oDesk XI

[miksha]

i would like to know more about odesk kaso sa haba nang history nang odesk thread i don't know where to begin. a little help please?

[jazzygelable]

^sis, okay itong thread but i think the real odesk.com site will help you more. more on experiences na kasi dito so if you want to know the basics, marami silang tutorial dun. 

[tiggerlily]

@miksha: sorry i have the worst memory. but please backread a bit kasi i remember one of our sis here is offering a training about odesk. good luck!

[tawnylee]

@tawnylee: be careful baka manloloko yan. usually when i'm applying for something and they would require me to do something that they call exam for me, ok lang basta it won't take me more than 30 minutes to do or di masyadong masakit sa ulo. pero kung mahabang process or nakakadugo ng ilong, sinasabihan ko ng sige i will start as soon as i receive the hire notice.

@tawnylee,

Pag active candidacy, nasa interview process pa lang. Minsan may ipapagawa yung client na sample work para makita yung skill mo. Minsan naman, may mga client na tini-take advantage at pag nakuha na yung sample work, wala ka na maririnig.

Kung hourly ang job, download mo yung oDesk team application. Yun yung pinaka timer mo at every 10 min, may screen shot sa webcam mo at sa screen ng desktop mo. Pwede mo stop anytime kung gusto mo mag break. Pag hourly job, guaranteed ng oDesk. Weekly mo makikita yung total accumulated hours, payment to oDesk at yung net pay mo. Sa work diary pwede mo rin makita by day yung total hours worked. Sa wallet mo makikita yung kinita mo. Pag andun na sa wallet, pwede mo na ma-withraw. Pag nakalagay na pending, antayin mo lang. Pag fixed rate job, ingat ka. Depende sa client kung magkano at kailan magbabayad. Yung first client ko, 2 months na, hindi pa rin nagbabayad  Deadma lang sa mga messages ko. Pag fixed rate contract, magkaka message ka pag nagbayad na yung client at makikita mo kung magkano, pending pa muna status nun. Pag pumasok na sa oDesk, makikita mo na yun sa wallet mo.

Mga sis thank you so much...sobrang laking help

[gaby_cielo]

@ sis virt_train, wha kind of leads kailangan mo sis?

may available jobs ka pa ba? thanks

[freelancer_babe]

@tawnylee,

DON'T do anything!!! Tell your employer to make the hire first through odesk - even for a few hours work, or test work. There's a BIG chance na di ka bayaran nyan.

But then, even if you're hired, kung fixed price job yan, possible pa rin na di ka pa rin bayaran. Fixed priced jobs in odesk are not guaranteed - kasi wala silang escrow system in place unlike other freelance sites. In this case, magpa-charge ka ng upfront payment: 50% for new clients, and as low as 30% for repeat clients - no ifs and buts. The upfront payment secures the job, so kahit tumakbo ang client, you were still paid a part of the work.

@lanshop2010,
try upfront payments on fixed rate jobs, as mentioned. or just avoid hourly jobs altogether. ako personally di ko rin gusto ang fixed rate jobs ng odesk so I avoid them. Lugi ako parati sa fixed rate jobs.

@tiggerlily,
ako naman i NEVER do work basta nasa active candidacy lang - and I strongly think it should be the practice. Pinapa hire ko sila. Kasi I always think that the profile and the portfolio already speaks, so I find it weird pag may sample work pang gagawin na free without hiring. doble-doble na ang effort nyan di ba? Even if it's just 5 minutes sample work, di pa rin ako payag - it's no different from a 30 minute sample work. That 5 minutes could have been useful in finding other clients or for quick jobs with an existing client, or even that much needed rest. Also sa una pa lang lumalabas na doon ang kulay ng client, that they are mostly after FREE work - and eventually baka umabuso sila.

unless I misunderstood kung ano ang tests na yun? 

@miksha,
this is why we have the odesk thread - so people could read stuff. yun nga lang di ganun ka-organized as with any other forum thread. I'd take the suggestion of jazzygelable to read stuff in odesk help itself. Then come back dito sa thread with more specific questions so we could help you.

@charmedwitch776,
NO!!! it's not OK to do test jobs whether it's a 5 minute one or 30 minute one. Yung rating system ng employers are not foolproof - kasi it can be arranged with the past freelancers kung ano ang rating na gusto nila... like, "I will give you 5 star rating if you will give me 5 star rating" sort of thing. Unfortunately maraming ganyan sa mga clients na may history na sa odesk. So it's sometimes hard to tell kung sino ang mga di OK.

The profile and the portfolio is enough. Kung test jobs, let the client hire you first for a few hours work. Even odesk strongly recommends that things be done this way.

[lanshop2010]

@freelancer_babe,

Thanks for the tip. Sa 2 month experience ko po, ang hirap makakuha ng hourly job nung simula kapag wala ka pang job history, lalo na sa writing. Karamihan pa naman sa writing ay fixed rate jobs. If I insisted on hourly jobs, I might not have been able to get started. I took the chance on fixed rate jobs knowing that I might not get paid. I even made offers initially that they don't have to pay if they didn't like the articles. I later stopped using that because I felt it gave a poor impression of my skills.

What I do is try to reduce the possibility of the client not paying a fixed rate job by using the combination of many criteria:
-check client history, a client having 5 stars is not a guarantee as I experienced with my first client
-check amount spent on oDesk, also not a guarantee the client will pay on time, I've read some being paid after 3 months
-check contractor feedbacks on the client
-check trial work being asked, they should be simple enough. I was able to get hired and paid by two clients by this method. But if the sample work being asked is too hard, I'll just look for another.
-check the client's previous history if he is stingy in the amount he paid his previous contractors. A stingy payment history is not a good sign.

In our experience, all of the above should be used in combination. But still, nothing beats a guaranteed hourly job.

After I get 5 clients that gives me 5 star feedbacks, I might be able to favor hourly jobs only. Right now, I don't think I can afford that. I got into oDesk well aware that there will be some clients who will not pay. It is emotionally straining to continuously follow up a client refusing or delaying payment. But I consider that a negative part of doing business, just like in real life. It is not emotionally easy but I have to deal with it and focus on the bigger picture of finding good clients.

My brother got scammed in a typing job on a fixed rate job. I didn't realize it would happen to me on my first client. Both experiences forced us to look for signs that a client may not be that reliable even how many 5 star feedbacks he has.

[lanshop2010]

@miksha,

Before I got started with oDesk, I did a lot of reading. If you have time, you can do the same. The fastest way to get started is if you know someone who can talk to you and answer all of your questions. If not, you may have to read all of the threads here or from the oDesk help files. Attending a seminar about oDesk is also a good idea.

Eto yung mga forums na helpful na nakita ko.
-Femalenetwork
-tipidpc
-symbianize
-oDesk pinoy forums
-different blogs that discuss oDesk tips & techniques

I was not able to finish them all. After a week of reading, I got restless and decided to create an  account, build a profile and start applying.

[freelancer_babe]

lanshop2010,

yikes ganyan na kahirap sa writing?

I hope you'd get good clients soon. I have Filipino team mates who update several blogs for my client and are paid a minimum of $5/hour. The client is after quality work.

I think having a history of low-paying jobs would hurt you. Raise your rates a little each time you get projects. Baka kasi pag bigla kang nag-raise, it might raise a question naman doon sa mga potential clients - who are expecting that you are worth as much as the last project as you've had.

[tiggerlily]

@freelancer_babe: i do send sample sometimes. 30 minutes ang max ko. kasi i do voices din kapag need nila ng voice talent. but the sample is just to give them an idea of how i sound and they won't be able to use it independently. depende rin siguro kung ano yung task. kung minsan kasi merong 5 minutes lang pero tinatamaan na ko ng katamaran or yung mga pinapa-fill-up na surveys or application form kuno pero feeling ko naman e nagpaparami lang sila ng laman for free.

[lanshop2010]

@freelancer_babe,

Sa experience ko lang po lately, hindi ko lang alam sa iba. More on IT technical writing kasi specialization ko, mahina ako pag dating sa ibang topic, kailangan ko muna magresearch ng todo todo.

Yup, unti unti ko tinataas yung rate ko per hour. Sa tingin ko tama ka diyan, pag maraming low rate pay sa history ko, posibleng pangit ang maging dating sa future clients. Kaya hindi ko inaaplayan yung $0.5 to $1 per 500 word article, masyado malaki effort at maliit bayad. Minsan abusado talaga yung mga client, super baba ang alok na rate. Pinakamababa ko na pinatulan yung sampu na $2.5 per article para lang magkaroon ng feedback at nainip na rin ako sa kakaantay. Pinakamataas ko so far ay $5/hr, yung client nag initiate, wala syang history pero nagverify ng payment method at per hour nilagay kaya ok naman naging resulta. Thanks sa info, mababa pa pala ang $5/hr. Mukhang kailangan ko talaga gumawa ng sariling blog para may showcase ako ng skills ko. Either that or I can transition to graphic design as soon as possible. Kakaantok manood ng mga video tutorial ng illustrator at photosohop. 

Meron po pala ako 3 na good clients, nasa $4/hr ang average pero hindi continuous ang work. Naiinip ako, bagal kasi ng work at ng kita. Yung brother ko, hataw sa graphics, habang tumatagal, dumadali daw paghahanap ng clients. Kaya naisip ko magshift agad. After a month siguro target ko.

[freelancer_babe]

@tiggerlily,

sa voice ka pala... hmm... exceptions could apply.

Ok ba doon? Parang kaunti ang skilled sa ganun kaya parating may projects na mahahanap doon?

ang weird? surveys na pinapa-fill out?



@lanshop2010,

yup avoid mo na ang mga low paying bulk articles.

kung kaya mo ang graphic design, mas maganda. ang usual rate sa graphic design is anywhere from $10 to $15, ang starting rate is usually mga $5 to $8/hr. Pero kung talagang exceptional ang gawa nila - usually yung mga talagang kaya ang mascots at proven na ang experience nila, then pwede pa nilang i-up pa up to $20/hr.

pero sadly meron ding mga graphic designers na sobrang baba ang rates... parang writing. dami ko ring nakikita na ang rate nila ay $1 or $2 per hour. ang mas nakakainis pa, ay kung yung client ang nagdidikta ng hourly rate na mas mababa pa sa $5/hr

hingi ka kaya ng extra graphic design work sa brother mo?

[tiggerlily]

^naku. ang konti rin lang ng voice talent. atsaka ang lulupit ng mga kalaban kasi talagang nag-iiba iba ang mga voice nila. e iisa lang ang voice ko.

marami yun surveys. pero di nila directly sinasabing surveys. papupuntahin ka sa isang link di ka pa nag-aapply ha. as in nasa job post nila yan. tapos may set of questions. e alam ko naman surveys lang yun e. pati na rin yung nagpopost na mass hiring, yung mga nakalagay na everyone is hired, 500 needed. mga ganun. napakaimposible. or kung posible naman, for sure cents ang bayaran dahil ang dami nyong sabay sabay na iha-hire. pati yung mga blog commenting jobs na sinasabing, ang test mo e magcomment ka sa link na ito. err, bigyan na lang kita ng sample work ko. madami ako nyan nasa excel.

[BB84]

Guise, question.. panu pala pag nanghihingi ng sample work, like sa case ko he needs me to do 20 logos na iwawatermark (parng an dami naman ata nun para maprove ko yung skill ko).

[virt_train]

@ BB84, ano ba naman ang client na yan...hindi na nahiya...talagang 20 logos pa hiningi...wala yan sis..kahit na nga isa eh..wala ka bang portfolio ?

[jazzygelable]

i agree na talagang magtyatyaga ka sa writing pero once nagkamomentum ka na, madali na lang kasi madami din ang demand. after all, content is king. and once nagtaas na ko ng rate, di na rin ako pumapayag na ibaba kasi kapag nakita ng prospective clients, iniisip ko na baka tawaran ako

sis BB84, yung 20 logos baka meron kang nagawa na dati, parang ang point lang ng client siguro is to see siguro how your output looks like.

[charmedwitch776]

hi @freelancer_babe  i'm not a pro yet in freelancing kaya I really can't say what's right or wrong talaga but thanks for the info 

[freelancer_babe]

Guise, question.. panu pala pag nanghihingi ng sample work, like sa case ko he needs me to do 20 logos na iwawatermark (parng an dami naman ata nun para maprove ko yung skill ko).

As mentioned a few comments back... never ever do sample work. 99% hindi magbabayad yan. The portfolio is enough... you already have a established a portfolio of sample work sa odesk, right?

Tell him to hire you and pay you for some test work - probably good for one logo. Kung di siya payag then ignore him.

[lanshop2010]

@freelancer_babe,

Mahilig din ako sa graphic design pero corel draw gamit ko noong unang panahon, hehe. Kailangan ko maging familiar sa Photoshop. Thanks sa info sa rates, may target na ako kung ano pwede abutin sa graphic works.

Tingin ko wala ata choice pag newbie sa oDesk, kailangan ibaba ang price para pansinin ka. Sa $2/hr nagsimula brother ko, pero pagktapos ng job na yun, inangat nya na agad. Bawat tapos ng bagong project, angat ulit. May mga malalaking project kasi na yung matataas na rate ang gusto ng client. Kung mababa ang per hour mo, out ka na agad sa criteria pa lang. Nung nakita namin ito ng brother ko, somehow it makes sense. Naisip namin na baka ganito thinking nila, "If you think your skill in graphic design is $1 to $2/hr, then you must not be that confident with your skill and most likely you're not very good."

Hindi pa naman super dami work ng kapatid ko, sunod sunod lang. Gusto ko rin na sarili kong project, pag pasa lang parang di ko pinaghirapan, hindi maganda ang feeling.   Saka mahirap na masisi pag hindi nagustuhan ng client nya kapag ako gumawa. Lagi na nga nakangiti ngayon brother ko at panay kwento tunkol sa photoshop, hahaha! Di tulad dati, problemado lagi sa negosyo na maliit ang kita. May talent pala sya sa logo design, ngayon lang nadedevelop.


@tiggerlily,

May nakita ako nyan dati, yung "everyone gets a job, 100 jobs!" Nasubukan ko mag apply. Ang baba ng bayad at ang hirap ng pinapagawa, withdraw ako sa interview. Ok talaga mga post dito sa thread, nabibisto mga bulok na style ng ibang client. Minsan nga nagtataka ako sa job post, ang tagal pero wala naman hina-hire. Naisip ko baka gusto lang nila may magclick sa web site nila, dami kasi binigay na link at doon daw dependent yung trabaho. Style talaga bulok. hehe.


@BB84,

Logo designer ang brother ko, wala pa sya tinanggap na ganyan ang condition ng client. Ako duda agad diyan, sobra dami nyan. Isang logo nga lang na pinapagawa sa brother ko, minsan $10 to $30 agad. Sa isang logo job nga, marami pang iteration at variation ginagawa ng brother ko hanggang ma-satisfy yung client. Ang hirap ata mag-isip ng design ah. Yan 20 pa ha. At saka, madali tanggalin yung watermark kung gusto nakawin yung design. Kung may portfolio ka ng sample designs, sa opinyon ko lang dapat sapat na yun.


@jazzygelable,

Thanks po sa tip tungkol sa writing. Tuloy ko pa rin yung writing pero bibilisan ko na rin yung pag-aaral ng photoshop. Yun din nakita ko sa ibang client, uhaw na uhaw sila sa original and quality content. Kung kaya nila makuha sa barya, mas lalo sila natutuwa. Kaya nga naisip ko na gumawa ng sariling blog kung barya lang ibabayad sa akin. Sa blog ko na lang ako magpapakahirap kaysa bayaran ng $0.20 per 500 word article. Yup, content is king.

[seTHer]

sana may time din ako mag aral ng new skills

anyway, ok bpi-lft ngayon, 6pm palang meron na.