quality of life, and income. We know that it can be tough and intimidating. Even more so, if you're a first-time freelancer. So we want you to know that you're not alone. Thousands of other people just like you, all over the world, have succeeded using the oDesk online staffing marketplace to find jobs and build careers.
Getting hired for your first job may be tough. We can't guarantee you'll get your dream job, but we're confident that if you follow some of these best practices and put in the effort, you'll be able to succeed. In this section, you'll find our best tips on how to increase your chances of successfully finding a job as a new oDesk Provider.
In addition to following the steps below, make sure you download and practice using the oDesk tools you'll need when you do get hired!
All oDesk providers must pass the oDesk Readiness Test.
You cannot apply to job openings unless you are oDesk Ready. This open
book test is designed as a tutorial to help familiarize users with
oDesk policies and practices. (effective June 4, 2008)
Hire. Manage. Pay.
- Creating your Profile
- Taking Tests
- Setting your Rate
- Finding Job Openings
- Applying to Job Openings
- Writing Cover Letters
- Interviewing with Buyers
- Following Up After the Interview
- Fill out your Profile as soon as possible.
- Choose an interesting and descriptive Title.
- Upload a portrait to put a face on your account.
- Write a Buyer-focused Objective - Ask not what the Buyer can do for you, but what you can do for the Buyer...
- "To help my clients meet their creative objectives relying on my sound design and marketing experience. I create consistent yet flexible designs that stand out, communicate, and reinforce identity."
- "I value my clients' thoughts, opinions, ideas, and their passion towards what they want to achieve. My philosophy revolves around the simple premise that I exist to turn my clients' dreams into something real, and then shape that reality into an exceptional product, one which exceeds all of their expectations."
- Link or upload sample work to the Portfolio.
- Demonstrate experience with a detailed Employment history.
- Flaunt your Educational history and Certifications - you’ve earned it!
- List your skills and prove them with linked samples.
- Sign up for job categories that truly interest you - there's no need to select every subcategory.
- Showcase your individuality with Other Experiences.
- Take the oDesk Readiness Test. Passing this test is REQUIRED before you can apply to any jobs! (effective June 4, 2008).
- Take any other tests that sound relevant - they’re free!
- Use the Recommended Tests chart as a guideline.
- Increase your job application quota from 5 up to 20 by passing 4 or more tests.
- Hide unimpressive test scores.
- Hide all failing test scores
- Consider hiding tests with scores under 3 - unless the test earns a 'Top 20%' or 'Top 10%' badge.
- Study to retake tests you've failed or hidden.
- Take more tests as you learn new skills and software.
- Select initial rate based on your peers.
- Search Providers by category or skills to get a feel for what others are charging.
- View rate statistics about the oDesk community as a whole in the oConomy.
- Match the bid rate to the job assignment - not every bid needs to be at the same rate.
- Choose a personal minimum rate.
- Promise yourself to never make a bid for less than that amount.
- Write it down (on paper is best) - you don't put this number anywhere in your profile.
- Keep the note somewhere visible when you're applying to jobs so you don't forget it.
- Increase your rates as you establish your reputation and feedback score.
- Browse job listings or create filtered search results.
- Include Hourly jobs, Fixed-Price, or both.
- Filter by category and subcategory.
- Search for keywords (usually skills or job titles).
- Save any search as an RSS or Atom feed that will automatically update when new jobs are added.
- Sign up for email job alerts in Profile & Settings ->Job Categories & Job Alerts
- Use saved feeds whenever possible - they are better than email alerts because feeds always have the most timely information and aren't affected by email system delivery delays.
- Consider the Buyer’s requested skills - don't apply if you don't have the skills to perform the job.
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Apply to jobs you are qualified to perform.
- Apply as soon as you can - many jobs start interviewing immediately, and most are filled in a few short days.
- Click the yellow Apply button, write a targeted cover letter, and submit a rate bid to add yourself as a candidate.
- Hourly jobs ask you to bid an hourly rate - many Buyers do not bother to negotiate this rate, so bidding too high may cost you an interview.
- Fixed Price jobs ask you to bid on the assignment as a whole - try to estimate how long it will take you to do the job and then set your rate ,accordingly.
- Use the Post Message button to ask the Buyer for Job Description clarification - you may need more detail before placing your bid.
- Don't post your resume on the message board - that does not count as applying, so it won't make you a candidate, and it's considered SPAM.
- Keep your dignity - don't sell yourself short.
- There is no reason to bid below your personal minimum rate - you did set one didn't you?
- Write a new, targeted, unique cover letter for each opening.
- Write from scratch every time.
- Using a saved cover letter file discourages customization - so don't do it!
- Let your personality show - make a personal connection.
- Your letter should sound like you - not a stuffy form letter.
- Pretend you're talking face to face with the Buyer - or a friend if that makes you less nervous.
- Show the Buyer you have relevant skills and experience.
- Link directly to relevant samples - if you don’t grab their attention now they’ll never bother to look at your complete portfolio.
- Answer the Buyer’s questions and ask some back!
- Tell the Buyer when and how you are available to interview at the end of the cover letter
- Include days, times, and your timezone.
- List chat and VOIP services (Yahoo, AOL, MSN, Google, Skype, etc.) that you could use. You may offer to speak via telephone if you are both in the same country.
- Don't give out your email address, chat ID, or telephone number until you've been invited to interview.
- Check your status in My Jobs > Candidacies daily - Emailed interview requests are occasionally delayed or lost.
- Reply to invitations to interview right away with your contact details and updated availability.
- Review this list of questions Buyers often ask and prepare your answers.
- Ask the Buyer to tell you more about their company, the job, and their expectations.
- Discuss your need for upfront and/or milestone payments on Fixed Price jobs.
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Report Buyers who ask you to work for them without hiring you for a job assignment or want to pay you outside the oDesk system - this is called Disintermediation and is a violation of the Service Agreement with oDesk.
Following Up After the Interview
- Send a thank you email to the Buyer to show you are still interested in the job (if you are still interested).
- End your candidacy if don't think the job is right for you.
- Revise your bid rate if you think you need to after discussing the job in more detail - you may raise or lower the rate before being hired.
- Inform the Buyer if you change your bid rate, and explain your reasoning.
- Ask the Buyer to confirm your rate and all work requirements before they hire you.
- Check My Jobs > Candidacies and My Jobs > Assignments - Emailed hire and rejection notifications are occasionally delayed or lost.
- Enjoy your first job assignment and work hard to earn a good feedback score!
Now that you've been hired, we know you'll have a whole new set of questions. Please visit Tips for New Providers - Part 2 - Manage & Pay.
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