VERY Important Tips When Putting Up A Profile on oDesk

New to oDesk? Don't know what to put in your profile? Okay then let me give you some pointers. These are very good tips that would make your oDesk profile more visible and more attractive to hiring companies.

1. Impress them with your grammar. Proofread what you write in your profile. A badly written one would make them think twice in hiring you so go ahead, check your profile. Are they all spelled correctly? Which words should be capitalized? If English is not one of your strongest points, you can always ask someone to proofread your profile for you. 


2. Upload a profile picture of you. Show them your smile. If your profile shows a picture of you with an overly-serious expression on your face, what does that tell your would-be employer? That you have zero sense of humor probably and that you'd be no fun to work with. So why not loosen up a bit? Smile. Project a positive and friendly appearance. Wear something casual. You don't need to put on that much makeup. You don't need to look like a model. Just look professional.


3. Write a good job overview. Tell them about you. What skills do you have? What are your strongest points? Do you have very good typing speed? Are you computer-savvy? Do you love surfing the Internet? Have you done any programming? If you have any noteworthy skills, anything at all then write them all down.


4. Market yourself with your portfolios. What is a portfolio? A portfolio is any documentation, image, photos, artworks you have that you can use as proof of recent work. Have you made a PowerPoint presentation for your previous employer? Do you still have a copy of it? Have you ever done a blog header using Adobe Photoshop? Have you retouched images or done any image editing? Make a screen shot of those and upload them as your portfolio then write 3-4 sentences detailing your work.


5. It is important that you take the oDesk Readiness Test for Independent Contractors and Company Managers. I can't emphasize this enough. If you don't take this test, you will have restrictions in applying for jobs on oDesk. Take the oDesk Readiness Test as soon as you get a chance. Take some English tests as well. Getting high scores from these tests improves your chances of getting hired.


6. Make sure to fill up your profile info - write down your educational background, your work experiences, other skills BUT don't make them too long. Remember that you are dealing with busy people and busy people don't have the luxury of time to read a too detailed CV. Just highlight the info that you think will get their full attention. Give them teasers, just enough info to make them want to do an interview.


7. And of course, this last one is the most important of all. Don't over promote yourself. Write only about what you can do. Don't tell the buyer that you are very good at programming when you flunked that one when you were in college and have very little experience in that department or that you are an excellent graphics designer when you don't even know what Adobe Photoshop is. You get my point?