oDesk Family

[freelancer_babe]

@sether,

Interview pa lang yan. Wag ka masyadong umasa. Your potential client might be busy, sick, forgot the appointment, changed his mind about pursuing the project, or is even interested with another else/hired someone else (possibly from some other freelance site or some offline freelancer). Pwedeng hindi nya sabihin ang reasons sa iyo.

Nothing is set in stone at that stage.

Just send a reply via email, telling them that you were present at the said time. I think I already mentioned that it's better if you have written down your questions about the project in your email message/inbox message, in numbered form, na sasagutin na lang ng client at his most convenient time. Kung hindi sumagot, send that last follow up message at baka nakalimutan lang nya. Kung wala pa ring reply, then it's safe to assume that your potential client is not interested.

This interview stage also a way for you to see kung okay na communicator si client. It's not good to end with clients who waste a lot of your time.

Also, if you need to reschedule, ikaw ang magsuggest ng time and let your client choose. Magbigay ka ng several time slots, o kaya isang mahabang time slot. Do things in between to be productive (like applying to more jobs and reading more freelancing tips).

However, at this point move on ka na. Keep on applying to jobs. What matters most is kung sino ang maka-una na maghire sa iyo. Just answer interviews as they come. "Unahan sa pag-hire sa iyo" is the game so don't waste time on interviews.

In my experience, when I was still hunting jobs, out of 10 jobs that I apply, 5 would interview me. Out of those 5 interviews, only one is a hire.

[seTHer]

thanks sis, pero i mean hindi ko din naman sila kinukwestyon why di sila nakapag reply agad. medyo instant lang yung pagi sched nila ng araw at time. kasi sa message namin days ago preferred daw nila na time is 5am to 8am GMT+8 M-F. So I am expecting na ganung time talaga since oras nila yun so ako makikibagay lang ako since ako yung contractor. Kaya nagulat lang ako pag open ko eh tapos na yung binigay nilang oras kanina. In short hindi ako prepared so the problem is kung pwede ko ba sabihing I've read the message late at kung pwede ibang time nalang at ako ang mag set ng time at date? Hindi ba yun kalabisan mga sis? 

[freelancer_babe]

^ Ah, that's not so good.

Negotiate ka lang sis. Just tell them outright that you are not available for the following reasons 1) your husband needed the computer 2) you're not available at that time. You can also say that you just read the message and it was not possible to have the interview sa gusto nilang time.

Tapos magpropose ka pa rin ng another time slot, as I had advised earlier. Can be several smaller ones na pwedeng pagpiliian, o kaya one big time slot. Huwag kang magpaalam na ikaw na ang mag-se-set ng time because it is unnecessary and as a freelancer you have every right to make your own suggestions. Instead, magbigay ka na agad ng time slots na available ka.

Hindi kalabisan yan, it's far from that. You'll actually earn the respect of the client if you speak up. In many cases mas gusto nila ang ganun. Kung turn off sila sa ganyan, then it's most likely they are after freelancers na kina-kaya-kaya nila.

It's good to know early at this stage what your potential client is like, rather than coming back here to complain about your client about those not so good things that happen in your job after the hire.

I think you still have that boss-subordinate thinking from the corporate world - better forget about that because things are different now. You're a freelancer, and self-employed - not anyone's subordinate. Basically your potential clients are your customers, not your future bosses.

Negotiation is a strong skill needed in freelancing. Be firm - sa rates mo at sa time. Don't act so desperate in that one client - they CAN really take advantage of you if they see that.

Negotation goes on, even if you get hired in your job. You'll eventually ask for rate increases, bonuses, more time, less time, recommend another freelancer friend, ask your client to buy things off the internet that he will need for the project, ask for training, ask for vacation, etc.

Kung talagang hindi kayo magkasundo sa interview stage palang, then it's most likely na hindi rin kayo magkakasundo and will have this kind communication problems kung nahire ka na. It's not your fault, and it's not your client's fault too - talagang "you were not meant for each other".

I still strongly advise you to keep on applying to jobs. Don't waste too much time thinking about this one interview. Baka hindi pa matuloy ang project na yan.

[prettypurple08]

ano po bang mga requirements before you can apply sa odesk?

[seTHer]

^^ Thank sis sa advice! Sana nga matapos na tong interview na to kahit papano experience din Medyo nagwo worry lang kasi ako baka pag nagreply ako eh sasabihin nanaman sakin NOW ang interview. Wala akong gagamiting pc hahaha! Anyway, may 2 jobs naman ako now so hindi pa din ako masyado nag aapply sa iba pero minsan nagsusubmit naman ako ng application pag ok yung job, need ko pa kasi ng isang hourly na tama sa rate ko para makapagmove on na ako sa fixed price. Nakakapagod din ang fixed price pala pero sabi nga trial and error lang atleast nakapag gain naman ako ng magandang feedback from them. Yung isa ko now is fixed price kasi kaya gusto ko na din tapusin within this day para di ako maghabol sa oras na need nya ng report.

[freelancer_babe]

^ I don't know with you but in my situation, I avoid fixed-price arrangements. It's not for me. Lugi ako parati. Sobrang dami ang pagawa nila. I would have earned more - probably twice the amount ng fixed-price - kung ginawa kong hourly ang job.

Pero depende kasi sa job, some projects are best doned or can be done in fixed-price arrangements. Writing articles is one.

Good luck sa interview mo then. I hope your clients would turn out okay at sa una lang kayo hindi nagkakakitaan sa "mata".

[swit_squiggle]

@freelancer_babe: super agree ako dyan sis.. Huwag ipakita na sobra tayong atat na atat. kasi kung magkataong abusive employer, ibabargain pa kayo for a lower rate. show them sister what you've got and you can do it better than the others. be confident!!

[seTHer]

hahaha i won't bargain nanaman sis medyo natututo na din naman ako sa inyo  at tama kayo kasi talagang lugi pag fixed price ang data entry , like right now na ginagawa ko, kung hourly ko to kumita na ako di pa ako masyado pagod kakatype tsk tsk

@prettypurple08, wala naman po masyadong requirements. skills mo lang ang need

[freelancer_babe]

ano po bang mga requirements before you can apply sa odesk?

1) Your skills: It should match the demand sa job market. Experience that you got from your previous "offline" jobs are always a plus. Baka naman outdated ang skill na alam mo - then your chances of getting a job might be impossible.

2) Presentable profile: as much as possible put in a lot of details. Gayahin mo ang ginawa ng mga successful freelancers. Takes a lot of time but it's worth it. Sa odesk may profile link ka doon to fill out.

3) Portfolio: one of things that your potential client. Tinitignan nila ito right away so this is VERY IMPORTANT. This is the part where you strongly convince your client to click the interview button. If you just came out of school, or just do not have anything to put into the portfolio, I suggest that you create samples instead. In odesk, nakaattach ang portfolio sa profile mo.

4) Computer: As long as the machine is not too outdated.

5) DSL connection: Get wired DSL (PLDT, Bayantel, SkyCable, Globelines, and the likes), not one of those wireless internet ones (Smart Bro, Globe Tattoo). Mas stable ang mga wired ones.

6) Your time: need I say more?

[shinta]

grabe, tumaas na yung bill ng maxicare iniisip ko tuloy kung i-continue ko pa. hay, sakit na ng ulo sa work pati sa mga bayarin. hehe.

anyone here na kumuha din ng HMO plan?

[freelancer_babe]

ano po bang mga requirements before you can apply sa odesk?

Dagdagan ko pa. Get these ones after you are hired.

7) Bank account: based on experience of many sisses pinakamababa ang expenses if you use a BPI bank account using oDesk LFT (local fund transfer). Get a peso checking or savings account. Hindi pwede ang dollar account.

8 ) Backup media: online backup/sync using Dropbox, external hard disks, rewriteable DVDs/CDs, flash drives, etc. Mahirap na. Use at least one, but having more copies is better.

9) UPS (uninterrupted power supply): Get a good one. Even laptops, modems and wifi could benefit from a UPS.

10) Backup internet: pwede na ang wireless USB dito. Just go prepaid, load it in times na walang internet. Get one from Smart, Globe, Sun. Although at times, you cannot do work on this dahil mas mabagal, at least pwede pa rin ito to inform your client that you are having trouble with your internet connection.

[freelancer_babe]

anyone here na kumuha din ng HMO plan?

I decided not to get an HMO plan. I agree with you, mahal nga. Tapos hindi pa covered lahat. Meron ding akong senior citizens na kasama sa bahay at hindi na sila qualified sa mga HMO plans dahil sa age.

Emergency fund na lang ang pinalaki ko sis.

Huwag ipakita na sobra tayong atat na atat. kasi kung magkataong abusive employer, ibabargain pa kayo for a lower rate.

I had a long term client na nagbargain sa akin ng lower rate kasi marami rin lang siyang papagawa. Hindi ako pumayag. He agreed to my rate anyway.

[prettypurple08]

thanks mga sis sa reply....i supervise people in a manufacturing company...marami gawa...kaya ko kaya mag part time sa odesk?  o talagang mga demanding din ang mga boss dito?  pang gabe work ko...isip ko baka pede ako mag render ng mga 4 hours sa part time sa odesk sa umaga after my work..meron bang ganon kaya?  or they're also following US time?

[seTHer]

ayan detailed na detailed kay sis freelancer_babe 
re bank acct: BPI easy saver pinaka mura, 250 lang open nun

[freelancer_babe]

@prettypurple08,
yung previous job ko, sa manufacturing! alam ko kung gaano kademanding ang job. Doon pa naman ako sa maintenance noon (na pinapapasok pa even after the production has shutdown at yung mga operators ay nagsasaya na).

Pwedeng mag-part time, if you are lucky to find jobs that will fit your schedule. Mas less ang chances mo because of your availability so it can be difficult.

Hindi lahat ng clients taga US. May taga-Australia, meron ding taga-UK, may Pinoy, at may Indians din. Iba iba. A lot of US clients I've encountered so far, sila ang gising sa oras natin. Siguro may day job sila kaya nakakausap ako ng morning and early afternoon.

There are few clients who can communicate by email. Ganun lahat ng clients ko ngayon. Walang chat. Either inbox sila ng odesk or by email. But there are plenty who are better off with chat, and there are even others na mas gusto nila by voice/webcam.

[prettypurple08]

thanks sis!  sige i'll think about it before ako mag-apply...or hanap pa ko ng ibang pwedeng part time

[seTHer]

mga sis regarding portfolio pwede bang screenshot lang ng ginawa mo in the past odesk jobs? wala pa kasi ako nun hehe

[heavensent]

@freelancer_babe - what's dropbox, i decided to download one, can i access my files there from another computer?

[freelancer_babe]

^ Dropbox is an online backup/sync utility. It's more of putting files sa "cloud" somewhere in the internet - which in your case is the dropbox. Dahil nasa "cloud" you can access files anywhere - nasa Manila ka man, o sa Baguio, gamit mo PC or mac, and even sa mobile devices. In many cases you need to have dropbox installed on the other end, if NOT, then you have to manually download and upload the files from the site.

Ang maganda sa dropbox, you can have locally synced copies rin, so kahit naka-off ang internet mo, you can still modify your files sa dropbox. Magsi-sync uli yan sa Dropbox cloud kung naka-connect ka uli sa internet.

[heavensent]

^ah ic thanks a lot, this will really help me.