Multi-Tasking

Most of the time we the contractors are dissatisfied with the jobs that we get because we are either not happy with the hourly rate we've agreed with the employer or because you only work for a small amount of working hours even though you can still work for more. The bottom line is that we don't receive much salary. So what are the options?

As oDesk contractors, we are given the privilege to work for more than employer or have more than one job. Let me give you some possible scenarios that might be applicable in your situation.

• Hourly Job(1) + Hourly Job(2) +...+  Hourly Job(n). Say you are required by your first employer to work for 10 hours/week or 2 hours per day. You can also apply for another job requiring 10 hours/week; then add another one, and another one. As long as you know you can still do it, then do so. I recommend that you limit your total working time to 40 hours/week or 50 hours/week if needed or if the offer is so good not to accept.

• Hourly Job(1) + Hourly Job(2)+...+ Hourly Job(n)+ Fixed-Price Job(1). Fixed-price jobs usually do not require contractors to log on any particular time. As I've said before, employers post fixed-price jobs because they are after the quality of the result and not the amount of time employed for the task. 

• Fixed-Price Job(1) + Fixed-Price Job(2) +...+ Fixed-Price Job(n). You can apply for as many fixed-price jobs as long as you can submit the needed results required by the employer.

• Fixed-Price Job(1) + Fixed-Pric (2) +...+ Fixed-Price Job(n) + Hourly Job(n).Similar to and the opposite of set up 2. Only this time you are focused on employing in fixed-price jobs.

• Hourly Job(1) + Hourly Job(2) +...+  Hourly Job(n) + Fixed-Price Job(1) + Fixed-Price Job(2) +...+ Fixed-Price Job(n). This is the ultimate set up that you can employ. But this is a honest-to-goodness-death-sentence set up. Although if you're the type who loves to work almost all the time, then do it and challenge yourself.

You can choose one of these set ups or design your own. The key to succeeding in any of these is time management. Know your limits. Don't overwork yourself. Or you might end up with no work at all.

Two Types of Jobs

There are basically two types of jobs available on oDesk: the fixed-price and the hourly. Let me try to differentiate the two:

Fixed-Price: This type of job does not require contractors to log on to the oDesk Team Room Application (but it is highly suggested). Though the deadline for the task is provided, the employer does not pay you for the number of hours you worked but rather on the quality and/or quantity of the product/end result. 

Bad Side: Since you are being paid based on the service you've provided, it is the prerogative of the employer whether to pay you or not. Thus, many contractors suffer from scam employers. I for one experienced the same thing. My contract said that I will be paid $50 for the 250 comments that I will make on the employer' website (though my proposal was $80, he started my contract at $50). After finishing the task, I was only paid 

8-freaking dollars ($8)!! And he wanted me to do other tasks to be able to get the remaining $42. Don't get me wrong here, I did a great job based on his response. I guess he was really taking advantage of his employees because my co-contractors experienced the same thing. So what did I do? Nothing. I just ended my contract (and unwillingly gave him a feedback) because if I report him, he might just give me a poor feedback which can be an eyesore on my Contractor's Profile (but it is up to you whether you want to report him or no). From then on, I concentrated on applying for hourly jobs.

Hourly Jobs: The best part of this type of task is that you are guaranteed to be paid by your employers. You see, according to one of my co-contractors, employers cannot hire contractors/applicants if they have not verified their payment methods (ex. verfied his visa card). This helps eliminate scam employers. 

Bad Side: Actually there are no negative point about it, for me. But if you are the type of  person who hates coming to work at 8:00 am and logging out at 5:00pm, then you would, somehow, hate this. Most of employers  will require contractors to be online at a given time (usually following their timezone) for a given number of hours per day (on jobs like virtual assistance, customer service, database administration, etc.). Every now and then you will be asked to generate a weekly or monthly report. It is like you have a 8-hour job, only that it is virtual.

If you ask me which I prefer, then I will say the hourly jobs. 'Bet it's what most contractors would say also. But if you are (as you say in your cover letter) a "risk-taker individual", then go and apply for the fixed price ones. Who knows, you might end up working for a high-paying employer.

Landing Your First Job

The most crucial part of being a contractor in oDesk is landing his/her very first job. Many newbies tend to give up and back out from even applying because they feel that the employers are looking for experienced contractors. I experienced that, too! And trust me, the agony of waiting to be recognized by job posters is unexplainable. And so I did my research. I searched for forums on how a new contractor can be hired amidst more qualified applicants. After reading their discussions and opinions, I gathered some pointers and used them on my own.

• Start by being cheap. Begin at the rate $1/hour. Many employers will always select those applicants who will offer their services with the lowest bids. Yes, it is a big kick to your ego. But it is just your "starting point". Once you've gained oDesk hours, received your very first feedback from the employer, you can humbly raise your rate.

• Avoid Scamming Your Cover Letters. Employers really hate applicants who submit cover letters that are basic, repetitive, too showy, and are boring. Read the job posts carefully. Try to inject some pointers included there into your letter and add your suggested solutions or your proposed technique in approaching the employer's problem. Some employers will require applicants to include certain "key words" in the applicants' cover letters to prove that they've read the instructions carefully and not just "applying for the sake of applying". You don't have to make it long. A brief, concise, direct-to-the point content will already make it interesting. In this way, the employer will find your application interesting and realize that you understand what he/she is looking for. 

• BE PATIENT. As I have always said, do not lose hope. Many employers won't immediately hire someone. He will still screen the applicants' qualifications. And even if you were not selected (in oDesk the term is "application was declined"), continue applying for more jobs. Who knows? Maybe a better employer is just waiting for your application.

You can use what I have mentioned, you can make your own research. Its up to you. What's important is that you are prepared. As they always say, "Don't go to a battle unarmed".

Payment

I am often asked by my colleagues how a person working on oDesk could get his supposed salary. As I've said before, oDesk has the best payment options that contractors can choose from:

Payoneer Debit Card- Payoneer is the "pioneer" in providing online payment solutions for employers and contractors. Once you apply for a Payoneer Debit Card, you will receive your card which you can use in several atm machines (fees for withdrawal apply depending on ATM used). And you don't have to pay when applying for the card. You will only have to pay $2 per withdrawal from your oDesk account. The card will arrive in the address you have provided. Money usually takes two days to transfer. This method is the most expensive of all. 

Moneybookers- this method is similar to Payoneer Debit card, except that you only pay for $1 per withdrawal. Money is transferred instantaneously. But withdrawal using your card depends on your provider.

Paypal- Same as the two above. Charge is $1 per withdrawal. Paypal account holders are required to associate their Master Cards/Visa Cards to be able to receive money. Same with Moneybookers, instantaneous transfer but withdrawal time depends on provider.

Direct Deposit/ACH- Automated Clearance House is used to be able to make a direct deposit to the contractor's bank account. This can only be used by contractors located in US. No charges will be added for the withdrawal except when withdrawing from ATMs (fees depend on provider). Money will arrive within 2-4 business days.

Wire Transfer (USD)- it uses bank-to-bank transactions in transferring funds across the globe. The only set back is charge per withdrawal. In the Philippines, a contractor will have to pay $30 per withdrawal. This payment method is only advisable to contractors from Armenia, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Morocco, Peru, Serbia, South Africa, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay. Money arrives within 2 business days.

Local Fund Transfer- this is the newest mode of payment and the least in terms of fees charged. This is somewhat similar to Direct Deposit except that it can be used by contractors based outside of US territories. You just have to find the BRSTN of your bank. As of now, this payment method is available in Philippines, Australia, Canada, India, United Kingdom, and SEPA Euro (Single Euro Payments Area). Your money usually arrives within 2-3 regular business days.

I highly suggest using Local Fund Transfer since it has the lowest charge rate. And in the Philippines, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has employed policy, reducing their charge to $0. Yes. No more fees to be deducted. I hope you select the method which best suits your needs.

Finding the Right Job for You

By now I assume that you have already completed building your profile. Its time that you start searching for jobs. There are basically two (2) categories of jobs being posted by the employers, the hourly and fixed-price jobs. The hourly jobs are tasks where contractors are being paid per hour of work. Contractors are guaranteed to be paid since the salary enters the contractors account as the hours pass by. But the employer has the prerogative to end the contract once they have learned that you are not doing the task assigned to you. The fixed-price jobs are the ones which does not count the number of hours a contractor spends in doing the task but rather the quality of the output. Unlike the hourly jobs, fixed-price jobs does not guarantee payment since it is the prerogative of the employer to pay you or not. For beginners, I suggest that you search for hourly jobs first to avoid being taken advantage of. If in any case you were not paid for unaccepted reasons, you can always report this on oDesk Contact Support.

For newbies on oDesk, I also suggest that you start at a low bid. Try making your rate $1/hour. I know its a big blow toy our pride, but those with no experience in oDesk with high hourly rates will have less than 5% chance to be hired.

Below is the list of available jobs needed/posted on oDesk:

WEB DEVELOPMENT

• Web Design
• Web Programming
• Ecommerce
• UI Design
• Website QA
• Website Project Management
• Other-Web Development

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

• Desktop Applications
• Game Development
• Scripts and Utilities
• Software Plug-ins
• Mobile Apps
• Application Interface Design
• Software Project Management
• Software QA
• VOIP
• Other-Software Development

NETWORKING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS

• Network Administration
• DBA-Database Administration
• Server Administration
• ERP/CRM Implementation
• Other/Networking and Information Systems

WRITING AND TRANSLATION

• Technical Writing
• Website Content
• Blog and Article Writing
• Copywriting
• Translation
• Creative Writing
• Other-Writing and Translation

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

• Data Entry
• Personal Assistant
• Web Research
• Email Response Handling
• Transcription
• Other-Administrative Support

DESIGN AND MULTIMEDIA

• Graphic Design
• Logo Design
• Illustration
• Print Design
• 3D Modeling and CAD
• Audio Production
• Video Production
• Voice Talent
• Animation
• Presentations
• Engineering and Technical Design
• Other-Design and Multimedia

CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Customer Service and Support
• Technical Support
• Phone Support
• Order Processing
• Other-Customer Service

SALES AND MARKETING

• Advertising
• Email Marketing
• SEO-Search Engine Optimization
• SEM-Search Engine Marketing
• SMM-Social Media Marketing
• PR-Public Relations
• Telemarketing and Telesales
• Business Plans and Marketing Strategy
• Market Research and Surveys
• Sales and Lead Generation
• Other-Sales and Marketing

BUSINESS SERVICES

• Accounting
• Bookkeeping
• HR/Payroll
• Financial Services and Planning
• Payment Processing
• Legal
• Project Management
• Business Consulting
• Recruiting
• Statistical Analysis
• Other-Business Services

Jobs are posted on these categories as employers wish them to be. When you search for jobs, you will see a figure next to the job showing the number of posted jobs on this category.

You can search for particular jobs through the search engines provided. It will then display results based on the keyword you entered. Jobs are displayed by 10's.

You will see a preview of the job description. The red text shows the type of job needed (hourly or fixed price). The "Est. Budget" is the proposed payment amount. Beside it is the date the job was posted. Then next to it displays whether the employer is already interviewing applicants (You don't have to worry if so. Sometimes, employers interview all applicants first before hiring anyone). On the far left, if the job is already filled or closed by the poster, the text "Closed" will appear, while the text "Cancelled" appears if oDesk employees deem the post as a scam or if the employer did not follow oDesk rules. The image next to "Employer" shows the status of the employer: whether he has verified his payment method, a new job poster, or the amount he has paid (the image turns green as he pays his employees). The "stars" correspond to the average feedback the employer received from his employees. The "Skills" shows the specific skills required by the employer. The "Qualifications" show specific requirements like oDesk experience (no. of hours worked on oDesk), average feedback received by contractor from previous employers, self-english assessment,etc. Click on the Job Title (blue-colored) for more details.

On the right portion of the window you will see filter selections avaialable (Image on the left). You have the chance to select specifications like the no. of hours needed per week, no. of months for the job, job type, etc. Thus, the results will only show what you specifically wanted.

This is how it will look like. The Job Description details the task. You will also see when the job is needed to be finished. You can also have an overview of the employer's track records. Click on the "Apply to this Job" button to apply.

This is your "Application Form". This is where you put your proposed hourly rate, your cover letter (click on the blue link to see sample cover letter), and attachable documents required by the employer. Click on the checkbox and click "Apply to this Job. And now you have made your first job application. You will receive a notice or a message in your inbox if you're accepted on the job or if the employer seeks to have an interview with you.

*On fixed-price jobs, you'll input your proposed salary instead of hourly rate.

The oDesk Application

Before you can start working, you are advised to download the oDesk application (at no cost). But what is it in the first place? This software is another feature of oDesk to ensure that contractors are doing their hourly jobs. Through this app, the employer can monitor which employees are doing their tasks promptly and also help track the number of hours a contractor spent for the job. 

It has a mechanism to check the window pages that the contractor is viewing through the Screensnap. The Screensnap takes snapshots of the open pages (e.g. facebook, youtube, odesk app, etc.) and stores them in your Work Diary. The employer can then review the snapshots of each contractor and determine which should be given credit for working hard and which should be reprimanded. 

HOW TO USE?

In your home page, you will see an image saying "oDesk on Your Desktop". Click on the"Learn more" button as you will be guided on downloading the software. Once you've finished downloading and have installed the software, open the software and log-in.

The username and password needed in the application is just the same as the ones you use in the oDesk website.

Once you've logged in, you need to click the "Start" button. This will indicate the beginning of your work. A new window will appear indicating the Work Memo. This Memo page is where you can write something about what you are currently doing (e.g. now working, just started encoding, etc.). This will pop up frequently (depends on the settings you've made) but it is your prerogative whether you'll change it or not.

This is how the application will look like once you've started working. You can view what the other  members of the working team are doing as well as their logged time.

TAKE NOTE: Make sure that you're facebook, youtube pages are not seen because the Screensnap will automatically begin. A pop-up message will appear every now and them showing that the Screensnap is already taking snap shots (usually takes 5 seconds). When your work is done, just click the "Stop" button. Your time of work will automatically stop (or pause). To log out, just go under the "Status" tab on the upper most right of the window and click "Log Out". 

Taking The Test

Now that you've finished creating your profile, it is highly suggested that you undergo tests provided by oDesk. Employers usually disregards applicants who have not taken tests like English Proficiency and Office Skills Test. Those with high test results are given priority by the employers.  It will definitely help improve your marketability.

WHAT TYPE OF EXAMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ME?

The online tests varies from Office Skills, English Language Proficiency, Web Design, Computer Skills and alot more (For full list please click HERE). The syllabus for the exam will be provided so that examinees can review prior to the test. A test usually is composed of 40 items all with multiple choices. You are given 40 minutes to finish the test. Once finishing the exam you will immediately receive the results. Those who will fail will have the chance to retake the test after a month (normally). 

SUGGESTION

I highly recommend that you first take tests related to English Language Proficiency. Employer usually look for applicants who can communicate well in english both oral and written.

Odesk: Creating Your Profile

This is how your profile would like. You'll see information you've entered during registration. On the User Account Info, you'll see an item about Verification Status. On my profile, it says that my Identify Verification is Pending since I've already submitted Documents. For new contractors, oDesk will say that "oDesk Identity not Verified". It is advised that contractors be subject to identity verification to increase chances of being selected by the employers. Your application quota will also increase (new contractors can only apply for 2 jobs per week).

HOW DO I VERIFY MY IDENTITY?

You just click on the text next to "Verification Status" and it will direct you to the Identity Verification Program. First you need to have three items (digital): a photo, an ID (must show your photo, name, birthdate, signature, and expiration date), and a bank statement (or you can use utility and telephone bills a long as it indicates your name, address and is dated within the last 6 months).

MY CONTRACTOR PROFILE

Now you click on "My Contractor Profile" tab. It serves as your curriculum vitae that employers can look on to for references. The top part shows your account summary. This is where you put your hourly rate. It also shows whether you have completed your profile or not.

The "My Public Profile" item shows the jobs you are specializing in, the hours of work you can provide per week, your self-assessed-english proficiency, as well as your job objective. The "Categories" part indicates the specializations you are good at and their specifications. 

The "Skills" section indicates specific skills where you are good at and your level of expertise like Microsoft Office applications . In the Employment History item is where you put your previous employment(s).

The "Education" item is where you put your educational attainment.

The "Portfolio Projects" section is where you put sample projects you have and, if possible, their URLs like articles you've written, web designs you've created and videos you've edited.

The "Certifications" section is where you can put digital or scanned certificates you've received. The "Other Experiences" section where you can indicate previous experiences like volunteer works, organizations you have engaged into.

You can now start looking for jobs. But I highly suggest that you take tests provided by oDesk to increase your marketability.

Odesk: An Introduction

As a starter, let us first define the term freelancer. A freelancer is a person who has no long-term contracts to any company. He usually works for an employer for limited time (ex. 6 months). 

oDesk is the ultimate outsourcing site for freelancers. The company serves as the middle man between the employers and the job-seekers (called contractors in oDesk). Those with skills in web and software development, writing, multimedia design, sales and customer service, and even data entry can try looking for a job, though the jobs are not only limited with the skills I've mentioned since there are now a lot of employers.

IS oDESK LEGITIMATE?

The answer is a resounding YES. What makes oDesk more reliable is with its ability to eliminate scam employers. Through the Payment Method Verification, oDesk identifies employer's ability to pay for their employees. They also delete job posts promptly which are deemed to be suspicious upon their investigation. Contractors are also guaranteed to be paid for their hourly work.

IS THERE A REGISTRATION FEE?

Unlike other freelancing sites, oDesk does not require contractors to pay any fees. As long as you've signed-up, you can start building up your profile and begin searching for jobs that fit your qualifications.

SIGNING UP

To register, just click one of either buttons like in the illustration:

                       or

You will be directed to a new page where you enter information about you.

Upon completion, a confirmation link will be sent to the email you've provided. After confirming your registration, you can start building your profile.

Wanna try it? Then register HERE.