Job Bid sites - anyone had a good time from them?

[silas2]

Then again, I thinks its only small businesses which use it.

[batrider10]

I've been to oDesk. And my experience is great! Seriously, the only time that I had difficulties was only on finding the first job. That is because of of the competition. Many of the service providers in oDesk already have a lot of experience and do have good ratings and feedback from their contractors. So what I did was to of course bid low on projects (simple projects only) and when the contractor will hire me, I will do my best to do good and when I finish the project, the contractor will give me a good rating and feedback. Then this will be the time when I can already raise a little on my bids.

There are actually other outsourcing sites you could try like:
1. Guru
2. Elance
3. Freelancer
4. vWorker
5. Scriptlance

[update]
Here's a blog I've stumbled about outsourcing sites. I've thought about sharing it thinking this might help you. It's actually about the different systems of outsourcing sites and some guidelines for contractors when hiring service providers, here's the link: http://www.timedoctor.com/blog/2011/...ow-to-use-them

Hope this helps.

[2BIT]

I can't help but feel the kind of business relationships you'd get from sites like rent a coder are the ones described here:

Clients from Hell

I need a ninja developer to program me some internets to increase my market penetration in the web cloud 2.0 arena, this is a voluntary role with no pay but will look good on your cv

[xchaotic]

Capitalism is all about living off that little extra that you shave off in transactions between two other people.
While most contractors might think of themselves as better than just middlemen, we are delivering services on behalf of end client.
They usually get more money than we do, an agent gets their cut, but we have our fair share.
With bidding sites like that the margins are getting needlessly small, the quality goes down and capitalism begins to fail a bit at it's own game.

Still if you can game the system, you can make a good living of such sites both ways - live cheaply, perhaps in Thailand like my friend does, or use that cheap workforce and focus on quality of life, spending you high rate while it still exists...

[stek]

I've been to oDesk. And my experience is great! Seriously, the only time that I had difficulties was only on finding the first job. That is because of of the competition. Many of the service providers in oDesk already have a lot of experience and do have good ratings and feedback from their contractors. So what I did was to of course bid low on projects (simple projects only) and when the contractor will hire me, I will do my best to do good and when I finish the project, the contractor will give me a good rating and feedback. Then this will be the time when I can already raise a little on my bids.

There are actually other outsourcing sites you could try like:
1. Guru
2. Elance
3. Freelancer
4. vWorker
5. Scriptlance

[update]
Here's a blog I've stumbled about outsourcing sites. I've thought about sharing it thinking this might help you. It's actually about the different systems of outsourcing sites and some guidelines for contractors when hiring service providers, here's the link: The Top 6 Outsourcing Sites (and how to use them) | Time Doctor - Time Management Software

Hope this helps.

Interesting first post! thanks!

Anyone else would think you're maybe a shill, but not me! Honest!