Haven't you registered for oDesk yet? Or you already did but gave up because landing a job seemed impossible out there. You may want to reconsider. Let me show you how it's done.
Trust me, I didn't know where to start either when I saw how many jobs were posted at oDesk. They're pretty successful in designing the "Find Jobs" page because you will feel lost and excited at the same time. But I must warn you. NOT ALL job buyers will PAY you.
How can you stay away from dishonest ()&^%$#@! buyers? Use the ultimate filter box at the side:
Talking from experience, go for HOURLY JOBS to make sure that you will get paid no matter what. You may take the risk of dealing with fixed-price buyers but there are very few who really pay. Most of them will only use you and then they're gone forever (or may have changed their identity at oDesk). Sick &@#$%(*!!!
Sorry about that. Anyway, how do we perform a smart search?
* You can use keywords, browse jobs by category or skill.
* Job Type: Hourly (Recommended)
* Workload depends on your availability: As Needed, Part Time or Full Time.
* Duration: select Ongoing / More than 6 months
* Employer Rating: At least 4 Stars
* Number of Hires by Employer: At least 1
*Filtering by employer rating and number of hires significantly reduces the risk however, there may be good employers out there who just happened to be "new" at oDesk or have "no feedback" yet because they've been working with the same contractors since day 1.
Okay, you're done with the search and you're now applying for a post. Check your hourly rate! A Data Entry freelancer cannot charge the same rate as a Graphic Designer. Setting an hourly rate is a bit tricky because it can make or break you chances of being chosen for the post you're applying for. Consider the buyer's budget and how long the job is going to last. Pay attention to the job description. Most buyers indicate their limit for a rate bid. You can also do a little research on how much a freelancer in your field would charge for a job.
And the ultimate weapon, your Cover Letter. There's no option to upload a Resume. I'm sure you can do better but here's a sample:
-----
Hello
I'm interested about taking this assignment and be your full-time Personal Assistant. I have 4 years of call center experience and 200+ oDesk hours working as a VA for different employers here at oDesk. I've tried PPC advertising (Bidvertiser, Obeus, SpeedyAds) for my personal blog but if you prefer other websites, that's okay, I'm willing to learn and give you quality results.
Talk to you soon.
Regards,
Nina
-----
NOTE: [1] The cover letter doesn't have to be too formal as it would appear like it's copied somewhere. [2] It's not advisable to disclose personal information in the cover letter.
How long should you wait for a feedback? An interested buyer will respond in as short as 24 hours or a week to arrange an interview or give you a short training before assigning tasks. The response time may take longer but not to exceed 30 days from the application date. If you don't get any interview notification from oDesk within 30 days, you should start looking for other jobs.
Keep on taking tests and be sure to pass. Be polite at all times and work diligently as your buyer may give you rewards on top of your rate! Hope this helps. I'll give you more tips soon.
Good luck!
