Best Sites for Freelance Work
So you've decided you want to be yourown boss? Weighing up thepros and cons of self-employmentisn't easy, especially if you have little knowledge regarding the sourcing of freelance work. Becoming a self-employed contractor is not as fraught with risk as many people believe, and can often be a more viable form of employment in today's unsteady market.
Freelancework generally takes the form of one of two possible opportunities; home based and field based. Regardless of either format, or contractual period, you are classed asself-employed. This means you are solely responsible for the payment of tax, national insurance contributions and/ or health insurance. If you are undertaking contractual labour work, it is highly recommendable that you research all insurance opportunities available to you. Some private, or limited companies do not provide this type of insurance, and while business insurance could pay compensation for injury resulting from a work-related accident, health insurance will pay for the treatment, as and when needed.
While a number of corporate entities openly advertise their field-based, andfreelance opportunitieswithin the employment marketplace, a greater number utilize targeted recruitment websites, designed primarily for freelance contractors. This outsourcing provides premium and unique opportunities for self-employed contractors to avail high paying jobs, which gain them credibility and reputation, as well as a substantial fixed fee.The key benefit of these sites is that contractors may "take on" several assignments at the same time.
• oDesk:
"oDesk" is a "freelance" site which offers a plethora of categories to choose from. From administrative work toweb design; the site is home to over 10,000 active listings across countless categories at any one time, and benefits from new vacancies added on an hourly basis.
oDesk's competitive edge has meant that contractors do not need to pay a fee to use the site, or bid for "projects". With the sheer number of vacancies listed, one can avail both short and long-term contracts at "fixed-price" and "hourly" rates, on a regular basis.
With over 300 featured skills tests, promoting your skills and experience could not be easier. Tests typically take the format of a 40 minute examination, featuring multiple choice questions. Depending upon your pass rate, you may choose to display your examinations on your profile, or hide them if they do not reflect your competency. Tests can be retaken 3-4 weeks after the original date, and there is no limit to the number of times you can do this.
There is a good selection of payment options available, fromPaypalto wire transfer. Unlike many similar sites, the transfer fees are miniscule, with a $1 fee applicable to Paypal transfers, and none for Direct Deposit.
oDesk's feedback system enables employers and contractors to leave structured feedback based on competency, communication and quality of work. The inclusion of a comment box also allows users to provide an honest opinion in their own words.
• People Per Hour:
People Per Hour is perhaps one of the best knownfreelance sitesfor contractors seeking short and long term projects. Unlike oDesk, the freelance site leader features three membership levels for contractors. Basic membership is free, however limits users to the listing of their skills in two service categories, as well as only providing ten "bids" per month. On top of this, the commission fee deducted from each project undertaken is 10%, with a minimum commission fee of £15.00.
Despite this,People Per Hourhas a vast range of employment opportunities exceeding 12 million pounds in value, at any one time. Projects range from baby-sitting to commercial sales management. The site connects employers and contractors from over 150 countries around the globe, and is used by over 21,000 companies in the U.K alone.
The basal structure of People Per Hour is similar to oDesk, however there are a number of features which make it unique. Contractors are provided with 3 MB of portfolio space on their profile in order to display examples of previous work. Additionally, an external referral system allows contractors to use references obtained from other jobs, to enhance their profile.
Unlike oDesk, People Per Hour requires "deposit" bidding in order for contractors to secure jobs. The reason for this is to eliminate the number of winning bidders leaving employers in the lurch by simply ignoring them, after winning the project. Contractors must place a bid between 4-10% of the project's overall value.
People Per Hour is ideal for freelance contractors looking to secure their first job. There are a wide range ofpermanent positions advertisedwithin the listings, as well as "fixed-price" opportunities.
• Go Freelance:
Ideal for freelance field sales professionals, Go Freelance is a predominantly Anglo and American directory utilized by corporations and limited companies to advertise long and short term positions.
Go Freelance is effectively an online directory of mainly sales oriented positions, and allows contractors to establish their own home-page on the site in order to attract interest. Applications are generally submitted through the site, however some employers freely include a contact email address within their job listings, should you wish to contact them directly.
Go Freelance site membership is free and allows contractors and employers to search for one another by category, or through the conducting of keyword searches. Other types of freelance work also feature on the site including marketing, writing and data entry.
• Executives on the Web:
Essentially a C.V and job database,Executives on the Weballows clients to seek contractors, and vice versa. The majority of users are British and American, however contractors from other countries also use the site to secure short, and long term freelance work, as well as location based roles.
Job categories range from procurement to web development; and feature advertisements from outsourcing companies, as well as established corporate clients. Users simply create a C.V and upload this to the database, adding S.E.O tags and phrases for best results. Clients and contractors contact one another directly, as all details are made freely available to members, with your permission.
The outlined summaries detail just some of thefreelance work availablewithin each site, therefore doesn't cover all opportunities on offer. You may wish to utilize several while establishing an online, freelance presence and reputation, and often, spreading yourself out between a number of sites will allow greater opportunity of availing a position.
