Inside ODesk

ODesk is an impressive Web service that lets you hire (or be hired) for programming and other jobs.

I sat down with the founders and got a look at the site.

Interview. 17:48.
Demo. 7:49.

Oh, and thanks to Ryanne for doing my video production.

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[podtech content=http://media1.podtech.net/media/2007/02/PID_010193/Podtech_ScobleShow_oDesk_Demo.flv&postURL=http://www.podtech.net/scobleshow/technology/1355/see-how-odesk-will-help-you-get-hired&totalTime=469000&breadcrumb=3F34K2L1]

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17 thoughts on “Inside ODesk

  1. This is not good news for US software developers. I took a quick look at the site. Average rate for a .NET developer is $15/hr? Are you kidding me? That’s 30K a year. You can’t live in America and support a family on that.

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  2. This is not good news for US software developers. I took a quick look at the site. Average rate for a .NET developer is $15/hr? Are you kidding me? That’s 30K a year. You can’t live in America and support a family on that.

    Like

  3. You’ll find that’s true of all of these types of sites. People want things done, but don’t really want to pay for them. Either ignore the low paying jobs, or go find contract work in a more “traditional” way (eg networking, word of mouth, those kinds of things).

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  4. You’ll find that’s true of all of these types of sites. People want things done, but don’t really want to pay for them. Either ignore the low paying jobs, or go find contract work in a more “traditional” way (eg networking, word of mouth, those kinds of things).

    Like

  5. Great headline Scoby. I see you are still trying hard to get to the top of search engine results… πŸ˜‰

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  6. Great headline Scoby. I see you are still trying hard to get to the top of search engine results… πŸ˜‰

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  7. Having worked through oDesk, this is not a place to go if you want to earn real money. This is the kind of place you try to find odd jobs to keep your skills sharp or to practice new things you have learned. It works well when you are relocating and need a job to tide you over until you are able to find real employment. The average salaries for experienced people in all fields are laughable.

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  8. Having worked through oDesk, this is not a place to go if you want to earn real money. This is the kind of place you try to find odd jobs to keep your skills sharp or to practice new things you have learned. It works well when you are relocating and need a job to tide you over until you are able to find real employment. The average salaries for experienced people in all fields are laughable.

    Like

  9. (caveat first, I work in customer support for oDesk but have been a provider in the past)

    I see a few comments on low pay for providers. In defense, a quick check shows just under 9% of the total active providers on our network are from the U.S. As we all know, the cost of living is different in other countries. As a former provider on our network, I was paid what I was worth. And I also did not have to pay for gas to travel to and from work, daycare costs were completely eliminated as well as a few other work related expenses.

    The more U.S. providers oDesk has active and working, the higher that average pay rate will be. Buyers don’t always go the cheapest route.

    Like

  10. (caveat first, I work in customer support for oDesk but have been a provider in the past)

    I see a few comments on low pay for providers. In defense, a quick check shows just under 9% of the total active providers on our network are from the U.S. As we all know, the cost of living is different in other countries. As a former provider on our network, I was paid what I was worth. And I also did not have to pay for gas to travel to and from work, daycare costs were completely eliminated as well as a few other work related expenses.

    The more U.S. providers oDesk has active and working, the higher that average pay rate will be. Buyers don’t always go the cheapest route.

    Like

  11. I had a few bad experiences with Odesk, and finally have learned my lesson. Sure everyone says there are good and bad programmers, but the problem with Odesk is their dispute system. If a programmer runs up the hours and/or delivers garbage. Which happens more often than it doesn’t, then you have little recourse. Their system charges your bank card anyway, then you are at their mercy to get a refund. You’d be more likely to get hit by a meteorite. So I advise everyone to stay away from Odesk.

    Like

  12. I had a few bad experiences with Odesk, and finally have learned my lesson. Sure everyone says there are good and bad programmers, but the problem with Odesk is their dispute system. If a programmer runs up the hours and/or delivers garbage. Which happens more often than it doesn’t, then you have little recourse. Their system charges your bank card anyway, then you are at their mercy to get a refund. You’d be more likely to get hit by a meteorite. So I advise everyone to stay away from Odesk.

    Like

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