Sarah recently posted about how having clear specialties in their profiles could have put new dollars in some providers’ wallets.   Today I want to look at the same basic idea from the provider’s side.

As a provider you have two main tools at your disposal for finding work:  your profile and your cover letter.  Of the two I’d say the profile is more important, but that doesn’t mean the cover letter isn’t.  Sarah’s covered profiles rather extensively, but there’s one thing I don’t remember her spelling out.
When a buyer issues an invitation from your profile they are already thinking about hiring you:  Not just hiring someone, but you personally.
I cannot over-stress the importance of this.
When a buyer issues an invitation from your profile they are already thinking about hiring you:  Not just hiring someone, but you personally.
That means you’ve already skipped the first couple of steps.  Normally it starts with someone posting a job, then weeding out the unsuitable candidates, and only then moving to the short list they hire from.  If the provider picks you, that means you’re starting on the short list.   It’s a good place to be.

But what if you didn’t start on the short list?

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Alright then class, it’s time to learnt you some manners. Why are manners (or etiquette, as those napkin-using snobs you see at the bar-b-que place would say) important? The same reason you’re not supposed to keep your elbows on the table while you eat, use the fork two places left of the crab fork to dissect your TV dinner, or blow smoke in a lung-cancer patient’s face.

Some are customary, some started as utilitarian and became ridiculous, and the other–that’s just being a tool.

So, if you follow some simple rules, it should help you get a job, maintain a job, and keep you from getting a bad rating. In fact, it should directly result in your getting a good one!

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When looking at doing a fixed-price job, there’s a lot of things to consider when using oDesk. First off, you’re not guaranteed to get paid for your work like you are with hourly pay. That’s a bummer. However, if you pick good jobs from good buyers, then you’re very likely to get paid so they don’t get slammed with a zero rating and a nasty buyer review.

So what are some good practices and tips for you to get fixed-price jobs, do the jobs, and get paid for it? I’m going to be discussing these points and a few more in a series called (drum-roll, please) Tips for Fixed-Price Jobs!

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The answer is usually “no. ”

You probably saw this answer coming (because what a short and depressing post this would be otherwise!), but let me tell you the two top reasons why I believe that cost is not the primary issue.

From a buyer’s perspective, the ideal outcome is to get their job done well at a reasonable price. If the job is not done well, no matter how low the bid, the buyer doesn’t get what they want.
Low-quality providers with cheap rates often present themselves so poorly that buyers start to avoid the lowest bidders.

I tried an interesting experiment recently as part of the process of writing the oDesk Insider book. As a buyer, I know what catches my interest, and I know what makes me immediately reject a candidate, but before giving advice to providers based solely on my experience as a buyer, I wanted to test that advice from a provider’s perspective. So I set up a provider account on oDesk.

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Now, while you’re most definitely the greatest thing since sliced bread–heck, sliced bread ain’t got jack on you–there are some things you don’t know how to do. One of the worst things you can do in that condition is to promise more than you can deliver in time, skills, or what have you.

Do you want to kill your reputation on oDesk and with buyers everywhere? Then go ahead and try to “figure out” that project as you go along. As soon as they figure out they’re paying to train you to do the job you said you could do, it’s a 0 rating and the gutter for your behind.

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