Hi all! I was thinking of posting this on the Odesk thread pero mukhang ang mga active naman dun are already successful in Odesk so this won't be much use for them. So, here are some tips on how to land that first job on Odesk.
Let me first give you a background on my Odesk career. I just started being active on Odesk last November. I signed up about a year before that but I didn't have the time to pursue it. I was a teacher and also works part-time as a tutor. When I gave birth, I stopped teaching but continued on to do tutoring for my students. I finally stopped it last October because I have to take care of my kids and I had some nanny issues. I found out about Odesk here and I started to look into it. I read all three threads of Odesk (wala na kasi yung I and II...LOL) and started working on my profile. Within days, I was applying for jobs and I land my first job during that time.
I was very lucky with my very first client because it is a full-time job and he's very lenient with me. Until now, I work for him and aside from that, I have 6 other contracts (2 are part time and the others are on "as needed basis".
How to get that first job? Here are some of my tips:
1) Research
Before you start applying or working on Odesk, you should know first how it works. How will you track time? What is the difference between a fixed-price job and an hourly job? How much will be the rate if you apply for a job? These are the things that will help you when you do apply for jobs. Wag basta appply ng apply. Dapat alam mo muna kung pano ka mapapansin ng employer at kung pano ka magtatrabaho.
2) Know thyself
Complete your profile. Even if you don't have any work experiences yet, market your skills in the best way possible. I work as a recruiting manager for two of my clients and when I look at active candidates, the things I see are 1) cover letter 2) profile facts (feedbacks) 3) Profile overview 4) Employment History) 5) Tests Taken 6) Portfolio 7) Education (in that order). So highlight those things on your profile. Sa employment history, kahit outside Odesk ilagay nyo as long as relevant siya. Make your overview as compelling as possible but limit it to 2-3 sentences kasi yun lang nakikita.
For newbies, ang pinakahighlight lang ng profile nyo are tests taken so make sure you do well on those. I think the most important tests to take are those related to your skills and the English tests. Magreview bago mag-exam and there's always Google. Sa profile ko, I only show tests that has a score of 80% up. The rest I hide them until I can retake them and get the score I want. Mas okay if you'll achieve top 10% or top 20% marks. So, tests ang unahin. Mag-apply man kayo pero wala ka namang way to prove your worth, la din mangyayari.
Know what your marketable skills and professional skills are. be ready to answer questions like what are your strengths and your weaknesses. List them down if you have to kasi when you get job interviews, they usually ask you to describe yourself and to identify those strangths and weaknesses. Pati pala interests.
3) Read job posts and apply immediately - Okay, when clients post for jobs, they usually check the applicants and invite those they chose within an hour or two. Ang dami kasi nag-aapply so nakakasawa magbrowse through 100 or so applicants. So, kapag nakalagay na sa job post na may iniinterview na sila, more likely than not, you won't get that job. Remember, the early bird catches the worm. I found this website where I get regular updates on new job posts based on my search criteria every two hours (or whatever timeframe you choose). So, when I apply for jobs, I'm one of the first ones to apply.
Next, read the job posts and take note of the specific instructions (to prevent spam) and the skills needed. If hindi match sa skills and interests mo, wag ka na lang mag-apply kasi declined na naman yan. Wait for those jobs that you would love doing. Ako, I love marketing. I've tried writing for clients pero it's not for me. Pag di ko gusto topic, it's such a drag and I lost motivation because of that.
So, if you decided that this job is gonna be a match, make a cover letter. In making a cover letter, it's important to take note that only the first paragraph will be most likely read. Yun lang ang nakikita sa job application mo. But I don't think that it's enough to highlight your skills. Therefore, ano gagawin mo? Write the first paragraph in such a way that it will impress the client to look more into your profile or to read the whole cover letter. Just like in any other writing jobs, your topic sentence should invite the reader to read more. Sa first sentence pa lang dapat may dating na. Here's how my cover letter is: topic sentence, background about myself to establish rapport, list of all the skills relevant to the post, why you should hire me over other applicants, availability and invitation to ask more questions. Always check grammar and spelling (you wanna make a good impression). I have a template cover letter pero I edit the skills and availability based on what the client needs. Make your cover letter well-written. Clents want someone who has excellent communication skills (ergo the English tests) kasi it's hard to work with someone who can't understand instructions in English. That is our edge over Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi contractors. English skills and strong work ethic so highlight those skills. I don't believe na pababaan ng bid yan. Well, kung ang pinili ng employer yung pinakamababang bid, it's not worth working for that client. Their labor costs are already cheap as it is tapos babaratin ka pa. Ano ba!
Make your bids competitive. Magkakaroon ka naman ng idea based dun sa average na nakalagay sa mga nag-apply na. Besides, madami din naman na ang preferred workers are from the Philippines so apply for those. Also, may mga jobs that will provide training so grab hold of that. Kahit mas mababa sa rate mo, okay na yun kasi you can improve your skill set that will make you more marketable. This is important for newbies para dumami contracts at lahat masaya. LOL
Now all you have to do is wait for the interviews. Usually for US clients, they reply (and post jobs) Tue to Fri 4am to 9am (PH time) Australian clients 2pm to 6pm. Reply agad if possible. I'm always checking my email when I apply kasi they usually reply to 2 or 3 candidates. Unahan kumabaga. Well, yun lang napansin ko. Pag may naisip pa ako iba tips, I'll post them again.
I've been helping some friends and relatives land jobs so I might as well help the people here kasi natulungan din ako ng mga tao dito sa GT. Pay it forward kumbaga. Kinakarir ko na ang pagtulong sa mga taong magkawork sa Odesk, LOL. Well, I think I've been handed a blessing and it's time to give back. Hindi pa ako mayaman so hindi pwedeng magpamudmod ng pera..LOL. Like what Lao Tzu said- "Give a Man a Fish, Feed Him For a Day. Teach a Man to Fish, Feed Him For a Lifetime" SO I hope this helps!
