As a business owner, it matters not whether you hire online or offline there are certain traits/qualities that should always be considered before you hire your skilled worker. These can include…but are not exclusive to…
Intelligence: You want a creative thinker and problem solver
Integrity/honesty: These two go hand in hand.
Curiosity: Someone with a thirst to know and understand
Complimentary skills: Eliminate individual effort by hiring complimentary skill sets.
Enthusiasm: Enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm…it is contagious…need I say more?

Working online is hit or miss.  Sometimes, you really succeed in the business and it becomes your main source of income, while some try it out for a few months and decide to go back to working a 9-5 job.  What makes the difference and what should you do to become the former rather than the latter?

There are a lot of common mistakes and pitfalls that online workers commit.  I am guilty of committing a few of them myself.  In order for you to succeed as an online worker, you should be careful to avoid these mistakes now that you are already aware of them.

• Not knowing the going rates of other online workers in the same field of expertise – One of the first things you should do when starting to do online work is to research on the going rates of other online workers.  Say, you want to offer SEO services, go to freelancing sites and look at the rates posted by other freelancers that do

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EasyOutsource now has a page on Facebook and on Twitter.

Become fans of our facebook page or follow us on twitter to get updates on the latest job posts, featured worker, new site features, new blog posts, etc.

Don’t be left behind, know what’s new on EasyOutsource by connecting with us on facebook and twitter.

I’ve decided to write this article to help all the workers at EasyOutsource. I see so many good people with lots of potential, but very few who present themselves in the best possible way in order to get shortlisted. In my experiences of hiring, I’ve always had to probe and ask about key information that wasn’t present when I read the initial profile.

So pay very close attention and read every word in this training article, and you’ll give yourself the best chance of getting a job and that steady monthly income you deserve.

Tip #1: Have a professional Photo. You’re here on a professional site so don’t be putting pics of you on the beach half naked. If it was a dating site great but you want to be professional from the start. Find a picture of you in business attire or at the very least, crop a headshot so we can actually see your face. Don’t wear glasses, hats or anything that would cover your facial features. One more thing – SMILE! If it looks like an inmate mugshot where you aren’t giving a good energy, don’t expect to get that interview.

I have been asked by workers, several times in the past,  if they should bother sending in a cover letter after they apply for a job.  I always offer them the same answer:  even if employers don’t explicitly ask for a cover letter, it is good practice for you to send one in after you have expressed your interest in applying for the job.

Why, you ask?  Well, have you ever applied for a day job without presenting an application letter?  An online job is very much like a day job, only it is done online.  In any job application process, a cover letter is recommended.

However, you should not send in just any cover letter.  Never send in the same one to all of the jobs you applied for.  Doing so would be a reflection of bad taste.  You should write a new one for each job you apply for.  You should tailor-fit it to the job description.  Doing so will show that you pay close attention to detail [...] Continue reading

Being in the business of online work for two years, I have learned that there are a lot of different clients that exist online.  While it’s safe to say that each client is different from each other, we can more or less group them together based on how they handle workers and projects.  Let’s discuss each type one by one:

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In my earlier post “Are rates suggested by outsourcing gurus really enough?“, I talked about how low rates suggested by gurus are really not livable.  I also mentioned that one of the reasons these people suggest these rates are because some Filipino freelancers accept them.  Hence, this post.  I want to ask my fellow freelancers if lowering their rates is necessarily the solution to getting hired for a job.

If faced with the same question, my answer would be an obvious “no”.  I don’t think lowering your rates is the solution.  I believe in putting a premium on your work.  If you feel that you deserve to be given a particular rate, then by all means quote that.  However, we should do this within reason.  Your rate should be backed up with the proper skills and experience.  Without the two, you can never hope to charge more than the minimum.  You can check out my other post on reasonable rates to give Filipino freelancers and use that as a guide [...] Continue reading

No doubt about it, freelancing is stressful.  Sure, it is rewarding and pays more than a regular day job; but the stress that comes along with it is also arguably more than you would encounter in a 9-5 job.

It doesn’t have to be that way, though.  There are steps that you can do in order for you to avoid stress.  Let’s identify the stressors and how we can overcome them.

• You don’t have enough clients or projects – One of the most stressful part of freelancing involves finances.  Specifically, tight finances.  If you are a freelancer who works for clients on a per project basis, there will be times when you will have no work and you will find the need to apply and bid for new jobs every few weeks.  This is very stressful because one, you are not earning any income and two, having to go through the application process every so often will take its toll on you.
  What you need to

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For those of you who didn’t know, EasyOutsource has a forum.  We encourage you to use and participate in our forums to connect with fellow workers or employers, share your experiences in using the site, give comments and suggestions to the site’s admins, or just plain hang out.

We check the forums everyday for new posts that may require our answer or attention.  See you there!

You applied for one of the jobs listed in easyoutsource and apparently, the employer liked your profile and has sent you a message that he/she would want to set up an interview with you.  This is your first interview invitation and you have absolutely no idea what to do next.  Now what?

If you are ever faced with an interview invitation, here’s what you should do:

1. Know the employer’s time zone - Check the employer’s profile and find out what country and city/state they live in.  Do your research and know their time zone and the time equivalent to the  Philippine time zone.  Determine a time that seems convenient for both you and the employer and take note of that time, in the employer’s time zone.
2. Prepare your method of contact – Different employers interview differently.  Some interview via email, some via chat, and some via voice chat.  Typically, employers like to conduct interviews via YM, Google Talk, MSN, and Skype.  You should try and get accounts with one

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