Ask for help with Odesk

Zourk2012-10-27 16:56:10

Freelance

Zourk, 2012-10-27 16:56:10

Many times I saw success stories of people working for Odesk on Habré. And many say that the main difficulty is getting started. With this, I ask the residents of the habra community to help.
Initial data:
1. Briefly completed profile with a photo and a couple of works in the portfolio
2. Several tests passed (from 30 to 10%)
3. I answer 2-3 jobs per day, mainly related to Google Analytics. Dumping: 6-10 people. I unsubscribe on time usually at 0:00 Moscow time.
4. Approximate cover letter: “Hello, mr. Raphael!
I can provide recommendations about Google Analytics custom reports settings settings for your site.
I think this work will take five or six hours.
Waiting for you response!”

Bottom line: no invites.
Question:what could be wrong and what else should be taken into account?

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10 answer(s)

Wott, 2012-10-27
@Zourk

It is necessary to compose a cover letter correctly.
- it should be obvious from it that you have carefully read the task, if there is one
- it should be obvious from it that you have experience specifically in the right areas
- when reading, you should immediately want to answer somehow
- it should be easy to read - that is, you need to determine the level the customer and write in a language that he understands
. Usually he rolls a couple of questions on the merits of the assignment.

dimakovalenko, 2012-10-28
@dimakovalenko

When addressing a stranger, I would do this:
Dear Sir/Madam,
Let me help you with your Google Analytics custom reports. I have experience (please, see [link to your resume] for details) and can do this work in 5-6 hours. Please, contact me:
[contacts]
Yours truly,
[your name here]
Something like this :)

philipto, 2012-10-29
@philipto

I've hired temps through oDesk a few times for small projects, and from an employer's point of view, Wott is the best answer . My five cents:
Instead
of Hello, mr. Raphael!
I can provide recommendations about Google Analytics custom reports settings settings for your site.
I think this work will take five or six hours.
Waiting for you response!”

I would write as an employee and would be happy to read as an employer:
Dear Rafael,
I can help you with Google Analytics custom reports settings for your site, I can do the work in five to six hours.
With the best regards,
Zourk

What is the difference? 1. In short. 2. standard greetings and farewells accepted in the English-speaking world, indicating that you use the language at work, and not just know how to use Google Translate. 3. Explicit indication of what exactly you can do and how quickly. The constructions “I think”, “I believe”, etc., should be avoided. for employers who do not know English well, they complicate perception, and for those who know English well, they speak of your uncertainty about what you write next. If you need to emphasize confidence, write "I am sure I can do the work in less than six hours."
Be sure to mention in the letter any detail indicating that you have read the task (if possible and does not interfere with answering briefly).
$20/hour is a lot. Try to do 1-2 jobs for 15, then raise the price. I started hiring people at $2/hour, quickly found out they couldn't do shit for the money, moved on to $6/hour, but saw really good work at $15/hour. Data as of spring 2012. The work was not related to programming, of course.
I don't know the specifics of setting up custom reports and I'm not sure that it is possible to provide links to the work you have already completed, but if possible, please provide it. If there are no such works yet, make one yourself. It's like you have a customer. It is easier for designers to do this - you can come up with some kind of Voronezh confectionery factory and make a logo for it. No one will check if the factory exists. Whether it is possible to do this in your area - I'm not sure, but do it if you can.

ixSci, 2012-10-27
@ixSci

Continue in the same spirit. Finally, find your employer. There seems to be good competition in your area.

SpecCT, 2012-10-28
@SpecCT

If there were no contracts at all, look for some project that you can do in an hour or two. And along with the cover letter, attach a link to the result. Just a couple of hours, and the chances of becoming elected increases significantly. After completing the first contract, you will have a rating (hooray five stars) - now you are not a dull type without stars on your profile, but a qualified specialist with good recommendations. As a bonus to the stars - payment for the first project (hooray twenty bucks).
Also, do not show fig test results. I don’t know what exactly you handed over, but it seems that those that I handed over - below 40% it fails.

northbear, 2012-10-28
@northbear

Ask a person to read English well and bed you texts or search online for resume samples and put together a suitable one for you. And most importantly, never dump. The price is the main indicator of the level of a specialist on such resources, firstly. And secondly, in the lower price category the highest competition. There you are many times less likely to receive an order ...

Dmitry Goryachev, 2012-10-27
@Gordim

There is an interesting article on pumainthailand

destroy, 2012-10-28
@destroy

Permanent.

madflux, 2012-10-29
@madflux

I don’t know how it is now, but maybe you just have a very high rate? As long as there is no feedback on you, then you can be more modest. Maybe something has changed of course, I have not worked there for a long time.

Puma Thailand, 2013-06-18
@opium

I recommend reading my questions and answers about working at odesk
pumainthailand.com/otvechayu-na-voprosy-o-rabote-na-amerikanskoj-frilanserskoj-birzhe-odesk-com/
And listening to an interview about freelancing and odesk
pumainthailand.com/diskussiya-o -freelanse-i-odeske-na-radio-anon-fm-s-pumoj/