[Nick's Writing Blog] Guest Post: Using Job Auction Sites as a Resource to Ge...
Nick
Today I'm pleased to bring you a guest post by Matthew Jackson, who writes on behalf of the job auction site PeoplePerHour.
I have used PPH myself, both as a writer seeking work and as an employer subcontracting to other writers, so I know the site well and am happy to recommend it to others.
For those who don't know, I should preface Matthew's article by explaining that job auction sites provide an online marketplace where writers (and other freelances) can bid on projects posted by would-be clients. The clients then assess the bids they have received, and offer the job to the bidder they think will be most suitable for them (based on price quoted, skill set, experience, and so on).
Over to Matthew, then!
* * *
The number of job auction websites is growing steadily, but be wary about any that ask you to pay a significant sum of money up front.
Any reputable site will have a free basic membership allowing you to try before you buy, with an option to purchase a more substantial subscription-based package with greater benefits and visibility should you decide that a particular job auction site is going to be useful to you in your search for work.
When a freelance copywriter first tries their hand at bidding on a job auction website, the natural reaction is to think that the lowest bidder will win. First things first, then: job auction sites are not eBay, and they don't just revolve around how much you bid. The lowest bidder doesn't win a commission unless they are also the best candidate. If you come in below an employer's budget and you are the person best suited to do the work, then that's a winning combination; but if your skills are mediocre and you offer the lowest bid, it's rare that you will be selected for the job. The majority of serious employers need work to be handled efficiently the first time without having to pay for a second freelance to do it properly if you don't deliver. It may surprise you to know that fewer than 7% of jobs go to the lowest bidder on job auction websites, so keep your bids realistic and in line with your normal hourly or piecework rate.
Presentation is the first and most important rule for a freelance writer when looking for any type of work, not just on a job auction website. If you are applying online, the first thing that an employer sees is your ability - or lack thereof - to grasp basic grammar, punctuation and spelling when you put in your bid. If you are looking for work as a freelance writer or copywriter, then it is expected that you can demonstrate a very high standard of written English in your bid or application. If English is not your first language, remember that you are bidding equally against those for whom it is, so you have to be sure that you can be competitive with them.
Once you have delivered work sourced through a job auction website, you will receive feedback from your client, and this leads to an increase in your ranking within the site. Essentially, the more work you do, the more you should get as a result, and the more visible your profile will be to other employers. Naturally, if a freelance copywriter has good reviews from previous jobs, it makes those offering commissions more confident in employing them, vis-a-vis those with little or no feedback.
So, the principal challenge is getting yourself onto the ladder by bidding and winning commissions and getting excellent feedback for what you have done.
As with any type of job hunting, if you stand out from the crowd with your skill set, you are putting yourself at an immediate advantage over those who are not as qualified, so never sell yourself short and always make sure that you list all your qualifications and experience relevant to the post.
If you are experienced but feel that your qualifications, or lack of them, are holding you back, try some online learning, as it's a great way in which to brush up on the practical skills that you already have. For example, if you are a freelance writer returning to work, you may want to enhance your computer knowledge and get to grips with the latest industry software which could be useful in your search for work.
The bottom line is that if you freelance, you are self-employed, and as such it is entirely your responsibility to make yourself the best possible candidate when bidding for a job, thus convincing clients that you are precisely the person that they are seeking.
If you are looking to find a website that offers freelance jobs, then PeoplePerHour is a good place to start. They have lots of different types of jobs available and there is lots of information in their blog on how to use the service and get started with your freelance career.
* * *
Thank you to Matthew for an informative and encouraging article. If you have any questions or comments for Matthew, please do post them below.
Photo Credit: MPClemens on Flickr
--
Posted By Nick to Nick's Writing Blog at 10/27/2010 05:54:00 AM