If you are considering freelance work and plan to use Odesk or Elance then there are a few things that you should consider. I am writing this article with a provider’s perspective. When I hire someone there are certain things that I look for and would recommend that you consider in order to increase your chances of winning more jobs.
Cover Letter
Make sure your cover letter or application letter is specific and customized. It should specifically address the project at hand and the person or company doing the hiring. Generic letters that you use for every occasion wont work. If I see a “template letter” then your moved to the bottom of the list. It shows the person hiring that you don’t care enough to address them directly.
Experience
If you have no work history and no references then you will be eliminated. You have get at least one job under your belt but preferably two or three. No history equals high risk, particularly on Elance where the dispute process is lacking.
Portfolio
Having a quality portfolio with relevant work examples is key. If you don’t have a portfolio then you will need to create generic examples for the type of work you intend to do. Make sure that you are providing relevant information and don’t show examples of articles on web development if the provider is asking for articles on SEO.
Profile Picture
Use your best headshot and make sure you don’t look like a serial killer. Put on your best smile and a decent shirt without holes or wrinkles. I wont hire someone that looks like they tolled out of bed to take the picture. It demonstrates a lack of self respect and if you don’t respect yourself then you probably don’t respect your own work.
Summary
This is from a provider’s perspective, the company doing to hiring, and doesn’t necessarily reflect the perspective of the freelancer. If you have anything to add to this general overview I would love to hear your thoughts.
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As Australia’s government finalizes its plans to “filter” the internet, the currently unfiltered internet community is up in arms. Unlike the Chinese government, most countries have allowed the internet to remain wild, free and open. The open nature of the internet has allowed tremendous creativity, vast possibilities and a steady stream of entrepreneurship. Why in the world would or should it be necessary to filter this wonderful source of opportunity and information? I find it interesting that this question was asked in the recent Digg Dialogg interview with Al Gore. Al Gore is a free internet proponent and endorses it’s democratic nature as well as it’s potential use in saving the planet.
How many different online, currently free, social tools or services do you use and if they changed to a paid service would you continue using them? I read an article from the International Herald Tribune that assumes services like LinkedIn are going to find creative ways to charge for services or bolt-on applications and benefit from the current financial condition. How real is this? What would you be willing to pay for in a social tool? At this point in time I don’t know that I would pay any amount of money.Its important for the provider of the service to offer varying levels of service, free, 5.99 and 9.99. the Starbucks Tall, Grande, Venti pricing model but with the software as a service instead of expensive coffee. At this point I would agree that most of us can live with the free versions. However, I wonder what will happen when all your photos, word docs, banking and everything end up100% "in the cloud". Will you be forced to use these services or pay more?



















