Can online freelance sites help your job search?

[Badshah Mamun]

Can online freelance sites help your job search?

Have you considered freelancing online as part of your job search?  In many ways, online-employment platforms can help you by providing quick access to employers who are looking for help in specific projects. In today?s pared-down marketplace most businesses need help and an online platform lets companies temporarily staff up when needed without hiring costs.

Working online has been around for a while, but it?s gaining popularity as businesses and job seekers find common interest in solving employment needs. In a recent blog post I mentioned how graduate students are facing challenges finding internships. Online employment platforms might be a win-win solution for a business owner looking for freelance work and a student who needs marketplace experience, for example.

I talked with Rich Pearson, chief marketing officer at Elance, one of the larger online freelance marketplace platforms, to get a better understanding of how online employment could help graduate students ? and job seekers in general ? look for freelancing assignments. Pearson describes freelancing as a way graduate students can showcase their work, including class projects, that could match a company?s need for quick-turnaround assignments.

Pearson said, ?students? online skills (such as) quickly assimilating data, can easily give them a good start in the marketplace.?  With over 2,500 jobs posted daily in such areas as graphic design, writing, and business and marketing strategy opportunities, it?s tempting to use an online employment platform as a way to start building a body of work.

Searching for employment opportunities online can be risky, as there are scams as well as legitimate opportunities. Pearson said platforms such as Elance provide a safe way for businesses to access candidates.

There are several reasons employers and contractors are attracted to an online employment platform. It?s less-expensive to hire a freelancer for a quick project than to make a long-term hiring commitment, it?s a relatively easy hiring process and the freelancer can work from home.

Pearson offered some tips to help make you a more competitive candidate.

    When submitting a proposal for a potential employer, make sure your information is relevant, sincere and to the point. If you?re a student, describe  how your class projects relate to the employer?s immediate need.
    Make sure your personality and enthusiasm come through. When you describe your background, think about what makes you unique. How do you differ from other people competing for the same projects. As in a job search, spend time developing your introduction and branding statement, because it helps set you apart from the crowd.
    Think fast when submitting a proposal. A quick response and the ability to interact quickly as opportunities surface help you land assignments.
    Doing a great job and delivering excellent customer service adds to managing your reputation. A track record of reliability often leads to more business.

The keys to working with online employment opportunities include how well you market your skills, persistence, how quickly you respond to clients needs and a can-do attitude.

There are many online freelancing sites. I highly recommend that before you do any work for them, you research them carefully  and network with people who have worked for them to learn from their experiences, as well.

Source: http://blog.seattlepi.com/gettowork/2012/06/14/can-online-freelance-sites-help-your-job-search/