Elance: Could It Be An Alternative To Outsourcing?

I'd be rich if I got a dollar every time I've heard somebody say, "I'd love to work from home but everything I find when I search online is a scam!"  Fear no more, I have found a valid solution to your problem!  Elance is a great place for people with variety of skills to find an extra income.  Some people have even turned it into a full time career.  Whether you are looking for work, or need somebody to provide a service at a reasonable rate, this is the website to check out.


I signed up for Elance and expected the screen for me to enter my credit card information to come up.  However, this place is different.  You get to apply or submit a proposal for real work with real money.  There are literally thousands of jobs available right now!  Employers add new projects every single day, 24 hours a day from around the globe.  You can find work for IT, legal, marketing, virtual admin assistants, customer service, finance, translation etc.  The best part of all is that it is FREE to sign up and start your profile.


Part of the deal is you get to submit proposals for up to 15 jobs each month without having to pay one penny out of  your pocket.  They offer upgrades which in my opinion are worth the small investment.  The upgraded membership allows you to apply for more jobs but there is no obligation to upgrade.  Once you sign up it is well worth your time to begin working on your profile.  A lot of employers expect your profile to be complete prior to submitting a proposal.  You also have a section where you can market some of your best skills and qualities and you get to prove it with real online tests.


Figure out what your top five qualities are that you want an employer to see.  If you have exceptional skills with web design, take the test so the employer can see how you measure up.  If your expertise is making a great database, or administrative duties you have a chance to show off.  Make sure you treat any assignment you get in a professional and confidential manor, just as you would where you currently work.  This is very important if you want to get more assignments.  Also, do not submit a proposal for something unless you are positive you can complete it within the time expected.


One last important thing to keep in mind when you begin providing services is that you are self-employed.  This means that you need to claim this income on your taxes.  Taxes will not be withheld when you get paid.  You will get a 1099-form when tax time rolls around.  Other than that, best of luck!