I’ve been hearing about oDesk for quite some time and have decided to give it a try. I know, I am taking a break from doing work for clients – but if a good offer came around I may be willing to reconsider. So, why did I choose oDesk.com? Simply put, they seem like a class act organization. They are getting a ton of good reviews and the writers that I know who have used them indicate that their experience has been quite positive.
What I Like About oDesk
They have multiple ways to protect both the freelance provider and the buyer. They require that you log in to their “oDesk client” when working on a project so that they can monitor how much work you do on a project. The system favors hourly projects, and this is a nice way to build trust between the client and the provider.
Another thing I like is that they require everyone to take a test concerning their policies before you can start applying for jobs. The test is open book so it’s more time consuming than it is difficult. You can also take multiple skill tests which show the buyer that you are proficient in various areas.
What I Don’t Like
Although the test taking on oDesk is a good, positive thing for the site, it is also harder to make time to take the tests. I plan to prove that I am proficient in whatever I can, just so I can show the buyer how qualified I am for the projects. However, finding the time to do that is a bit of a challenge.
My Overall Impressions
Other than that, I think oDesk.com is a great thing to happen for online work. I have been a freelance writer for the past six years, and I’ve been writing for clients for most of that time. I’ve used other freelance sites, but none that are as comprehensive in terms of what they offer as protection for the client and the provider.
It has made me excited to work with clients once again because I think the buyers that will be attracted to this site will offer high quality jobs.
Hi KH,
I just started with oDesk as a writer. It’s easy to use once you deal with the profile setup and a few tests. You get a daily email listing of jobs based on the categories you pick. I find that you have to under price your services to get on the books.
I am very choosy about what I want to do, mostly editing jobs. So it really functions well if you can use your skills with flexibility. My goal is to earn oDesk job money to use to pay for research and article writing for my own websites.
So I hope to make money off and spend money on the system to reach my web content goals sooner. Give it a try.