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On Freelance Work in Recession

Here are brief essays submitted after reading the following New York Times article about Freelancing in Hard Times. Discuss the benefits that you see to free lance work by visiting the websites identified in the article. Critique each website and state which one is best and which one is worse and why. Answer the question: Is freelance work something everyone should consider? If so, why? If not, why?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/13/business/smallbusiness/13freelance.html?em

S. Marsh

In times like these the unemployed are always looking for ways to make an extra buck. Freelance work, whether it is in consulting, human resources or graphic arts, is on the rise. oDesk, Elance and Guru  are all interesting websites that target freelancers.

oDesk , Elance and Guru all exhibit the benefits of freelance work. All three website provide online staffing which allows small and medium sized companies to hire no matter the location of the person.  You can also post your hourly pay or fixed rates for smaller jobs. The most attractive benefit is the flexibility of freelance work.

While all three websites offer employment for freelance worker some make it easier than others. oDesk was the most attractive to me. It catches your eye and its upfront with the benefits of the website. I like how you cant take a tour of the website too. I also like how you can build your reputation and experience through test that test your knowledge on different skills.  This allows the employer to see review your test to see your knowledge and abilities.  Elance is mostly for graphic design, IT and website design. It is fairly cheap; about $9.95 a month.  Guru is free for employers and freelancers! This probably makes it attractive to college students. Another aspect I like is its not targeted to only one profession. They also issue 1099 tax forms for you for free. After reviewing the advantages and disadvantages of each website, my favorite is a tie between Guru and oDesk. My least favorite is Elance.

Freelance work is something everyone should consider. It’s an away to build your resumes, make extra money and network. I think it’s the perfect thing for college student to get involved in. Even if its data entry a broke college student can make an extra 200 dollars or more every two weeks. Especially with this recession, it is not wise to only look for the normal jobs. This recession calls for creativity.(20)

M. Johnson

According to Oscar Wilde, “The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one.” In the American society today this has become a most true statement. Each day there are many Americans who are either losing jobs or have decided not to work (stay-at-home moms). Due to the structure of today’s economy many now turn to freelance work as a way to make a living and provide for their homes. Three main websites used to provide these opportunities are Elance, oDesk, and Guru.com.

By helping people achieve their financial goals we inadvertently strengthen the fabric of the community around us. All three of these sites have tax form documentation for any legality attached to its jobs. Out of the three I would say that Elance gives the best options. Elance’ site is easy to use and practically self explanatory which keeps attention to anyone on its site. Although its not difficult to comprehend the other two, most viewers will work with, simplicity is always better. Elance lets employers monitor contractor’s work remotely. Many employers have created their teams by using Elance and have had the most success. Elance has proven to be most adverse in providing design jobs and has had the most independent contractors. Elance only takes off 6.75 to 8.75 of the billings pay along with a onetime fee ranging from 9.95 to 39.95.

According to Jim Ron, “Work harder on yourself than you do on your job.” Taking this into consideration out of all three sites Guru would be the least likely to use. It takes up to ten percent off per billings, It also deducts anywhere from 29.95 to 129.94 per quarter. It also can take up to 5 additional percent off billings/pay. Guru may not be one of the hardest to comprehend unlike oDesk.com however, the expense seems to be extremely high when other sites still remain in providing you with great quality workers with the lowest prices. Even oDesk slogan states “Hire, Manage and Pay remote contractors as if they were in your office.” Pleasure in the Job puts perfection in the work and I agree that freelancing is a great idea and many should consider it as a future profession. (20)

M. Ray

With the rate of layoffs and people growing tired with their average nine to five jobs, the number of independent workers is steady rising. Freelance work has gradually, over time, offered a variety of opportunities for many people who are interested in self-employment. Sites such as Elnace, oDesk, and Guru function on the same ideologies as eBay allowing people to advertise their skills and bid on different professions.

After scrutinizing Elance, oDesk, and Guru, I have found that each site has been created for the same reason—to allow people to go into business for themselves. Yet, each site has taken on its own format. I personally feel as though oDesk.com is the most appealing solely because it appears to be more organized and user friendly as oppose to Elance or Guru. Unlike oDesk, Elance’s layout seems a bit cluttered. Guru and oDesk have filed their categories in a more orderly fashion; oDesk more so.

Freelancing is a wonderful option for people who seek self-employment. I feel as though if someone is already employed by a company and wants to go into a business of their own for the first time, that shift should be a gradual one. They should maintain their current occupation while transitioning to self-employment. It also provides people with the opportunity to find work out side of their community. Small town people can now acquire the big city jobs without leaving the comfort of their homes. Independent work is a great way for people to balance their personal life and their professional life. It is also a great advantage for people such as stay at home mothers or people who want to have more leisure time to spend with their family and friends.

However, to go into independent work, the dedication and drive must be an asset they posses. Self-employment is an easy way to turn lazy or put things off. This is another reason why oDesk is more appealing. Odesk allows employers to examine a contractor’s work. An employer can sign on and view their workers through a web cam or take a glance at their work.

Overall, with all the layoffs occurring today, I feel as though independent work should be something most people should consider.(20)