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guru.com

reviewed by reggieanon

Guru.com is an online marketplace for freelance talent that allows employers to post projects, and professionals to post their profiles.

reggieanon
02/07/2009

guru.com 1

To MDGraphics:
The reason that over 60% of the projects go "unawarded" is because a lot of employers contact the freelancer directly and they conclude their arrangements offline (outside guru.com) and set up invoicing and payments directly. I know because I just got a $30,000 contact off guru.com in this manner. Screw guru.com! I'm not paying them a percentage of every hour that I work. It's enough that I pay them $100 quarterly to subscribe.


To interhope:
You think guru.com favors the freelancer? Surely, you're kidding. Let's see... the employer can read my profile, see a picture of me, review my resume and work samples. But, as a freelancer, when I bid on a project, I have to do it blindly, knowing nothing (not even the name) of the perspective employer. If you got a crappy freelancer, then the fault is yours. Did you review their work samples? Did you read their resume? Did you study his background that is posted on his profile? Did you call and talk to him and drill him with questions till you felt comfortable about his abilities and reliability? Did you establish beforehand an agreement of payments being tied to deliverables? Did you well define the project?

One thing is clear, from the freelancer point of view, you must know how to spot the employers to avoid. Here's some clues:

1) The folks coming out and saying something like, "I want a website like Monster.com and I am willing to invest $5000 - $10000." They're idiots. Leave them to the Indians.

2) If the initial job description sucks, you can pretty well guess they aren't going to be able to clearly define the project for you. A poorly defined project means a lot of guesswork as to what is in the employer's head. It's a fomula for a poor relationship, and both sides disappointed.

Finally, freelancers, charge what you're worth! I put down $50/hour and was pleased whan an employer called me and said, "I could have hired someone posting a rate of $15/hour, but then they would probably just bill me 3 hours for every hour worked." There are some smart employers out there. Don't appeal to the employers who are nothing but freeloaders, wanting to get rich while paying you nothing.

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ArtWest commented 293 days ago.
Well said, reggieanon. That's a great contract you scored. What business are you in?

The gems are there, as are lots of junky employers.

Art

ep2002 commented 293 days ago.
reggieanon just one comment about screening ICs.

The majority (especially in certain fields) REFUSE to be screened.

They think b/c they are freelancers that they don't have to fill out applications, be interviewed, read over the company's policies etc.

So I thank you for giving me your pov on how ICs are left in the dark about companies, but be aware of how MOST ICs are online.

Most think they are above every other contractor who works offline. I've never heard of a company offline who hired a contractor & didn't screen/interview them just as much as an "employee", but this is our society online now in 2009. To me there is no difference between an IC & an employee, other than the benefits & that the contractor may have 2-4 clients instead of just working f/t for one.

I still expect the same level of respect, communication, reliability etc.

Thanks


Michelle

reggieanon commented 293 days ago.
To Michelle:
In my profession (web application developer), it is a seller's market. I have far more opportunities for employment than I can fulfill. So, the choice is mine as to who I will work for. Employers (the buyers) have a limited pool of those who truly know what they are doing.

But, many employers treat us like we are the ones who need you. Instead, it should be viewed as an equal need of one for the other. Without employers, I don't have an income. Without guys like me, you don't have a product to sell.

Your seem to feel it is your right to interview the freelancer just as you would an employee. Do you interview the guy who sells you office products, the gal who services your computer equipment, the guy who does your plumbing or repairs the air conditioning units? Or is it just the freelancer you feel needs to be treated like an employee? After all, if you bothered to read our profile, we have provide a resume, a picture, work sample portfolio, etc. On the other hand, you have provided nothing to let us know about you. So, seems to me that YOU are the one that needs to be interviewed by the freelancer and you should fill out the application so we can be sure you have the temperament and intelligence to run a project, provide the proper specs, and have the financial status to pay us on time.

It is clear that you believe you, the employer, should be in the controlling position. I disagree. Again, we are vendors - just like all the other types of providers I have mentioned.

Get off your high horse. Freelancers are NOT your employees. Why do you think we became freelancers to begin with? It sure wasn't so that we could be treated in the condescending way that most employers treat their employees.

dianazancker commented 261 days ago.
I am a guru freelancer, with a problem. I became a freelancer after working on a contract basis for a Fortune 500 employer for over 10 years. Each year, I was asked to provide more and more work for less and less pay, until 10 years later, I am earning less than the first year I began working for them. So I joined guru and have found more of the same problem.

An employer posts a project and receives 15 bids. The employer asks for some additional favors to narrow down the field by giving small work samples about the posted project. 10 freelancers provide additional work for the project posting and the employer allows the project to expire, getting free work for nothing and not having to pay for any of the bidders.

Now, I feel the liability resides with GURU to protect the freelancers from HI-JACKed employers that simply continue to bid and bid and get half the work done for nothing - then using an employee or themselves to finish the job once they have enough material from the samples to work from.

Through their new rating systems - it is easy to peruse each employer and see which employers continue to bid and don't actually hire - I feel after two posting or three - if you can't find the talent from the massive pile of contractors available - you are not interested in paying for any project, and those employers should be banned -

it is really quite easy to go through all the freelancer materials on their profiles and complete Article writing work or training curricula work for nothing. That is called THEFT and we should be protected by our HOST to avoid (as much as possible) these employer hi-jackers!
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