Tips on landing your first oDesk job

You have finally taken that step towards making it in this crazy world of freelancing (I prefer to call it working from home). You have signed up for your very own account in oDesk. And you’re eagerly waiting for that first buyer (client) who will hire you. Some have waited weeks, and months (like me), and for some, again like me, it has been rejection after rejection. Then I found out that just like any other “normal” job, you have to catch the potential employer’s attention and make them see why you’re fit for this job, even without feedback. It is tough landing that first job, but even tougher if your profile is not “attractive” enough.

Being that the buyer cannot see you face to face or even hear your voice, therefore your profile is the only way that you can let them see that you are qualified. I know how hard it is to land a job without a single feedback, but don’t let this hinder from from trying and bidding on jobs.

Here are some tips on how to get that edge even if you don’t have a feedback yet.

1. Make sure that your profile is completely filled out. Write down your experiences, your skills, expertise..everything that is related to the job category that you’re applying for.

2. Take oDesk skills test. First, please make sure you have taken the oDesk readiness test for providers. And then, feel free to take the other skills test that are related to your chosen job category. For me, since I prefer data entry, administrative and customer support jobs, I took about 10 tests related to English, Grammar, Phone Etiquette, Customer Service and the likes.

3. Do not overcharge! Yes, I know $1 per hour is not even enough to cover the charges, but please be reasonable. If you’re still starting out, it’s good to keep it low (not too low though!) until you finally get a feedback. Then, you can increase your asking rate because you have already proven yourself as a reliable provider.

4. Customize your cover letter. Once you finally find a job you want to bid on, don’t just copy and paste a generic cover letter. Customize it! Point out your strengths and why you are fit for the job. GIVE THE BUYER REASON TO WANT TO GIVE YOU THAT CHANCE FOR AN INTERVIEW. This is your only shot in getting that interview, so why not give it your best shot? Just don’t overdo it and write a novel as a cover letter. *wink*

5. Try and try. Overcome your fear. Stop being shy. Go out and keep bidding for jobs. Rejection will always be part of your oDesk life, even with tons of positive feedback. But you will certainly not lose anything if you keep on trying. I used to bid once a week. I didn’t get any job doing that. I only landed an interview when I started bidding everyday.

Good luck to everyone. I will try to keep posting tips as I learn new things along the way.