oDesk

https://www.odesk.com/

oDesk will forever be my favorite freelancing site because this is the one I first started getting work from. It has jobs for beginners to professionals, with clients and employees from all around the world. You’ll see plenty of low-budget jobs on here, but you can also find great clients who are willing to pay well.

Fun fact: I’m the pale girl with her hand on her chin on the home page – bottom row. Hollywood here I come!

How it works: Simply sign up for an account on the site, and you can browse through thousands of job postings. Search by category based on your skills, and fill out applications for anything you like. If you get interviewed or hired, you can track your hours or project status on oDesk and then get paid directly through the site.

Do:

                 • Fill out your entire profile, with samples and references. Clients may contact you about jobs, so you need to make your profile as enticing as possible.

                 • Take multiple tests. You will have to take the oDesk Readiness Test before you can apply for jobs, but then you should take others related to your skills. This shows clients what you can really do.

                • Link a withdrawal option to your account. This takes a long time to set up, so you should get it going while you work on your first project.

                • Include a cover letter for every job you apply to, just as if you were applying to a 9-to-5 gig.

Don’t:

                • Request upfront payment. Without any experience or feedback on the site, no one is going to trust you to just give you their money.

                • Get discouraged if you don’t get a job right away. You may have to take something cheaper than expected to gain experience and feedback.

                • Forget to leave feedback after a project is complete. When you leave yours, your client’s will show up on your profile.

                • Be afraid to apply for something different. Some of the best jobs I’ve ever gotten were for topics I had to learn more about.

Final takeaway: oDesk is a great site to start off with, and it still provides steady income for the pros. I’ve stuck with it for four years for a reason. It works.