Since I’m not really a morning person maybe it wasn’t the best thing to do, but I thought I would begin my day by exploring www.Odesk.com. When I went to the site and saw that you could watch a video about ODesk, I thought learning about it would be easy. Videos are always helpful, aren’t they? While the video gave good information, I realized when I started looking through the different sections; I needed a tutorial on sorting through everything on this website.

I should preface this by stating, I am not one for sorting through things. I like to visit a store and have items I’m looking for right in front of me. So, maybe my difficulty with this site is just a personality flaw. With all that said, this is a very extensive website and the overall design seems easy, but I didn’t find the navigation results to be that “user-friendly”. In using keywords for searching, the first results that appeared were all foreign countries. I thought the locations might be in alphabetical order but after looking further, I realized it was listed as highest first – highest what first, I don’t know, never quite put my finger on whether it was hourly rate or what exactly it was. Also, only when you search for a job or provider, does the option of advanced searching come up, it’s not found on the home page where other websites store it. Plus, having an aversion to posting photos of myself, I didn’t see the real benefit of adding a picture to your information. It seems it would be a great deal more important what skills and experience one had versus what they look like. Isn’t that part of the virtual world; you can get the job done with your hair messed up and pajamas on? A nice picture might make one think I dress up to go next door and work. Sorry, I don’t, but for those who do – KUDOS to you!

For fear of just being negative, there are many beneficial areas of this website. They have approximately 212 skill tests you may take to show your qualifications, with the option of keeping them private if you don’t do so well. They do have requirements for retaking tests if you don’t pass them the first time. However, all test taking is free and that can only be helpful, if for no other reason, to see how much you know about a particular skill. You are required to pass the ODesk Ready test before you’re able to apply for jobs. While the word “test” sends chills up my spine, this is open book so surely most people could pass it. They also have established a time management feature for the provider and buyer with their work diary and management tools. For the provider, this  tool can help you stay on task and for the buyer, this helps keep track of how the worker’s time is spent. This would seem to be a very good tool for anyone in this virtual world of working. In addition, ODesk allows a service provider to be paid in several different ways, as opposed to some sites who only allow PayPal or escrow.

ODesk does have many great features; you just have to spend time navigating through the various areas to discover all the benefits of this site. ODesk may be “Changing How the World Works”, but first I have to figure out how their website works! Then again, maybe I just need to learn how to sort through things!