oDesk: Finding the Right Job for the Long Term

Having trouble viewing this email? Click Here

Got something to say?

Be an oDesk guest blogger!
Learn more

September 2009

• The oDesk Perspective: The Key to Long-Term Success
• What's New
• App and Design of the Month Contests
• Community Spotlight
• Provider Spotlight

The oConomy

Provider Earnings: (last 90 days)	$14,419,196
Job Posts: (currently open)	9,926
Candidates Per Job: (average)	17
Days to Hire: (average)	3.8

The oDesk Perspective: The Key to Long-Term Success

We're always talking about building long-term relationships on oDesk, about building success for both buyer and provider. We practice what we preach in Shannon Adkins' Customer Service department. It has nearly doubled to 17 providers in five months and is still growing. Performance metrics are growing faster, even as provider turnover drops to practically zero. We've outlined some of the successes, and the strategies behind them, in a case study of the Customer Success Team, and on our blog, where a provider, longtime team member Jasmine Sison, and Shannon chat with us. Some highlights:

• Jasmine tells us that longtime success comes from finding jobs that you can love, not just jobs you can do.
• She says she never stops growing: "I am always looking to find new ways of making my work easier and faster without sacrificing quality."
• Shannon promotes that growth by picking the right providers and giving them continual training, coaching, and a path to more responsibility: "We provide a clear guideline of how to move up in the organization, from entry level to team lead or specialist."

For more on how oDesk makes remote work work, check out the blog post and read our full case study.

What's New

Share with Twitter

We've launched our first integration with Twitter. In addition to sharing on Facebook, providers can share test results and promote their profiles. Buyers can share their job openings on Twitter to reach more candidates from their networks. You have full control over what you showcase on Twitter, and we won't share your oDesk information without your approval.

Activate Twitter now!

API Center

We've just launched an API Center where users can build their own oDesk applications, incorporate oDesk into their dashboards and integrate it with their websites or management systems. Providers can create their own work diary apps to better support their buyers, and market their credentials and experience outside of oDesk. Buyers can build their own team room apps, create (and display off-site) custom provider search views, and much more.

The highlight of our initial effort, though, is our snazzy iPhone app (see below), and there's more to come! But don't wait — check out our full API documentation and get started!

oDesk's iPhone App

Your oDesk team room is a great place for staying abreast of all the things your teammates are working on, but sometimes you're not in front of your computer. With the new oDesk iPhone app, you can keep up-to-date with the virtual office, wherever you are. Read more on the blog or install the app here.

Provider Email Signature

We've added a provider email signature to the profile widgets we launched last month. Now you can insert a "Hire me on oDesk" badge right into your personal emails, linking back to your profile. Just one more way to promote yourself. Get the code here.

App and Design of the Month Contests

Congratulations to August’s App of the Month Contest winner, iCooking. After some impressive promotion, the innovative iPhone app, built by oDesk providers, won $1,000 oDesk credit and an iPhone 3GS.

Next month, it's a Design of the Month contest. Buyers, if you’ve had design work done through oDesk (including web design, logo & icon design, 3D animation, video editing, and illustration), enter it here (or submit it via our Facebook page). Entries are being accepted through Sept. 30, with voting to run through October. The winner will be announced Nov. 1.

Community Spotlight

This month, let's look at recent posts on the oDesk Blog. In the News You Can Use category, check out Top Tech Skills You Used to Know, a post that looks at "obsolete" programming skills that are not nearly as extinct as you may think. Who'd have thought that your old skills with Lotus Notes or Unix Shell could get you jobs today?

We've also got Tips on Written Communication for buyers looking to make a good impression, and profiles of top providers (parts one and two) for buyers looking to get a real feel for the talent available on oDesk. It's part of our oDesk Challenge to venture-backed startups!

Provider Spotlight

	Alexey Z C/C++ Technical Lead Total oDesk Hours: 217 Overall Feedback: 5.00 (Based on 1 feedbacks) Comments: I would like to stress his ability to deliver work right on time, as you dont see this too often. His communication skills were excellent, and he could quickly understand my needs.
	Beverly B MarCom and Administrative Assistance by Seasoned Professional Total oDesk Hours: 101 Overall Feedback: 5.00 (Based on 1 feedbacks) Comments: Beverly was a great provider. She had all the right tools and helped us on our webinars, PowerPoints, and content creation projects. Thanks!
	Misha B (Affiliated with UACoders) Drupal/PHP/MySQL/HTML/JS/CSS Total oDesk Hours: 1,289 Overall Feedback: 4.62 (Based on 14 feedbacks) Comments: Misha is a talented and capable developer with an in-depth knowledge of Drupal. He is a pleasure to work with and a valuable part of our development team.
	Tamara B 2400+ oDesk HRS-90WPM Transcribe, Transcription (audio/video) Total oDesk Hours: 2,440 Overall Feedback: 5.00 (Based on 41 feedbacks) Comments: I have been working with Tamara for over 1 year now. I have never been so happy with a service provider! She gets the job done fast, accurate, and loves what she does.

Follow us on:

Manage Your Account - https://www.odesk.com/console
oDesk Support - http://www.odesk.com/help
Community Forums - http://www.odesk.com/community

You are receiving this e-mail as part of your oDesk membership registered under the e-mail address: sapnaps.tce@gmail.com.
If you do not wish to receive these messages in the future, please unsubscribe.
Do not reply to this e-mail. This was an automated system message from oDesk, Inc. - 4200 Bohannon Drive - Menlo Park - CA - 94025 - USA