Okay, it had to be said sometime, right? If you haven't been to the community forums at oDesk lately, then you haven't seen all the insane complaints coming from clients and potential clients that got scammed. Some of them I feel genuine sympathy for. It's not fun giving so much of your time, money and effort into a project only to have some slouch run off with all your codes, scripts, money and graphics.
Contrary to popular belief, oDesk wants to see both contractors and clients succeed. They really don't side with one or the other, and most of their policies are built around a system that was designed to be fair and accommodating to both of them. So why are people still getting scammed? Because they don't read; they don't read the policies, they don't read the help pages, they don't read the advice in the forums... They just don't read. And if they did read, they wouldn't be making all these mistakes. So, for you clients who are hoping to find your next, best contractor through oDesk - please, please, please at least read this!
1. Do not automatically go for the lowest bidder. I know, it's so tempting. You post a project and receive 30-40 new applicants, all ranging right around $15-$20 an hour, and all look good - and then in comes that one person who bid at $2 an hour. Yes, it happens. But before you immediately start thinking about that $13 - $17 dollars you're going to save, try asking yourself why they're bidding at only $2 an hour.
Yes, it's true, oDesk is a global marketplace and people from every country are there - some with a cost of living that allows them to survive on $2 an hour and others that need a minimum of $15 just to pay for their Internet bills. But a difference in bidding of this magnitude is a red flag. I'm not saying that everyone who bids at $2 an hour is a scammer, or that they're lazy, or that they're not goo dat their job. They very well could be awesome... But before you go jumping onto that Hire button, at least try to find out more about that bid. Is it average for their region or country? Are they brand new and hoping to land a contract to establish their name? There are a number of reasons that could explain a lower-than-average bid... Just make sure you find the reason before you jump to hire.
2. Perform a real interview just as you would if you were asking applicants to walk into your office in person. oDesk does not run your business... you do. Ultimately, you're responsible for your hiring process - not oDesk. There are plenty of tools available for you to check on the relativity, skill-sets, and experience that an applicant has. Use those tools. Get on Skype, make a phone call, ask questions... Whatever process you would normally use to screen your applicants in person should be the same process you apply to your interviews online. And interviewing through an online forum becomes even more critical than before because you lose a very important aspect of communication - body language. So, to make up for that loss, you absolutely must not skimp on your interview.
3. Make sure your job postings are clear. I hear a lot of complaints about scammers when the truth is that the job posting wasn't clear to begin with, or the job suddenly changed after they've hired someone. And then they complain that the contractor they've hired wants more money. Well, of course they want more money - you changed the aspects of the job. If you've added new tasks to the job, they deserve to be paid for the extra work.
And if you're not sure of the difference between jobs or of the terminology to use - then stay away from using terminology. Use your own words. A lot of people don't know the difference between setting up a web site and designing a web site... and that's fine - that's why you're looking to hire someone to do either one or both, right? Just write up what you know about the job, and use clear terms to describe it.
4. Read through the policies and help pages on the oDesk web site. One of the most commonly missed policies is about disputing an invoice. You only have until Thursday at noon UTC to dispute any hours billed to your project during the previous week. And, to dispute the hours, you must contact customer support. Posting a complaint in the discussion forums, emailing oDesk, or flagging the contractor will not count - the department that handles disputes will not see it. And you will lose your money.
5. Use the oDesk Work Diary to watch your contractor's progress. Getting a contractor that you can communicate with easily is even better - and if you feel comfortable communicating with him or her, that's even better. Email progress reports are great. But, you must watch the work diary. Every time you hire a contractor, you will have the opportunity to create a team room or add them to one of your other teams. Then you can review the snapshots taken by the oDesk Team App, review their activity, and see any progress they are making. Supplement this tool with regular, open communications and you will be golden. Ignore this very important tool and you may get scammed.
When all else fails, of course, visit the oDesk community forums and see what other contractors and clients can advise on your particular problem, or visit customer support through the help link on the oDesk web site. Chances are, someone somewhere will have the answers you need - just make sure to ask.
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