How do search for jobs on oDesk & How to Market Yourself on oDesk ?

oDesk

How to Market Yourself on oDesk

Tips:

• Use your resume to identify past jobs and experiences that are relevant to your oDesk profile.
• Enter the relevant experiences using the Skills, Education and Employment history sections, under the Account & Profile setting.
• The Skills section is where you can detail your expertise and capabilities.
• Taking tests lets you show your proficiency in your chosen area.
• Portfolio items are concrete examples of what you have accomplished in past jobs. Remember that as a technical person, you too, can point to projects that you have worked on it the past. Portfolios are not just for artists!

How to Find and Evaluate Jobs

 

How do I search for jobs?

Contractors can search or browse through our jobs by category, payment terms, employer statistics, keyword and many other criteria. ODesk recommend you run keyword searches to find jobs with specific qualifications.

While the default sort order for results is by posted on date you shouldn't completely rule out older jobs. A job that was posted some time ago may be a perfect match for the experience you have. HooDeskver, the longer the job has been posted, the less likely you are to receive an interview invitation. Not only do older jobs usually have more competition, the employer may no longer be actively reviewing new applicants. Regardless of a job's age you need to apply thoughtfully, write your cover carefully and interview professionally.

Note

In any job search, on oDesk or elsewhere, you'll likely be rejected far more often than you'll receive interviews. To increase your application to interview ratio, only apply to jobs for which you are perfectly qualified.

To browse jobs:

1. step 1: Go to Find Contractors & Jobs > Find Jobs.
2. step 2: Click on a category or subcategory name to view all those jobs.
3. step 3: Sort and filter your results. This is our least detailed search option and the number of results can be overwhelming.

To perform a basic keyword search:

1. step 1: Go to Find Contractors & Jobs > Find Jobs.
2. step 2: Enter a Keyword in the Search box at the top. You'll be searching all categories by default.
3. step 3: Click the Search Jobs button.
4. step 4: Sort and filter your results.

Note

The keywords must be an exact match. For example, a search for "Tech Writer" will not return results for jobs that say "Technical Writer".

Warning

Keyword searches do not respond to boolean operators. Including more than one word always searches as if there oDeskre a boolean "AND".

To perform an advanced search:

1. step 1: Go to Find Contractors & Jobs > Find Jobs. Click the Advanced link in the Search box at the top.
2. step 2: Set more criteria to narrow your search results.
• Keywords: Searches all fields of the job postings.
• Job Title: Searches only the job post's title field.
• Req. Skills: Searches only the job post's required skills field.
• Job Status: Choose open (the default), in progress, completed, cancelled, or all. You can only apply to open jobs, but you may want to search other types when researching your prospects and competition.
• Limited filters are available here to quickly to narrow results by Category, Number of Hires by Employer, Employer Rating, Job Type, and Posted Since.
3. step 3: Press the Search Jobs button to view the list jobs that meet your criteria.
4. step 4: Sort and use additional filters on your results. This is our most detailed search option. ODesk suggest you try several search combinations.

To filter your search:

The Filter Results By: box on the right side of your job search results should be used to further refine your search results. The search results automatically update as you make adjustments. ODesk suggest trying a number of combinations and saving your favorite searches.

• Categories: You can show all or one category at a time. You cannot select multiple categories.
• Sub Categories: You can select multiple sub categories (or all, or just one).
• Job Type: Only hourly jobs have guaranteed payment. Learn more about the differences betweken hourly and fixed-price.
• Fixed-Price Budget: Use the slider to filter by the employer's the minimum and maximum estimated budget. Applies to fixed-price jobs only.
• Workload: Select the job's estimated workload (how many hours per oDeskek they expect). Applies to hourly jobs only. You can select multiple options.
• Duration: Select the job's estimated duration (how long they think the job will last). Applies to hourly jobs only. You can select multiple options.
• Employer Rating: Select the minimum feedback score you'd accept in an employer. Check No feedback to include employers who have not yet been rated. You can select multiple options.
• Number of Hires by Employer: Select the minimum hiring experience you'd accept in an employer. Check Any number of hires to include employers without previous oDesk experience. You can select multiple options.
• Posted Since: Increase the odds of receiving an employer response by applying to more recent job postings. You can select multiple options.

To modify your search:

Use the Modify search by: box at the top to change your search Keywords. Click more to change your advanced search criteria.

To save a search:

1. step 1: Go to Find Contractors & Jobs > Find Jobs.
2. step 2: Perform a search.
3. step 3: Save the search one of three ways:
1. inside oDesk by pressing the Save Search button (learn more about managing your saved searches)
2. to an RSS or Atom Feed
3. in your browser by selecting Bookmark This Page or Save To Favorites in your browser menu. You may also copy and paste the search page's URL if you wish to use it elsewhere (add it to a to-do list, send it in an email, etc.)

Note

Are you a member of a oDesk Group? You can run and save searches from within the your group to find jobs targeting your niche!

How do I read job search results?

Job search results are presented as a simple list (10 results to a page), including only the most basic overview of the job and the employer. This includes the title, required skills, payment terms, and the beginning of the description. Hovering over a job posting will highlight it for easier reading and make the Apply appear. Click the title to read the full job details.

Additional information about the employer is available if you hover over the Employer section. The earnings and verification badge will show you some additional employer facts, including total paid (may be rounded), verification status, posting versus hiring stats and location. (Learn more about verification status.) The stars will show you the exact overall feedback score and total number of feedbacks received.

What's in a job post?

Every job posting should include enough information for you to decide whether the job will be a good fit for you. This includes information about the employer and the job itself.

Job Overview

Basic information such as the job type, workload, duration, date posted, start date, category, etc. are at the top right of every job posting. You'll also find the flag as inappropriate link just above the overview.

Employer facts

ODesk always tell you where the employer is located (including their time zone), when they registered, how many jobs they've posted, filled and have open currently, how many team members they have currently, how many hours their team has billed and their overall feedback score.

Most importantly, this is where you'll check the employer's verification status. There's no harm in applying to a job posting with no verified payment method, but you can't be paid for any work until verification is completed.

[Optional] ODesk encourage the employer to share information about their company, including the name, tagline, logo and description. But most employers still opt to post anonymously. ODesk encourage you to learn as much as possible about the employer during the interview phase (you'll be given the company's and hiring manager's names).

Job Description

A well-written description is an easy way to spot a good employer. Just as an employers prefer candidates who put more effort into their cover letters, you should concentrate your efforts on jobs where the description provides more useful information. The whole point is to find the jobs for which you are an excellent match - that is very difficult to decide without a good description. Keep an eye out for specific questions that the employer says you must answekr or phrases you must include in your cover letter. You need to prove you can follow directions!

Just below the job description, the employer may have uploaded an attachment. This could be additional information or a form you need to return with your job application.

Warning

Disclosing or requesting contact information is not permitted in oDesk job postings. (or your cover letters). If you see this or anything else suspicious (like application fees or offers to pay you directly through PayPal or ODeskstern Union instead of through oDesk), please flag the job as inappropriate. Your assistance in keeping our marketplace clean and safe is greatly appreciated!

Skills Required

Pay special attention to this list as you'll likely be asked to prove you have all these skills during the interview. They're listed for a reason, so it's important to specifically address all of these skills in your cover letter.

Preferred Qualifications

[Optional] The employer may specify preferred qualifications, such as rate, tests passed, English skills, oDesk experience level, etc. You may apply regardless of whether you meet these qualifications. HooDeskver, if you don't meet all the qualifications, your application will be marked as unqualified. Be sure to address any qualifications you do not meet in your cover letter to communicate to the employer why they should interview you anyway. But in general, applying to a job when you don't meet the preferred qualifications is less likely to to be successful.

EmployerActivity

ODesk tell you when the employer last checked the job posting or interacted with their candidates - very helpful when deciding whether to take a chance on an older job posting. This section shows the number of candidates (with average rate) and number of interviews (with average rate). These just averages; you are still oDesklcome to apply with a higher or looDeskr rate as you see fit.

Apply

The apply button becomes a link to your job application if you already have an active (or rejected) application in for this job posting.

Agencies

The apply button does not automatically link for staffing managers. You will need to use other methods track which agency contractors have already applied to a job posting.

Employer's History

Employers earn a reputation through our double-blind feedback system just like you do. Pay careful attention to the comments and ratings left by your fellow contractors.

Employer's Other Job Postings

Many employers have more than one job open at once. ODesk give you links to their other job postings in case an different position might be a better match - they may also offer information in these posts that could be helpful for your application.

What's payment method verification?

Employers must verify their payment methods in order to pay oDesk for their jobs. Why? So that oDesk can offer you a payment guarantee on all hourly jobs! Payment methods verification ensures that the employer is authorized to use the credit card on file (or approved by oDesk to pay by check).

There are three possible payment method verification statuses:

1. Verified: The employer has added a payment method and completed verification.
2. Not Verified: The employer has not added a payment for us to verify.
3. In Progress: The employer has added a payment method, but has not yet completed verification.

For maximum security, you may wish to apply only to jobs displaying the Verified Payment Method badge. Just understand that a new employer may not have had a chance to complete the process yet. If the job of a new employer sounds like a great fit, consider applying and reminding them to verify so you can get to work right away.

Key to the more detailed employer earnings and verification badges used in job search results:

• New employers who have not yet verified their payment methods.
• New employers who have already verified their payment methods.
• Employers registered at least 60 days who do not currently have verified payment methods.
• Employers registered at least 60 days who have already verified their payment methods, but not yet paid on a contract.
• Employers who have paid more than $1 on oDesk contracts.
• Employers who have paid more than $1,000 on oDesk contracts.
• Employers who have paid more than $10,000 on oDesk contracts.

Warning

oDesk cannot pay you if the employer does not have a verified payment method. But verification can often be completed in less than a day. When applying to a job lacking a verified payment method, please encourage the employer to complete the process as soon as possible.

What's the difference betoDesken hourly and fixed-price jobs?

oDesk offers employers two types of of payment terms when they post jobs: hourly and fixed-price. (Read our hourly vs. fixed-price comparison to learn the advantages and disadvantages of each.)

ODesk pioneered the hourly model and it's become the method of choice for most oDesk employers and contractors; therefore, many of our features are only available for hourly contracts (reports, guarantees, automated billing, etc.). But oDesk understand that hourly isn't right for everyone in every situation. You may opt to post a fixed-price job instead. Just remember that only hourly jobs carry our payment guarantee.

Note

For most contractors, the choice betoDesken hourly and fixed-price comes down to how to you get paid. With hourly, billing is completely automatic (and payment is guaranteed), whereas with fixed-price the employer must submit every payment manually (oDesk does not offer escrow or arbitration at this time). Read more about payments before you make your decision.

How can I learn about the employer?

Most employers choose to post their jobs anonymously - they do not reveal who they are on the job posting. But oDesk still try to provide some useful information about who you are applying to.

• Every post contains a Employer facts box with all the basic information about the employer's account, such as when they registered, where they are and their posting and hiring history.
• Once they have a paid job, the Employer's History becomes visible (similar to the work history on your own contractor profile).
• If there are any, oDesk'll also give you links to the Employer's Other Job Postings.
• Some employers will include basic or detailed information about themselves or their company in the job description itself. But contact info in the job posting is a violation of oDesk policy, in which case oDesk ask that you please flag the job as inappropriate.
• Employer's may choose to display a small Company profile that can include the company's name, tagline, logo and description. ODesk encourage employers to include this information, but it is always optional. The company's and hiring manager's names will be shared with you during the interview. So oDesk encourage you to do your due diligence researching them then.

Note

You'll have an opportunity to ask the employer all the questions you want during your interview. You may even wish to ask a few specific questions in your cover letter.

How can I receive alerts of new jobs?

To include a saved search in your daily job alert email:

You may mark up to three searches to include in a daily job alert email. You may change your alert settings at any time. Alert emails are sent out once a day and include the top 5 results of each included saved search. (Learn more about managing your saved searches.)

1. step 1: Go to Find Contractors & Jobs > Find Jobs.
2. step 2: Perform a search.
3. step 3: Press the Save Search button at the top of the search results.
4. step 4: Name the search and check the box next to Email me updates.

Note

Are you a member of a oDesk Group? You can run and save searches from within the your group to find jobs targeting your niche! Each group will have it's own set of saved searches and daily job alert email.

To save a search as an RSS or Atom feed:

Saving searches as feeds is the best way to make sure you don't miss any new job postings. Any search can be saved to your browser's bookmarks or turned into an RSS or Atom feed to receive automatic updates in a feed reader.

Never subscribed to a feed before? ODeskb feeds are a great way to subscribe to receive updated content from a oDeskbsite (learn more on Wikipedia). If you have a Google or Yahoo ID or use Firefox, Safari or even Outlook you already have easy access to built-in feed readers.

1. step 1: Go to Find Contractors & Jobs > Find Jobs.
2. step 2:

Perform a search.

3. step 3: Click the save search as RSS or Atom link at the top of the search results. Your computer's default feed reader should automatically pop up to appropriately handle your subscription. Most readers can use either format, but RSS is generally preferred.
4. step 4: [Optional] You may wish edit your feed URL to make it a referral feed if you plan to display it somewhere public. Users who register for oDesk after following a link from your referral feed could earn you a referral bonus!

Note

ODesk highly recommend all active job seekers save several targeted searches as frequently-refreshing feeds to receive of all the latest job postings. Each feed will return up to 50 results per update, so the more often it refreshes, the less likely you are to miss a new job. In most cases, every 30 minutes is the refresh schedule oDesk recommend.

How do I manage my saved searches?

Saved searches are managed in Find Contractors & Jobs > Find Jobs. The Your Save Searches box is always at the upper right of the search results page.

Users are able to save up to 10 searches, up to 3 of which may be marked for inclusion in a daily job alert email. Users may do the same for each group of which they are a member.

You may add or remove searches whenever you like. But you can't edit a saved search; it must be run, removed and re-saved.

• To remove a saved search for your list, press remove next to it in Your Save Searches.
• To make any changes to a saved search - including adding to or removing from job alerts - click the search's name. This performs the saved search. You'll need to remove the old saved search and re-save it to your list.

Note

Are you a member of a oDesk Group? Each group will have it's own set of saved searches and daily job alert email. Go to each group's job search page to manage your saved searches.

I found a job I like. How do I apply?

When you find a job you like, carefully consider whether you're a good match for what the employer needs. If you believe you are a good match:

1. step 1: Write a custom cover letter specifically addressing this job and what makes you the perfect candidate. You may want to bookmark the job posting in your browser (or flag it in your feed reader) so you don't lose it while you write the cover letter.
2. step 2: Apply to the job. You'll need to set a rate for your application, paste in the custom cover letter you prepared and accept the oDesk User Agreement.

Note

The number of jobs you can apply to is restricted by your quota. Successful contractors focus on submitting high quality applications, not sending out the highest quantity possible.

I found a job that seems suspicious. How do I report it?

In your searches you may come across jobs that seems suspicious. Please flag these jobs so Customer Support can review them and take the appropriate action. Just click the Flag as Inappropriate link at the top of the job post, check a reason box in the pop-up, then hit submit. ODesk do count on the community to alert us to issues in the marketplace, so your assistance is greatly appreciated! Your identity will not be shared with the user you have flagged. Our support team will review the claim and take action as appropriate.

Note

ODesk especially appreciate your assistance in flagging violations of our job posting policy, such as disclosing or requesting contact info and offering payment outside of oDesk (ODeskstern Union, PayPal, etc.).