The Lady Programmer

I am changing my hat in oDesk for the meantime – from provider to buyer.

I am now a new buyer in oDesk – a verified one. oDesk requires that buyers had to be verified before they can make the hire. Practically all providers can act as buyers and post jobs, but there are only a few who are really serious and interested in doing the hire.

In oDesk a credit card is needed to verify the buyer’s status. However a provider-friend whom I worked with was able to verify his status using his Payoneer Mastercard. I tried that and the verification process was a success.

photo credit: LotusHead (SXC)

I have some few jobs up my sleeve and I decided to give it out to other providers. These jobs are not from oDesk though. I do some writing jobs from some other guy. I just made a hire to one of my friends who can do some writing job that I need others to do on my behalf.

I can do the jobs and keep those earnings to myself but sometimes I just need to give out the jobs to others so that I could take some needed rest and comply to some deadline, and probably find better opportunities that give me better pay.

I have plans of changing my account from provider to affiliate (provider company) but with the ongoing assignments, I simply have to make the hire as a buyer instead.

I found another opportunity that bloggers might want to know particularly those who like to earn some additional cash from their blogs. SocialSpark is an site that I have been looking for writing opportunities. I got this blog approved with them and now I am writing a first post about this one.

Writing paid posts is not something new to what I have been doing; I used to get to some paid posting opportunities and get to grab some jobs off them. I have earned quite an amount of money from the other blog that I am writing for another paid posting site. However, joining SocialSpark was an entirely new experience: it is a combination of a blossoming social network and a host of opportunities that are willing to pay for a quick buzz. The social network gives the advantage to promote one’s blog and the opportunities are out for participating bloggers to grab a posting slot. Promoting one’s blog is not limited to simply adding friends to one’s list, expecting others to take a peek. It is possible to exchange a post with other bloggers to help with the traffic.
I found several opportunities where this blog qualifies for some of the posted jobs. These opportunities are different from the one that I have seen in other paid posting sites. I am hoping I could get to write some posts out from the open opportunities, just like what I did before.

I’ve noticed that SocialSpark is active in making sure that bloggers observe these code of ethics:

• 100% Audit-able In-Post Disclosure.

• 100% Transparency.

• 100% Real Opinions.

• 100% Search Engine Friendly.

After a couple of slot reservations and using my one request for a sponsored post, I finally stumbled on an opportunity to discuss SocialSpark. Believe me, I am actually getting paid for doing this one!

Let’s relax this time…

Freelance work is NOT all about earning money, grabbing opportunities at hand and building your name. It is all also finding some time to relax. Successful freelancers know when to spot opportunities and when to get away.

Getting a little time off from work can be more productive than doing work continuously. I could not find one person who does not like to take a little break. But it is important not to over do this simple indulgence.

photo credit: micromoth (SXC)

Relaxation comes in various forms:

• Do some exercise
• Looking outside the window and thinking of … nothing
• Surf around
• Do some household chores
• Meditate
• Play with something, or someone
• Sleep
• Throw some joke

That is not a complete list. You may have more things in mind. Right now I feel less like thinking and more like getting a short break after this post.

I made several career transitions in my life: I started out the workforce as a licensed engineer, then I got employed as a programmer. But now, I do freelance jobs as a programmer and writer.

I did not think I would make several career shifts in my life. Many fellow Filipinos would say that I missed out on promising overseas opportunities that help me get gainfully employed on big companies. Overseas employment often gives a better paychecks and plenty of perks. They have said I should have used my profession as an engineer to work in a high-paying semiconductor industry in Singapore or find an IT job in Japan instead.

photo credit: djeyewater (SXC)

However, I decided to try out full-time freelancing. I am not yet ready to stop where I have just began. Little did they know that I hired my own self to earn my own income. This trick worked well for me because I am about to reach the income level of a gainfully employed individual who choose to stay and work in the Philippines.

I am still open to other similar options though, but getting work abroad is not something that fits on my freelance career list right now.

I believe that getting a freelance job involves a series of steps.

The first step involves creating a profile. Profile means taking stock of your skills and also your portfolio to prove that you can do a job. This does not apply to programming, web design and graphic skills but also to writing jobs as well. Showing your presence and maintaining a good standing puts you well into the first step.

The second step is to actively seek jobs. The internet is vast and it is still growing; it creates a lot of job opportunities and a great deal is usually outsourced. More writers are needed to write more web content, others are needed to create the pages that will hold all the information and still others are working at the backbone of the internet – making sure that the information is delivered promptly by maintaining uptime of the server.There are plenty of jobs around that lies around, waiting to be done.

photo credit: neadeau (SXC)

The third step is to accept interviews. Getting interviewed for a job means something: that you are most likely capable of doing the job above all else.

The fourth step is to accept the job and ultimately, get paid plus a good rating to boot.

And the cycle begins all over again, but this time, you have an experience to make you more credible for the jobs that you like.