The Lady Programmer

New freelancers are often tempted to use a generic cover letter to apply to numerous jobs that they see around – DON’T!

I often see freelancers applying to jobs using generic cover letters. They do this because some of them have problems with their writing skills. Other do so because they wanted an easier way to apply to jobs.

photo credit: miamiamia (SXC)

Unfortunately, most buyers are not taking these applicants seriously. What are the reasons for doing so?

1. Buyers are responsive to letters that provides answers to their queries. Customize your cover letter in such a way that it answers to what is asked in the job description.
2. Buyers are attracted to letters that “speak” to them. Compose cover letters that seem to initiate conversational style rather than the detached tone common to generic letters.
3. Buyers tend to read letters with their names on it (if these names had provided). They appreciate when their name is mentioned on the letter because it means that the applicant has spent extra effort in acknowledging the buyer’s name.
4. Buyers like non-generic letters because it shows that the provider has given much thought on the given job opening. Custom cover letters convey the provider’s attention to detail as well as giving a deep thought on what the job entails.

Custom cover letters is a must in applying for a job. The best cover letters are those that speak from the heart.

Have you given much thought on your profile title or tagline?

The profile title or tagline is a very important part for your profile. I used the default tagline “Programmer/Developer” in oDesk for quite a long time before I decided to change my title to a more interesting one. I applied to several jobs using that tagline and got frustrated because I was not able to get any interviews. Not until I changed that very little thing.

photo credit: xymonau (SXC)

What makes a catchy title? These are some tactics that I have seen:

1. Use power words like “reasonable price”, “deadline-oriented” and “quality work”. Use these to apply for jobs that have plenty of competition. “Quality Data Entry Work at a Reasonable Price”
2. Put in some special symbols. It is always an eye-catcher. Some placed several asterisks and special symbols before and after their taglines. Can also work for job with a lot of competition. “***** Experienced Virtual Personal Assistant *****”
3. Use words that point to the provider’s rare specialty. “Expert Embedded Systems Programmer”
4. State your title with the years of experience. “Experienced Java Programmer for 7 years”
5. Just simply be creative or amusing. “Programmer by Day, Superhero at Night”

As I applied to jobs, I experimented with various titles. It was not easy for me to think of a good one that can fit my profile. Just think of the title as a marketing tool to attract buyers to get their attention to click that all-important link to your profile.

UPDATE: Please wait for the official announcement from Payoneer for their virtual bank account service. This service is not yet available in most Payoneer account holders and is still in its pilot program where Payoneer selected a number of account holders to take part of this new service. Payoneer is aware that I am writing about their stuff and they had permitted me to blog about this so that Payoneer users are aware of this upcoming service.

I have encountered some Filipinos especially those who are new to freelance internet jobs who are wary of using the Payoneer card as a method of receiving payments. I find it a great way for me to receive payments and what even amazes me is that they come up with new ways that can benefit us – such as the Paypal to Payoneer withdrawal arrangements.

I was participant in their pilot program which involves tying up the Payoneer card to a virtual bank account. As I was able to do the test transfer successfully, I was greatly satisfied with the service because the transfer was very fast. Paypal to Payoneer transfers only took two working days before it was funded into my account. Best of all, the transfer is entirely free - at least for the pilot program – but the fees involved in the transfer is yet to be determined by Payoneer.

This service will go live within the next few months and will be available for any Payoneer account holder. The new services does not come automatically for existing Payoneer users: registration is still needed to avail of this cool new service. Although the transfer that I had made was with Paypal to Payoneer, anyone who wishes to fund their Payoneer card can simply put down the bank name, bank routing number and account number to withdraw from online funding institutions such as Paypal.

If the transfer from Paypal to Payoneer card remains to be free after the formal launch of virtual bank account service, then I will consider withdrawing my funds from Paypal into this card. The transfer is a lot faster for me: it takes me three or more days for Paypal to Unionbank transfer but with Paypal to Payoneer the transfer only took me two days. The transfer time depends on which institution does the transfer – thus Paypal to Unionbank transfer is longer because the money has to be cleared from one country to another while Paypal and Payoneer are both on US soil, so it follows that the transfer is a lot a faster than the latter.

Filipinos still prefer to carry cash rather than using their debit cards to make a purchase. For the few (like me) who insist on paying using debit, credit or even cellphone wallet at the counter, here are tips that are helpful to manage such transactions:

photo credit: craiova (SXC)

1. Register for online banking systems. Almost all major banks provide online banking systems for free. After opening an account, register with these banks immediately so that you can easily access your account without waiting for the monthly bank statement.
2. Be wary of phishing sites. Phishing sites are sites that pose as the real one. There are already banking sites that are not real and looks very similar to the real one. Of course, the primary intention of these sites is to steal your username and password.
3. Install firewall software and anti-spyware. Many antivirus programs come bundled with these features. With the age of fast internet and almost online access, this is now a must even in home PCs.
4. If you are a Windows user, turn your Windows updates on. I would recommend setting it to automatic updates so that the download runs in the background.
5. Use the latest browsers. Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer are still good ones to use with Windows. If your connection is fast enough, turning on phishing settings helps a lot.
6. Use different passwords for your online accounts. Keeping the same username and password for several accounts that contains money is a great risk.
7. Use a difficult password for money accounts. As said, combination of letters and casing would be of help. Never use words that are used in the language: for example chairman vs. l9hkTMl4j. Difficult passwords are often difficult to crack.
8. Never give out your password to others. I believe this is the greatest risk of all – to give out password to others. People tend to use the same username across other sites and even the same password and this compromises security.

These are the tips that I often practice and with the ever-changing internet, there will always be new ways of protecting oneself from such fraudulent acts. Be vigilant and keep yourself informed from time to time.

photo credit: scataudo (SXC)

A freelancer in the job marketplace has to think of himself as a product or service: he should be able to package himself in such a way that he is easily noticed by the potential clients. There are more and more people getting into freelance jobs full time or part time and getting noticed is also something that is not easily done.

We are also well aware of the products and services that we have seen around, and many of these started with humble beginnings. We have also seen too many businesses that failed after their launch. We have also read success stories of business empires who had truly started from scratch and had made through despite such adversities that they encounter. Freelance is not in any way different from establishing such name branding that the entrepreneurs behind these business had been able to do.

As a new freelancer, he should be able to know this early on: he has to build a name for himself. As he gets opportunities, he should be wise in establishing a name for himself – I believe this tip does not apply to outsourcing sites but as a freelancer to his local community as well.

So how do you establish yourself with such name brand:

1. Seek a niche opportunity and be really good at it through trainings and self-learning.
2. Prove that you are good with your niche skills by earning certifications, related job experience or sample work.
3. Know what to specialize by knowing the skill demand of the market.
4. Speak to the world about the services that you offer through websites.
5. Know when to specialize and when to move on to other skills.
6. Build solid experience and place it into the portfolio in and out.
7. Learn how to network and market yourself.
8. Strive to always improve your profile to make it attractive to prospective clients.
9. Always improve communication skills.
10. Learn from mistakes and never look back.

If people started noticing you, then you must realize such blessing that you have. Establishing such name brand is a long term duty that must be always be practiced.