Should You Freelance your Services?
There's no question that the job market is heading South... and has been for quite a while. Between layoffs and cutbacks, companies and organizations are finding it harder and harder to keep up with the demands of their employees for benefits, wages, and incentives.
And because of this, freelance work has seen one of the largest booms in recent history.
It wasn't always like this. When I was young, my mother was a freelance writer - this is primarily how she put herself through school. This was a time before the Internet brought the world together under one roof. Back then - you had to be on top of your game if you wanted to make it as a freelance writer.
And being a freelancer was a prestigious career... Only the best of the best could hope to make anything out of a freelancing career. You were paid more than a normal employee - but that was because you were hired specifically for your expertise in accomplishing a specific task. Word of mouth was your best friend... And a few hours of writing led to an cool $400+.
The advent of the Internet has opened up the world of freelance workers to a whole new generation. Freelance work has now grown to include web design, article writing, ghost writing, graphic design... even data entry and billing. And the best part is, with very little to no requirements needed to become a freelance worker - anyone can wake up one day and decide that they want to start freelancing their services.
Yes, the Internet has done wonders for freelancers. Having the world at your keyboard opens up a whole new level of potential clients. But with this new level of clients comes a whole new level of workers as well. Because you can turn into a freelancer overnight with very little to no start-up costs, there are younger and less experienced freelancers searching for projects to come to them than ever before.
And you are no longer competing with the man down the road who also happens to type 90+ words per minute. Now you are competing with freelancers from around the globe - many of whom - because of regional differences - can afford to do the same job you do for a fraction of your cost.
Thus comes the question; should you freelance your services? Well, as a freelancer myself, I am inclined to say "Yes, yes you should!" But the truth is only you can make that decision :)
Benefits of Freelancing
Freelance work is great for anyone who wants to be able to work from home. Whether you're trying to make freelancing your career or you just want to supplement your existing income, freelance work allows you the freedom to choose your own hours and work in the comfort of your sweat pants and tee shirts.
Additionally, you can work around the schedule that you choose. Not a morning person? Who cares! Start work at noon :) Children have a soccer game, dance recital, concert choir, or chess match that you want to see? Great! Then start work after you've finished cheering them to victory :) Whatever is going on in your life, your boss will always understand and will always give you the time and space you need to be there for the other aspects of your life because your boss is, well, you!
Additionally, you can never be fired; you can never get laid off. Even with the newest surplus of freelancers, there will always be books that need editing, databases that need entering, surveys that need analyzing - there will always be a need for freelancers.
Disadvantages of Freelancing
Working freelance, of course, is not all sparkles and giggles. A lot of hard work is involved. As a freelancer, it is up to you to set your salary, set your hours, promote your services, find your jobs and projects. Overnight you go from being an employee to being a boss, an accountant, a banker, a collection agency, a consultant, and a marketeer all at once.
Additionally, you have to protect yourself. There are plenty of clients who will take your hard work and run with it, claiming all copyrights and materials as their own. Before you know it, that web site that you designed is up and the article you wrote is posted, but the client is no where to be found and not answering your calls and your wallet isn't feeling any fuller. No one has ever been able to give me a good explanation as to why, but there are a lot of clients who feel they can take advantage of freelance workers; they try to get away with paying them less money than the freelancers is requesting, they pay late (or sometimes not at all). Whatever the reason for this, since you will no longer be under the protection of a company - you have to protect yourself and learn to recognize the signs of a bad client.
As a freelancer, your costs are generally a little higher as well. This is because you suddenly become your own responsibility. I know, that sounds odd - weren't you always your own responsibility. Eh... To an extent. But now you don't have an employer providing you with any benefits such as medical insurance, dental insurance or 401K. Using the computer more also means using more electricity to power it. And, of course, you'll have to do a little better with keeping your anti-virus softwares up to date.
Ultimately, the decision to become a freelancer is one that only you can make. If you don't mind working a little harder for your income - then it might just be the perfect solution. Whatever you do, just don't make the decision blindly; make sure you do your research and weigh the benefits against the disadvantages... Then make the decision that is best for you.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Writing a killer cover letter on oDesk
So, you've got your profile all set up in oDesk - ready to start taking on the world as a freelance worker. Now all you have to do is convince the clients to go and look at it, right? So how do you do this? Apply to the job postings and place a bid on the projects. Then send a killer cover letter.
Your cover letter should, in the least, do three things:
This doesn't mean to send a letter that literally says "I know what I'm talking about and I've read your job description. I charge $15 per hour and guarantee you will like my work." That will probably get you rejected fairly quickly - no matter how great your portfolio is.
In addition to these three things, you should add a bit of your personality into the letter - make it yours.
Now, for me - and I know other contractors disagree with this (and that's fine) - I also include a paragraph within my cover letter that explains about the ability to contact me. I don't include my contact information - but I do let them know that I am available via Skype, email, and cell phone as well as via my oDesk message center. I also let them know that all of these messages are forwarded to my cell phone to help expedite communications (well, except calls to my cell phone - since that would be redundant). I include this because I would want to know how easy it is to get a hold of a contractor, or if I would be limited to just the oDesk message system.
Also, for me, I will ask all sorts of questions in my cover letter. Some contractors view this as unprofessional, and that's fine. Like I said - this advice won't work for everyone. But if there's a discrepancy in the job description, or if I just want to know more details than was given, I ask in my cover letter rather than waiting for the interview.
What does this do for me? In a lot of cases, the clients want to answer the questions, which gives them more of a reason to place me into an interview, which gives me a better chance of talking to them and convincing them that I am the best candidate to hire for their project.
This doesn't mean just start asking any stupid question you can think of. "What's your favorite color?" will probably get you rejected. But asking a question like "Do you think you might also be interested in having Twitter integrated onto your site?" will raise an eyebrow.
So, we are going to build a cover letter for an actual job. Here is the project that we are applying for: Build a new community-oriented website with easy content management system
Don't get too excited, this particular job is no longer open ;) But let's write that cover letter! First, introduce yourself to the client and thank them for their time. Why is this important? Clients receive dozens of application within minutes of posting a project. You want to look as though you can appreciate the amount of time they are spending sifting through all those applications:
Now onto the first task - make sure you prove that you know what you're talking about:
So, read that paragraph and what does it say to you? It says "I have been building and maintaining web sites using the Drupal Content Management System for 5 years." So I have plenty of experience using this particular content management system and, therefore, know what I'm talking about. "In my experience, the Drupal CMS platform offers the most flexibility and allows you to expand your site as your business grows." A secondary perk - this shows that I have used other methods of building sites, but choose to use Drupal and why - listing a benefit to the client if he chooses me that goes beyond simply "You'll get a great site done quickly." Next, I point them to my profile, so they can see that wonderful profile that I filled out: "You can find several examples of sites that I have developed using Drupal's CMS listed in my portfolio (which you can see by visiting my profile here on oDesk)." And finally, show that I have read their job description, because I am going to address specific needs that they have asked for: "However, I would also like to point you toward one site that addresses your particular needs."
So now, let's show them the best examples we have that will address their needs:
There you go... All of the client's needs have been addressed, I understand what he's looking for and can show him a specific example of a site that I have worked on that has everything he's looking for.
But I'm not done here. I still have to explain to him my terms. This is important - it allows the clients to review his budget and see if he can afford me. It also allows him to review his deadlines and see if I will help him to meet those deadlines. Plus, I want to add in a couple of other benefits that he will receive if he chooses me:
Now I have added two new benefits that the client may not have thought of before (the newsletter and the ability to save certain posts as their favorites) and I have told him how many hours he would be billed by me to build his site. I have also pointed out two other sites that I built and included the total amount of time that I spent to build those sites - so he can use them as a gage. But did you see what else I did here? I listed several modules that are extremely useful with Drupal sites (Views, Panels, and CCK) that are not included with a basic Drupal installation - and they are not the easiest modules to master. Here again, supporting my statement that I know what I'm talking about.
Next, I need to give the client a reason to want to contact me... So here comes the question. Now, for this particular case, the job description is fairly detailed - so I would really just need to make up a question rather than gain clarification. A well-stated question will help show that you've read the job description. After all, how dumb would I look if I asked him "Would you also like to have an RSS feed?"
Now it's time to wrap things up. This is where I explain how easy it would be to contact me, thank the client again for his time, and, basically, say goodbye.
And voila! You're done! Now double check your cover letter for any spelling errors (especially in your links!), check the box that shows you understand and agree with the oDesk terms of service (make sure you've actually read the terms of service!), and send the application by clicking on the button that reads "Apply to This Job."
Please notice, there are a couple of things that I did not do, here. I did not beg for the job, nor did I offer to do the job for a ridiculously low rate. (For the record, I apply at every job with the hourly rate that is posted on my profile).
Also remember, every job description is different - therefore every cover letter should be different. Some clients, for example, ask a riddle or want you to include a special word to prove that you've read their job description. Make sure you do as they ask. Even after all this, if the job description had asked me to include the answer to 2 + 2 - I would hate to have been rejected simply for not putting in the number 4 into my cover letter.
Your cover letter should, in the least, do three things:
- A) Prove you know what you're talking about,
- B) Prove that you've read the job description,
- C) Explain your costs and terms (such as how many hours it will take to complete, or how much money you will require upfront for a fixed rate, or any guarantees that you offer)
This doesn't mean to send a letter that literally says "I know what I'm talking about and I've read your job description. I charge $15 per hour and guarantee you will like my work." That will probably get you rejected fairly quickly - no matter how great your portfolio is.
In addition to these three things, you should add a bit of your personality into the letter - make it yours.
Now, for me - and I know other contractors disagree with this (and that's fine) - I also include a paragraph within my cover letter that explains about the ability to contact me. I don't include my contact information - but I do let them know that I am available via Skype, email, and cell phone as well as via my oDesk message center. I also let them know that all of these messages are forwarded to my cell phone to help expedite communications (well, except calls to my cell phone - since that would be redundant). I include this because I would want to know how easy it is to get a hold of a contractor, or if I would be limited to just the oDesk message system.
Also, for me, I will ask all sorts of questions in my cover letter. Some contractors view this as unprofessional, and that's fine. Like I said - this advice won't work for everyone. But if there's a discrepancy in the job description, or if I just want to know more details than was given, I ask in my cover letter rather than waiting for the interview.
What does this do for me? In a lot of cases, the clients want to answer the questions, which gives them more of a reason to place me into an interview, which gives me a better chance of talking to them and convincing them that I am the best candidate to hire for their project.
This doesn't mean just start asking any stupid question you can think of. "What's your favorite color?" will probably get you rejected. But asking a question like "Do you think you might also be interested in having Twitter integrated onto your site?" will raise an eyebrow.
So, we are going to build a cover letter for an actual job. Here is the project that we are applying for: Build a new community-oriented website with easy content management system
We are looking to develop a new website/ blog that is easy for us to maintain (create, edit, post, and review content and comments, run user polls and comments, provide social features (like send to Twitter, Facebook, etc.), provide an RSS feed, allow for visitors to create a log-on profile, etc.) While the content would be completely different, the structure of the site would be similar to Engadget.com, GDGT.com, etc.
The design must be clean. The content management tools must be simple for us to use. There must be a way to moderate comments as well.
Qualified candidates can provide a portfolio of websites/ blogs they have developed that have posting and commenting features.
Don't get too excited, this particular job is no longer open ;) But let's write that cover letter! First, introduce yourself to the client and thank them for their time. Why is this important? Clients receive dozens of application within minutes of posting a project. You want to look as though you can appreciate the amount of time they are spending sifting through all those applications:
Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to review my application.
Now onto the first task - make sure you prove that you know what you're talking about:
I have been building and maintaining web sites using the Drupal Content Management System for 5 years. In my experience, the Drupal CMS platform offers the most flexibility and allows you to expand your site as your business grows. You can find several examples of sites that I have developed using Drupal's CMS listed in my portfolio (which you can see by visiting my profile here on oDesk). However, I would also like to point you toward one site that addresses your particular needs.
So, read that paragraph and what does it say to you? It says "I have been building and maintaining web sites using the Drupal Content Management System for 5 years." So I have plenty of experience using this particular content management system and, therefore, know what I'm talking about. "In my experience, the Drupal CMS platform offers the most flexibility and allows you to expand your site as your business grows." A secondary perk - this shows that I have used other methods of building sites, but choose to use Drupal and why - listing a benefit to the client if he chooses me that goes beyond simply "You'll get a great site done quickly." Next, I point them to my profile, so they can see that wonderful profile that I filled out: "You can find several examples of sites that I have developed using Drupal's CMS listed in my portfolio (which you can see by visiting my profile here on oDesk)." And finally, show that I have read their job description, because I am going to address specific needs that they have asked for: "However, I would also like to point you toward one site that addresses your particular needs."
So now, let's show them the best examples we have that will address their needs:
Progressiveu.org is my longest running site. This is a social networking site that centers its idea on giving a voice to high school and college bound students and offers several contests and scholarships. In this site you'll see several member blogs - each with its own RSS feed, polls and surveys. I have also integrated Facebook into the site. And, although you will not be able to see any of the administrative interface, I have also installed "easy admin" links that allow the moderators and administrators the ability to easily edit, delete, or hide any posts or comments that violate the site's purpose.
There you go... All of the client's needs have been addressed, I understand what he's looking for and can show him a specific example of a site that I have worked on that has everything he's looking for.
But I'm not done here. I still have to explain to him my terms. This is important - it allows the clients to review his budget and see if he can afford me. It also allows him to review his deadlines and see if I will help him to meet those deadlines. Plus, I want to add in a couple of other benefits that he will receive if he chooses me:
In general, I can get a basic Drupal site set up and ready for content in about 8-10 hours. Depending on which other features you would like added and other specifics not listed here (such as a newsletter or the ability to mark and save favorite blog entries), it may add another 15-30 additional hours. However, this includes set up and configuration for each module that you would need.
I am also highly skilled with using Views, panels, and CCK to help give you the customized look and workflow that you need. For example, one site that you'll find on my portfolio (statusje.ipower.com) ultimately took me 19 hours from start to finish. Another site that uses a lot of views, panels, and custom content types is goldentriangle247.com - this site is a little more involved and took me 27 hours from start to finish to get set up.
Now I have added two new benefits that the client may not have thought of before (the newsletter and the ability to save certain posts as their favorites) and I have told him how many hours he would be billed by me to build his site. I have also pointed out two other sites that I built and included the total amount of time that I spent to build those sites - so he can use them as a gage. But did you see what else I did here? I listed several modules that are extremely useful with Drupal sites (Views, Panels, and CCK) that are not included with a basic Drupal installation - and they are not the easiest modules to master. Here again, supporting my statement that I know what I'm talking about.
Next, I need to give the client a reason to want to contact me... So here comes the question. Now, for this particular case, the job description is fairly detailed - so I would really just need to make up a question rather than gain clarification. A well-stated question will help show that you've read the job description. After all, how dumb would I look if I asked him "Would you also like to have an RSS feed?"
I was also wondering how you were going to handle search engine optimization (SEO) for your site? Would you require me to handle the SEO of your project, or are you looking to hire a separate company / contractor to handle SEO? Either way, I am very excited to work on your project; I was just wondering so I can correctly assess entire scope of your project.
Now it's time to wrap things up. This is where I explain how easy it would be to contact me, thank the client again for his time, and, basically, say goodbye.
I am located in the United States within the Mountain Time zone (GMT -7). I am available to talk anytime via Skype, email, or through the oDesk messaging system. To help expedite communications, I also have messages from each of these forwarded to my cell phone - so you can be sure that I will receive and respond to your messages right away.
Again, thank you so much for reviewing my application. I can't wait to get started on your project!
Naomi
And voila! You're done! Now double check your cover letter for any spelling errors (especially in your links!), check the box that shows you understand and agree with the oDesk terms of service (make sure you've actually read the terms of service!), and send the application by clicking on the button that reads "Apply to This Job."
Please notice, there are a couple of things that I did not do, here. I did not beg for the job, nor did I offer to do the job for a ridiculously low rate. (For the record, I apply at every job with the hourly rate that is posted on my profile).
Also remember, every job description is different - therefore every cover letter should be different. Some clients, for example, ask a riddle or want you to include a special word to prove that you've read their job description. Make sure you do as they ask. Even after all this, if the job description had asked me to include the answer to 2 + 2 - I would hate to have been rejected simply for not putting in the number 4 into my cover letter.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Getting that first job on oDesk
Okay... A lot of people, and I do mean a lot of people, join oDesk and then run into the problem of trying to land that first job. Some are proactive enough to start asking about how to get that first job in the oDesk forums. I check these posts from new people who are asking "why can't I get hired" and when I go to look, their profiles aren't even filled out, no tests are taken, or what is filled out is just filled with mistakes. To top it all off, there are just as many contractors handing out bad advice.
That's not to say that my advice is the absolute best; nor will it work for everyone. But it's a system that works for me, and has been working for me since I joined oDesk. If you really want to get that first job, hopefully this will at least serve as a starting point for you.
So, going through step by step to landing that first job...
1. Set up your profile! Yes, a lot of people come to online sources because it's easy and convenient - but that doesn't mean that they want to completely give up the personal experience as well. Your profile is what will introduce you as a person as well as an applicant to the people reviewing your cover letter. Make it count.
2. Once your profile is set, then it's time to sell your self to the clients. And by sell your self, I don't mean pay them for the privilege of working for them. I mean convince them that they should hire you and pay you what you want. So, how do you do this? Cover Letters. Write a cover letter that A) Proves you know what you're talking about, B) Proves that you've read the job description, C) Explains your costs and terms (such as how many hours it will take to complete, or how much money you will require upfront for a fixed rate, or any guarantees that you offer).
And for goodness sake - don't send the same cover letter to each and every job posting. The clients always know. You aren't fooling anyone - so just stop.
Never beg for a job... It makes you look desperate, not professional. Never lower your hourly rate to a ridiculous amount in hopes of landing a job (or worse, offering to work for free)... Again, it makes you look desperate and gives the impression that you don't deserve whatever amount you have posted on your profile.
Now, for me - and I know other contractors disagree with this (and that's fine) - I also include a paragraph within my cover letter that explains about the ability to contact me. I don't include my contact information - but I do let them know that I am available via Skype, email, and cell phone as well as via my oDesk message center. I also let them know that all of these messages are forwarded to my cell phone to help expedite communications (well, except calls to my cell phone - since that would be redundant). I include this because I would want to know how easy it is to get a hold of a contractor, or if I would be limited to just the oDesk message system.
Also, for me, I will ask all sorts of questions in my cover letter. Some contractors view this as unprofessional, and that's fine. Like I said - this advice won't work for everyone. But if there's a discrepancy in the job description, or if I just want to know more details than was given, I ask then rather than waiting for the interview. What does this do for me? In a lot of cases, the clients want to answer the questions, which gives them more of a reason to place me into an interview, which gives me a better chance of talking to them and convincing them that I am the best candidate to hire for their project.
This doesn't mean just start asking any stupid question you can think of. "What's your favorite color?" will probably get you rejected. But asking a question like "Do you think you might also be interested in having Twitter integrated onto your site?" will raise an eyebrow.
How else can you sell your self? Glad you asked. You don't have to rely on oDesk's search function to find jobs. Nor do you have to rely on the idea that a client will find you and invite you to an interview. Do you have Facebook, MySpace, or another site that you use? Find the little badges in your account and post them up! Chances are, one of your friends on Facebook might see that you are available for hire as a writer - and they might know someone who just wrote a book that needs editing.
And finally...
3. Bid often and Bid Reasonably Earlier I spoke about the hourly rate that is posted on your profile - now I'm talking about the hourly rate or fixed price rate that you enter onto the little application form that will accompany your cover letter. This bid can be different from what's posted on your profile - but it should still be reasonable. What do I mean by reasonable?
Remember, it looks bad if your hourly rate on your profile says that you charge $10 per hour if you then bid on a project at $1 per hour... And you shouldn't let a client's budget dictate the level and quality of professionalism that you can provide.
And bid often! I still continue to fill out my quota of 20 applications per week. If a client is not responding to my application after a couple of weeks, I withdraw that application so I can apply to another job. The only time I slow down on my bidding is if I am beginning to get overloaded with projects. Don't send out just 2-3 applications and then get disheartened that neither one has accepted you yet.
This doesn't mean sit down and apply to 20 jobs all in one day - spread them out. I read through just about every hourly job posted (I always filter out the fixed price jobs), but I probably apply to only 4-5 jobs every day, if that many. Be discerning - if the job isn't worth your time, wait a couple more hours and see what new jobs have been posted. It won't do you any good to apply to a job that you're only semi-interested in only to find a great job that you would love to work on but can't apply because you've reached your limit already.
Okay - wow, this is really long. Hopefully this will help to get some of you started on oDesk. I will be going over many of these areas in more detail in future posts... Meanwhile, long as this is - you also need to remember that this is not meant to be the end-all be-all or any sort of guarantee that following these steps will get you hired on oDesk, just a system that works for me. Remember to find your own niche - whatever works for you.
That's not to say that my advice is the absolute best; nor will it work for everyone. But it's a system that works for me, and has been working for me since I joined oDesk. If you really want to get that first job, hopefully this will at least serve as a starting point for you.
So, going through step by step to landing that first job...
1. Set up your profile! Yes, a lot of people come to online sources because it's easy and convenient - but that doesn't mean that they want to completely give up the personal experience as well. Your profile is what will introduce you as a person as well as an applicant to the people reviewing your cover letter. Make it count.
- Overview - One of the most important parts of your profile is your overview. It should introduce you to the client and establish your objective. Use this to set you apart from other contractors. "I write fast and can get the job done quickly." So what! Chances are, 90%-95% of the other applicants can, too. So how are you any different? "I want to be the best provider to my clients." Again, so what!? This doesn't help you at all because everyone else says the same thing. Not to mention - it should be a given that you want to provide the best service. Your overview should answer the question "why you should hire me over the other guy" ... If it doesn't answer that question, it's not a good overview.
- Picture - After all, they speak a thousand words, right? It's not a requirement to have a picture, but it does help. Make sure you follow oDesk's identity policy when choosing a picture to post - but in general, any picture of you with a smile on your face will do wonders for you. People like to put a face to a font... So give them one.
- Hourly Rate - I hate to say it, but there are a lot of clients that will look at your hourly rate. I am not talking about whatever rate you bid on a project, but the rate that is displayed on your profile. This rate should reflect the level and quality of work that you provide and should be a fair reflection of a going rate for the field / category you are interested in working for. Is there a difference? Of course! Can you expect to get paid the same amount of money for site scraping as you can for writing articles? Probably not unless you are the best darn web scraper in the world (and can back it up!). If you're not sure what to set your rate at, look through at other providers, or go through the oConomy pages, figure out how much you would be paid for the exact same job at an office, or do a search to see if you can find out what the average going rate is for that field and adjust that average to reflect your experience level.
- Resume - Also important because your resume houses all of your skills. Are you a web designer? Great! Then post your CSS, PHP, Javascript, Drupal, Joomla!, and Wordpress skills! A lot of clients search for providers based on these skills - how will they find you if you don't have them listed anywhere on your profile? And your resume is the perfect place to showcase these skills because it allows you to also place a brief description of how you have used this skill in the past and display how long you have been using it.
- Take and Show Tests - Some clients won't even look at you if you're not oDesk ready - so take that test! Beyond that - take any other test that will help show just how good you are at something. How is a client going to know that you're the best web site designer if the only test you took was an English skills test and a telephone etiquette test? Go to the oDesk tests and search for tests that are relevant to your field and take them. Then make sure you show the ones you need. Tests you happen to fail will automatically be hidden, anyway; But those tests where you barely pass, hide them until you can retake them and try again. Everyone is entitled to a bad day, no need to display for all to see that you are in the bottom 20% of people who took the test. Retake tests as you get the chance to raise your scores and show off your knowledge.
- Build a Portfolio - This may be easier for some than others... But a portfolio is a great way to display your work. If you build web sites - place some links in there to web sites that you've built. If you're an artist, then throw together some logos and interface designs and place them up there. Writer? Post a link to your blog... Anything that will show examples of your work without violating any terms of service is good. Also important, once it's up - keep it updated. Check the links to those web sites to make sure they're still working and place up new examples of your work as you complete them.
- Be Honest - If your English isn't a 5.0 - then don't rate it at 5.0... Clients will be able to figure it out and you will look like a liar. If you can't be honest about something like how fluent you are in English, why should anyone believe that you're being honest about anything else?
2. Once your profile is set, then it's time to sell your self to the clients. And by sell your self, I don't mean pay them for the privilege of working for them. I mean convince them that they should hire you and pay you what you want. So, how do you do this? Cover Letters. Write a cover letter that A) Proves you know what you're talking about, B) Proves that you've read the job description, C) Explains your costs and terms (such as how many hours it will take to complete, or how much money you will require upfront for a fixed rate, or any guarantees that you offer).
And for goodness sake - don't send the same cover letter to each and every job posting. The clients always know. You aren't fooling anyone - so just stop.
Never beg for a job... It makes you look desperate, not professional. Never lower your hourly rate to a ridiculous amount in hopes of landing a job (or worse, offering to work for free)... Again, it makes you look desperate and gives the impression that you don't deserve whatever amount you have posted on your profile.
Now, for me - and I know other contractors disagree with this (and that's fine) - I also include a paragraph within my cover letter that explains about the ability to contact me. I don't include my contact information - but I do let them know that I am available via Skype, email, and cell phone as well as via my oDesk message center. I also let them know that all of these messages are forwarded to my cell phone to help expedite communications (well, except calls to my cell phone - since that would be redundant). I include this because I would want to know how easy it is to get a hold of a contractor, or if I would be limited to just the oDesk message system.
Also, for me, I will ask all sorts of questions in my cover letter. Some contractors view this as unprofessional, and that's fine. Like I said - this advice won't work for everyone. But if there's a discrepancy in the job description, or if I just want to know more details than was given, I ask then rather than waiting for the interview. What does this do for me? In a lot of cases, the clients want to answer the questions, which gives them more of a reason to place me into an interview, which gives me a better chance of talking to them and convincing them that I am the best candidate to hire for their project.
This doesn't mean just start asking any stupid question you can think of. "What's your favorite color?" will probably get you rejected. But asking a question like "Do you think you might also be interested in having Twitter integrated onto your site?" will raise an eyebrow.
How else can you sell your self? Glad you asked. You don't have to rely on oDesk's search function to find jobs. Nor do you have to rely on the idea that a client will find you and invite you to an interview. Do you have Facebook, MySpace, or another site that you use? Find the little badges in your account and post them up! Chances are, one of your friends on Facebook might see that you are available for hire as a writer - and they might know someone who just wrote a book that needs editing.
And finally...
3. Bid often and Bid Reasonably Earlier I spoke about the hourly rate that is posted on your profile - now I'm talking about the hourly rate or fixed price rate that you enter onto the little application form that will accompany your cover letter. This bid can be different from what's posted on your profile - but it should still be reasonable. What do I mean by reasonable?
- Make sure it is worth your time
- Make sure it will cover your expenses (such as cost to withdraw)
- If it is fixed price, make sure it reflects the amount of time you will be working on that project
Remember, it looks bad if your hourly rate on your profile says that you charge $10 per hour if you then bid on a project at $1 per hour... And you shouldn't let a client's budget dictate the level and quality of professionalism that you can provide.
And bid often! I still continue to fill out my quota of 20 applications per week. If a client is not responding to my application after a couple of weeks, I withdraw that application so I can apply to another job. The only time I slow down on my bidding is if I am beginning to get overloaded with projects. Don't send out just 2-3 applications and then get disheartened that neither one has accepted you yet.
This doesn't mean sit down and apply to 20 jobs all in one day - spread them out. I read through just about every hourly job posted (I always filter out the fixed price jobs), but I probably apply to only 4-5 jobs every day, if that many. Be discerning - if the job isn't worth your time, wait a couple more hours and see what new jobs have been posted. It won't do you any good to apply to a job that you're only semi-interested in only to find a great job that you would love to work on but can't apply because you've reached your limit already.
Okay - wow, this is really long. Hopefully this will help to get some of you started on oDesk. I will be going over many of these areas in more detail in future posts... Meanwhile, long as this is - you also need to remember that this is not meant to be the end-all be-all or any sort of guarantee that following these steps will get you hired on oDesk, just a system that works for me. Remember to find your own niche - whatever works for you.
Is oDesk right for you?
A number of years ago, freelancing was reserved for the experts. Business owners, writers, and other professionals sought the help of freelance consultants, freelance editors, and other freelance professionals for short-term contracts and help to do what what they could not do on their own.
Back then, finding a freelance professional was not quite so easy. And becoming a freelance professional was even harder.
With the advent of the Internet came a whole new breed of freelance workers. From amateurs to experts, becoming a freelance worker is easier than ever. And for those people looking to become a freelance worker, the Internet has brought for you several methods of getting started and finding the people who will hire you as a freelance consultant.
Of these methods, oDesk is among the fastest growing center for freelance workers available. It is a system that I, myself, have been using for years. Of course, it doesn't mean that it is the only or even the best freelancing site - goodness knows there are plenty of others out there that offer freelance work. And for some of you, oDesk will probably not be the answer. But for those of you who are looking to compare freelance sites, here are some details about working with oDesk.
First, the advantages of oDesk:
1. There are no fees for contract workers. This was a huge deciding factor for me. Starting work as a freelance professional is just like starting up any other business - there are certain costs involved. These costs may come from supplies, such as purchasing a computer, or maintenance, such as subscribing to a reputable anti-virus program. Whatever costs you incur to start your own freelancing career, in my opinion, the service you choose to find freelance work should not be one. There are no registration or membership fees to join oDesk, and no levels of membership based on the amount you pay that limit your ability to bid on jobs. Additionally, oDesk does not take their funding from you. Instead, they add to your rate and bill the difference to your clients.
2. Protection for newcomers and experienced freelance workers alike. A lot of sites offer some sort of payment guarantee; however, oDesk's payment guarantee for hourly jobs is among the best. So long as you use their tools correctly and log your time, you are guaranteed payment whether you are new to oDesk or not. Other sites offer a similar payment guarantee, but only after you have logged many hours with their site - which protects only those freelance workers who have been using their system for a long time, not newcomers.
3. Plenty of tools and helpful resources. oDesk offers several means of getting help. Besides the normal resources, such as discussion forums, oDesk offers a learning center filled with tutorials about how to effectively use their system, several blogs written by other freelance workers as well as their own blog. In addition to all this, oDesk has a staff of highly active moderators and administrators that offer help to everyone daily. If you have a question, you can expect answer within a very short amount of time - sometimes only minutes - rather than waiting days or even weeks before you get the help you seek.
That's not to say that life working on oDesk is all peaches and chocolate. oDesk does have a few disadvantages as well - some that are easy to work around while others are not so easy.
1. A lot of low priced jobs. oDesk is quickly - and unfairly - gaining the reputation of having some of the lowest paid jobs being offered for freelance sites. Yes, it is still possible to find projects that are worth your time as a freelancer and competitive wages - but it's also a little disheartening to see so many jobs posted with very low budgets or offers for payment.
2. oDesk requires a higher level of commitment than other sites. Working as a freelancer through oDesk requires a higher level of commitment to your projects and to yourself than other freelancing sites. You set your own pay rate and your own worth, you have to sell yourself to the clients, and you have to negotiate any changes to your agreements made with your clients. oDesk will not guarantee a minimum payment amount, will not set your hourly rate, and will not promote you to the clients. If you want someone to pay you higher than the global average - then it's up to you to convince the clients that your work is worth the extra few dollars an hour.
3. There's no guarantee for fixed price projects. That's not to say that there's no help available for fixed price projects, but fixed price projects are not covered by oDesk's payment guarantee - which means you have to protect yourself (or else you may end up fending for yourself). Additionally, because oDesk's system automatically ranks freelance workers through a combination of the number of hours worked and feedback ratings, those of you who are interested mainly in working on fixed price projects will find yourself lower in the rankings than freelancers who choose to work mainly on hourly projects.
Ultimately, my choice to use oDesk came down to the level of commitment that oDesk does offer to newcomers - their level of protection and commitment to newcomers matches the level of protection and commitment to oDesk-experienced freelancers. You'll have to make that choice for yourself.
Back then, finding a freelance professional was not quite so easy. And becoming a freelance professional was even harder.
With the advent of the Internet came a whole new breed of freelance workers. From amateurs to experts, becoming a freelance worker is easier than ever. And for those people looking to become a freelance worker, the Internet has brought for you several methods of getting started and finding the people who will hire you as a freelance consultant.
Of these methods, oDesk is among the fastest growing center for freelance workers available. It is a system that I, myself, have been using for years. Of course, it doesn't mean that it is the only or even the best freelancing site - goodness knows there are plenty of others out there that offer freelance work. And for some of you, oDesk will probably not be the answer. But for those of you who are looking to compare freelance sites, here are some details about working with oDesk.
First, the advantages of oDesk:
1. There are no fees for contract workers. This was a huge deciding factor for me. Starting work as a freelance professional is just like starting up any other business - there are certain costs involved. These costs may come from supplies, such as purchasing a computer, or maintenance, such as subscribing to a reputable anti-virus program. Whatever costs you incur to start your own freelancing career, in my opinion, the service you choose to find freelance work should not be one. There are no registration or membership fees to join oDesk, and no levels of membership based on the amount you pay that limit your ability to bid on jobs. Additionally, oDesk does not take their funding from you. Instead, they add to your rate and bill the difference to your clients.
2. Protection for newcomers and experienced freelance workers alike. A lot of sites offer some sort of payment guarantee; however, oDesk's payment guarantee for hourly jobs is among the best. So long as you use their tools correctly and log your time, you are guaranteed payment whether you are new to oDesk or not. Other sites offer a similar payment guarantee, but only after you have logged many hours with their site - which protects only those freelance workers who have been using their system for a long time, not newcomers.
3. Plenty of tools and helpful resources. oDesk offers several means of getting help. Besides the normal resources, such as discussion forums, oDesk offers a learning center filled with tutorials about how to effectively use their system, several blogs written by other freelance workers as well as their own blog. In addition to all this, oDesk has a staff of highly active moderators and administrators that offer help to everyone daily. If you have a question, you can expect answer within a very short amount of time - sometimes only minutes - rather than waiting days or even weeks before you get the help you seek.
That's not to say that life working on oDesk is all peaches and chocolate. oDesk does have a few disadvantages as well - some that are easy to work around while others are not so easy.
1. A lot of low priced jobs. oDesk is quickly - and unfairly - gaining the reputation of having some of the lowest paid jobs being offered for freelance sites. Yes, it is still possible to find projects that are worth your time as a freelancer and competitive wages - but it's also a little disheartening to see so many jobs posted with very low budgets or offers for payment.
2. oDesk requires a higher level of commitment than other sites. Working as a freelancer through oDesk requires a higher level of commitment to your projects and to yourself than other freelancing sites. You set your own pay rate and your own worth, you have to sell yourself to the clients, and you have to negotiate any changes to your agreements made with your clients. oDesk will not guarantee a minimum payment amount, will not set your hourly rate, and will not promote you to the clients. If you want someone to pay you higher than the global average - then it's up to you to convince the clients that your work is worth the extra few dollars an hour.
3. There's no guarantee for fixed price projects. That's not to say that there's no help available for fixed price projects, but fixed price projects are not covered by oDesk's payment guarantee - which means you have to protect yourself (or else you may end up fending for yourself). Additionally, because oDesk's system automatically ranks freelance workers through a combination of the number of hours worked and feedback ratings, those of you who are interested mainly in working on fixed price projects will find yourself lower in the rankings than freelancers who choose to work mainly on hourly projects.
Ultimately, my choice to use oDesk came down to the level of commitment that oDesk does offer to newcomers - their level of protection and commitment to newcomers matches the level of protection and commitment to oDesk-experienced freelancers. You'll have to make that choice for yourself.
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