How to Start with oDesk?

oDesk, for me, is by far the best site for online work. It offers a wide range of work search. It caters to different field of interests. Whether you are looking for part time or full time work, you can find one here. Payments are secured. It provides easy withdrawal process so you can get your pay anytime. And, it's FREE to sign up.

1. Just go to their website at www.oDesk.com and sign up. Provide all the necessary information about you. Include all your educational background, work experience, knowledge and skills. It will help you get your profile noticed by the employers. Your contractor profile serves as your resume. Put in a catchy but formal title to get you noticed. Put in a rate from $1/hr to around $2.50/hr. It is the preferred rate for starters. You can adjust this anytime. Some employers give a range of pay rate in which if you want to apply, you should adjust your rate in your profile. Make sure your profile is 100% complete.

2. Take the oDesk Readiness Test. It will increase your available job applications from 2 to 20. Now, there is another option to increase your job applications but I'm keeping this simple. You can do that later on once your more familiar with oDesk or it may not even be necessary at all.

3. Take qualification tests according to your knowledge and skills. It is better if you get to top 10% or 20% among test takers in the tests since it will show up in your profile and will be seen by possible employers. What do I mean by this? Example. Take a English spelling test. Get a perfect or almost perfect score and you will get a top rank. Once the employers look at your profile, they will see how well you did with the test. Qualification tests are the gauge of employers on your knowledge and capabilities. They may also be essential once you apply for job since some postings require a certain skill for you to be considered.

4. Find Work. Once your profile is revved up, you may start applying for work according to what you can do. Do not apply to jobs you cannot do or finish. It will give a negative impression to the employer. Each job posting have different skill requirements. Read the job description carefully before you apply. Also, make sure that the buyer is verified. Other tips regarding this can be found in oDesk.

5. Interview and get hired. Interview jobs differ from one employer to another. Some need to go through voice/video chat some just need email or text chat and you're hired.

So, you got a job and paid for it. You have your oDesk credits and dying to hold the cold cash. But how?
See my next article.