My Experience with ODesk

Have you heard of oDesk before? Most likely you haven’t. I actually first heard about when I was looking for online job options for students, since I was in college at the time. Among the suggestions listed was oDesk.

oDesk connects skilled contractors with clients who want someone to work on a project for them remotely. There are many categories and jobs to apply for on oDesk. Contractors can set up a profile, including information similar to what professionals list on LinkedIn. The profile can also display a contractor’s portfolio, such as their artwork and writing. oDesk also has a variety of skills tests that contractors can take. If they score well on the tests, it will help prove to interested clients that they really have the skills that they say they have.

oDesk offers hourly and fixed priced contracts. What’s the difference? Hourly contracts guarantee that the contractor will be paid a set rate per hour worked, and that the client will only be billed for time tracked. With fixed priced contracts, the client may say they are willing to pay a contractor $20 for the job and there is no guarantee that when the job is done the client will pay the contractor $20. For hourly contracts, oDesk has an application that is downloadable to your computer called oDesk team. When the contractor hits “start tracking time” the application will take screen shots of the contractor’s computer and prompt the contractor to write a memo about what they’re doing. This helps the client to be able to review and validate that work is actually being done. Then oDesk bills the client, giving the contractor their money and keeping 10% for oDesk.

I have been working a contract on oDesk since late March. I am promoting an Etsy shop, wallinspired. The client actually approached me by seeing my profile and my listed experience writing on sites like Squidoo. I work for them on an hourly contract, which I like because I am guaranteed to be paid for each hour I work.

One drawback that I’ve found with oDesk is that for hourly contracts, when you bid for hourly jobs on oDesk (contractors bid an hourly rate), it is difficult to get paid a high hourly rate. There are many contractors on oDesk from other countries, like the Philippines, where their minimum wage is much lower than it is here. So on oDesk, unless you have very good feedback, work history, or education, it is hard to get a job if you bid for a higher hourly rate.

I still would recommend oDesk if you are looking to earn extra money as a freelancer. Just be patient. It takes time to build up a good profile and to get noticed. You also may have to accept jobs that pay less than you’d like if you want to build up your feedback. Keep your expectations reasonable. Don’t expect to quit your day job just yet. Remember, as with anything else, with the passing of time your efforts will eventually pay off.

Reference:

• https://www.odesk.com