Sat, 08 Sep 2007 08:29:39 +0000

To help our new providers create an attractive oDesk profile and, therefore, launch their first project, we are introducing a feature in the forum.

If you would like to get advice on creating a great profile from more experienced oDesk providers, Buyers and oDesk staff, create a new forum topic with a link to your profile, so it can be reviewed and commented on!

Before asking for your profile to be reviewed, make sure that you have studied the Profile Help Pages and these tips from a successful oDesk Provider. Also check if any advice already provided in this thread applies to your profile as well.

Summary of the advice provided in this thread:
* If you are a web designer, your portfolio is going to be critical. Show as much as you can.
* Provide external links to examples of your work, whether programming, design or writing
* In your title I would try to highlight something that really makes you stand out.
* Make sure your cover letters to buyers are highly personalized and custom to their job posting. Buyers hate getting cut and paste cover letters.
* Take the time to do a spell-check
* Format your profile so it looks accurate and is easier to skim through
* If you are an individual provider upload a portrait rather than a logo
* If you are skilled in several different areas, help buyers really understand your focus
* Spend time on your Objective field. It's at the top of the profile and is intended to deliver your profile summary and goals in a concise sentence or two. Might want to talk more about what you want to do for potential buyers than what you have done for others.
* Try including a brief testimonial from some of your previous clients / employers

Regards,
Olga
oDesk

Vote Result

Score: 8.5, Votes: 16

Thu, 22 Dec 2005 18:38:30 +0000

Dear oDesk Providers,

The latest and most up-to-date rate distribution can be found in oConomy.

The following information is not current and will not be updated:

Here is some information to help you set your hourly rates.

(Note that you can change your hourly rate on the "Profile" tab. The new rate shows up immediately on your profile, does not affect currently Active assignments and will take effect on your next assignment.)

Below are two tables showing distribution of hourly rates for both providers and assignments for ALL skills in the network.

• Go to providers rate table
• Go to assignments rate table

Please keep in mind that the table shows hourly charge rates that already include oDesk Fee. The oDesk Fee is 10% of the bill rate. When changing your hourly pay rate, our interface will show you the total hourly charge rate before you save the change.

Hourly rates are NOT the only criteria used by buyers. Buyers have told us that they consider several other important factors in making hiring decisions:

Vote Result

Score: 7.4, Votes: 39

read more

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:29:13 +0000

Hi everyone,

I'm a freelance designer in real life, and I was glad to know that on oDesk I can find some additional clients to my usual work schedule.  But unfortunately, I've been applying to jobs for about 2 months now and still got no offers even for an interview.

I started worrying that something might be wrong with my profile, could you be so kind as to look through it. I've been polishing it a lot in the last weeks, adding my previous work and skills. All comments and wishes are welcome!

Thank you very much in advance,

Evgeni Vasiliev

Vote Result

Score: 0.0, Votes: 0

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:23:01 +0000

Hello,

I am a new provider on odesk and I have been searching for my first assignment for a month now. I have tried to complete my profile and are bidding with very low rates. However, I have not yet landed my first job. The skill that I am providing for is Data Entry and Typing. If anyone has any suggestions to how can I acquire my first job, I will appreciate it.

Thank You!

Vote Result

Score: 0.0, Votes: 0

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:26:59 +0000

A buyer is going to hire me, but he said that oDesk will not let him hire until he verifies his credit card. Is that true? Thanks.

Vote Result

Score: 0.0, Votes: 0

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:47:12 +0000

I am from Brazil and I got a job at ODesk. My question is about the payment, because I dont have a bank account, I dont have paypal and I dont have O Desk debit card. The only thing I have is a Mastercard international. What I do now? Please help.

Vote Result

Score: 0.0, Votes: 0

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:36:50 +0000

Hi, I'm a frontend developer looking for a partnership with a webdesigner. I notice a lot of jobs are for redesigning frontends and the buyers are looking for designers with strong frontend skills. My frontend skills are strong, but my design skills are limited and I would like to gain access to these jobs by finding a way to become partner with a very good designer but with lower CSS skills. 

I think it's a win-win situation, together we have better chances to win projects. I suspect that there are a lot of very good designers out there who cannot bid because they cannot prove their coding skills and I would like to choose one for a partnership.

 Anyone feels the same?

Vote Result

Score: 0.0, Votes: 0

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:53:19 +0000

Please take a look at my profile and let me know what you think:

http://www.odesk.com/users/~~881a4753119a8c1e

Vote Result

Score: 0.0, Votes: 0

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:25:28 +0000

Hi All,

I am a new starter on oDesk & like any fresher in this arena  i would like to get feedback on my profile, so kindly scroll through my profile & let me know if i shall make any modifications or include anything more relevant.

I have applied for few postings but have not received positive response yet, also i want to know that, is it possible to get involved in freelance work along with my full time job considering that i am going to work for maximum of 10 hours a week as freelance .

Any comments/feedback is/are welcome

Regards,

Akash

Vote Result

Score: 0.0, Votes: 0

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:11:39 +0000

Hello,

I got hired on 06/16/09 for a fixed price job ($1111.11). Prior to being hired the communication part with the employer was extremely good & detailed and many a times we exchanged emails in the size of 1 DIN A4 page!This communication "INTERVIEW" was stretched over 5 days with several VERY long emails, at that point of time I thought that I wouldn't get hired because I had already given away a lot of information on how to work on this project....

I agreed to work on this project without a down-payment, because he was just not willed to pay a cent in advance...

Shortly after being hired (1 or 2 day/s later I think it was) my employer send me an email stating that he won't be available until 25June09.

However, it should be noted that this project required him to give me some more information and to stay in touch...

In those ten days we exchanged 2 very short "one-liners", since he didn't have access to the internet most of the time...

As promised he returned from his journey on 25 June 2009 and explained a bit more about the project. I replied to him the next day 26 June 2009.

My weekends are reserved for myself and I did not intend to contact him again before Monday 29 June 2009, which should't be a big deal because two weeks earlier within the "stretched out" interview he also disappeared on the weekend without notice...

My new internet connection gave me some trouble, because of the heavy rains, and I was shut off the net for 48 hours till Tuesday 30 June 09 at night. I checked my mail and received two worried mails from him asking me if everything was ok. I replied immediately and explained the situation.

Vote Result

Score: 0.0, Votes: 0

read more