How do I get my first job?
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)
The key things to do when you are new to the network are to:
- complete your provider profile
- become oDesk Ready
- write thoughtful, targeted cover letters
- take oDesk Skill Tests to prove your abilities
As you build your feedback and reputation in the system, you will find
it much easier to get more jobs. For best results, apply only to jobs
for which you are truly qualified. Please check
http://www.odesk.com/jobs regularly for new openings. We strongly
recommend that you create an RSS feed of the job openings by clicking on the orange RSS Feed button on the results page.
A good-looking oDesk profile is the first impression that you make on a potential buyer. Here are some tips to help you improve your profile and get started as a provider.
One
of the most important aspects of your profile is deciding on a fair
hourly rate. To help you with choosing a rate,
please review the following:
- How to set your profile rate
- Study the rates of other providers on the network: http://www.odesk.com/users
- See rate statistics about current providers in the oDesk system: By Skill and As part of the oConomy
- Please note that Affiliated Contractors cannot control their own rates - their staffing managers must set their rates for them.
When applying to a job, please first study the job description to make sure that there you are a good fit for the buyer's requirements. Be sure to write effective and unique cover letters while applying to jobs. Never include your contact information in your cover letter. The buyer should invite you to interview in order to talk to you.
You can check out Tips and Best Practices posted by fellow oDesk users in the oDesk Community Forums. We hope that these tips will help you get started on oDesk.
If you have any questions, post them in the Community Help Forum to receive feedback from other users as well as oDesk staff, or submit a help ticket at http://www.odesk.com/help/ticket to receive a private response from our support team.