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ODesk – an Online Marketplace for Freelancers

How an Independent Contractor Can Start a Freelance Career at ODesk

Apr 5, 2009 Alla Kondrat

ODesk, just like many other online marketplaces for freelancers, offers independent contractors a chance to get in touch with potential customers and land contracts.

Freelance marketplaces of this type bring buyers and sellers of services together, and get a commission for each project completed through the online system. It is beneficial for all the parties.

Independent contractors can be really independent and flexible in their career- and time-management.
Buyers get access to human resources worldwide, and definitely have options to choose from.
The online marketplace benefits from the successful cooperation of clients and freelancers.

How to Start a Freelance Career at ODesk

The first step towards starting a freelance career at ODesk is, of course, getting registered at the online marketplace. This won’t take much time and effort because the whole process takes place online.
Then an independent contractor has to fill in one’s profile. The profile usually has a form of a CV, and includes the background career information, lists of capabilities and accomplishments, education history, etc. Later, as the freelancer completes some ODesk projects, the profile will also list those together with the clients’ feedbacks.
Get familiar with the system in order to prepare to take the readiness test, which will activate the profile and allow bidding on projects.
Pass the ODesk readiness test. The purpose of the test is to enable a freelancer to apply for jobs. In order to pass it, one should get familiar with the features of the system, and study the FAQ section of the online marketplace.
Search for, and bid on the projects.

Freelance Projects at ODesk Online Marketplace

The jobs offered at ODesk can be hourly, or fixed price.

Hourly jobs are to be completed online, using special ODesk system, so that the freelancer’s work is monitored in real time and paid hourly. The system monitors when the independent contractor is active performing the assigned job, and takes screenshots. ODesk guarantees that the hours worked in the system are paid for.
For fixed price jobs, a freelancer and a buyer agree on the price of the whole project. In such a case ODesk, however, gives no guarantees that the job will be paid for.

The Categories of Freelance Projects at ODesk Online Marketplace

Web Development
Software Development
Graphic Arts & Design
Audio / Video & Multimedia
Networking & Information Systems
Administrative Support
Writing

As an online marketplace, ODesk provides freelancers with a chance to meet a great number of potential clients. The only things a freelancer has to do in order to start bidding for projects are registering, completing the profile, and passing the ODesk readiness test. An automated system developed by ODesk guarantees that the independent contractor will get paid for the per hour assignments.

Read more: How to Earn Money Working Freelance at ODesk. To learn how to pass the ODesk qualification test, read ODesk Readiness Test for Independent Contractors.

The copyright of the article ODesk – an Online Marketplace for Freelancers in Career Advice is owned by Alla Kondrat. Permission to republish ODesk – an Online Marketplace for Freelancers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.