How to Use oDesk

Freelancers struggle in a down economy. While traditional W2 employees may collect unemployment if work slows down and their employer must lay off some of the workforce, for the self-employed a downturn in business can mean a collapse in income that threatens their economic stability. At oDesk, self-employed freelancers can find work at competitive rates. Learn how to find oDesk jobs and boost business.

Getting Started at oDesk

Registering at oDesk is free. Unlike competing sites, such as Elance and Guru, oDesk offers equal access to oDesk jobs. There are no premium memberships, and everyone has the same opportunity to compete.

Upon registration, the first step in finding oDesk jobs is to create a profile that outlines skillset and experience. Unlike other, similar sites, at oDesk you must take specific skills tests for specific listed skills. For instance, someone claiming to be an Excel expert must take an Excel test for oDesk jobs, and the results are listed in the profile. This gives hiring managers the ability to access objective criteria when they are hiring for oDesk jobs, and to know that the worker has the skills needed to complete a particular project.

Once the profile is completed, including portfolio samples (if relevant to the type of work you are seeking), and skills testing is completed with scores you find satisfactory, searching for oDesk jobs begins.

Applying for oDesk Jobs

Apply for the jobs that you believe you're qualified to complete, and choose rates that are profitable for you. Some new to oDesk jobs will bid slightly less than their normal rate for the first few jobs, to help build a portfolio. Freelancers at Elance and Guru do much the same when trying to establish a good reputation.

oDesk Jobs and fees

While your subscription is free, oDesk makes money by charging a 10% transaction fee on all set-fee and hourly jobs. A $1000 set-fee project, then, only gives you $900. A $20 per hour oDesk job yields only $18. For hourly rates, add 11.11% to your bidded rate for oDesk jobs, then, to counter the fees.

Getting jobs at oDesk can be rewarding and help to launch a solid business, especially in a poor economy. Why especially? Because companies that normally hire employees for tasks are cutting stable payroll expenses and choosing to outsource the work to freelancers instead. The opportunities you may build from oDesk jobs now could lead to major growth and success as the years continue.