oDesk - Is It For You?

What is oDesk?

oDesk is a website (https://www.odesk.com/) that allows freelancers (potentially you) to create profiles/resumes and apply for jobs posted by employers. Here's an FB page for Filipino oDesk freelancers (http://www.facebook.com/thefreelancepinoy)

 

Is it a scam?

No, it's free to join/register and once you've been contracted you will get paid based on your agreed price or hourly rate. Of course, there might be unscrupulous employers out there, but every job posting includes an employer rating. If you're careful about only applying for those with good ratings and verified payment schemes you should be okay. I have not yet gotten a job where I wasn't paid.oDesk earns by getting 10% off your rate once you are hired and paid.

 

How do I get paid?

You either apply for a fixed-rate or hourly job. You propose your rate when you apply and if you get hired that would be the basis for payment. Payment is in USD. There's about a week or two to process each weekly payment. Once done, the $ are put in your oDeskaccount. From there, you can either withdraw to a local bank account (I haven't tried this yet) or withdraw to PayPal and from there, withdraw to a local bank account. Note that the bank may charge for every withdrawal - for BPI it is P150.

 

What kind of jobs are available?

Main categories are Web Development, Software Development, Networking & Information Systems, Writing & Translation, Administrative Support, Design & Multimedia,  Customer Service,  Sales & Marketing, Business Services. If you're computer savvy (especially with Microsoft Office) and have good English communication skills, one of the higher paying jobs is that of a Virtual Assistant (similar to being a secretary for someone in US, UK, or Australia). To learn more about this kind of work, you can research "virtual assistant" via Google or drop by this website http://www.filipinova.com/ which offers VA training for Filipinos (I haven't tried this myself).

 

What are the benefits?

You get to work from home and at your own pace/time. Pay is good once you get a regular job.
 

What are the drawbacks?

In the beginning, it will be hard to get a job because there are so many people applying. Be sure to complete your resume and portfolio, take the oDesk exams, and apply for as many jobs as you can. It might also help to lower your rate for the first few jobs and then make it higher as you gain more feedback.

Unlike in an office, there are no benefits (medical, leaves, etc.) and jobs aren't stable. If an employer chooses to end your contract, you'll have to find another job.

Work At Home Mothers - Dissecting Myth From Reality

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Is it possible to work at home and still earn more than your past day job? Absolutely! In this age of high speed Internet connectivity, mobile devices, and numerous networking sites, there is no reason you cannot work in the confines of your own personal space, in the comfort of hearth and home.

So then you start to wonder - why don't more people do it? Why don't I do it? It's the ultimate dream job - I get to be my own boss, work at my own time and pace, spend more time with the kids, and still earn enough to...

Stop right there. Yes, it is possible to work from home. Yes, so many people have successfully set up businesses in their own houses, sold products online, became true-blue "entrepreneurs" and earned a bundle. Yes, several more people are living solely on online jobs, making use of skills such as writing, editing, programming, transcribing, clerical/secreterial work, bookkeeping, etc...

...and they do so by exerting more time and effort than is required in a 8AM-5PM day job.

Most people have the misconception that working at home equates to a cushy job with less hours and more pay. However, you will soon find that attempting to get a job done within the prescribed deadline can be quite stressful and challenging amidst constant disruptions such as telephone calls, a baby that doesn't sleep, children screaming while you're in that all-important meeting, deliveries, pesky salesmen, laundry that won't wash themselves...and oh, is it time to prepare lunch already?

You may be your own boss, but without someone to push and drive you towards completing your deliverables, you will need an extreme sense of responsibility, resourcefulness, and diligence to do it on your own - after all, there's no one around to help you! You will then discover that toiling this close to the TV, PS3/XBOX, fridge, and that cute-as-a-button toddler who wants to play with you is a form of torture in itself. Eventually, you will realize that by the time you've completed your tasks for the day, you've put in the same amount of hours as you've done in an office - likely even more.

Trying to start your own business is even worse. If you want to earn enough to merit quitting your day job, you will spend most of your waking hours (and a good bit of the ones you normally use for sleeping) making and selling your product, and catering to discerning, pushy clients.

With the right frame of mind and a proper set of expectations, however, you can work from home and earn a good deal of money. Here are some of the many opportunities available for you:

(1) Find online jobs that suit your skills - The most popular of which are content/SEO writing, programming, virtual assistance, web design, and transcribing. The hardest thing about this would be filtering the scams and non-paying employers from the legitimate ones. Pinoy Home Worker provides tips, information, and sites to help get you started.

(2) Start an online business - While this may be the most rewarding of jobs, this is also the most grueling. There is no longer an "office" or "company" that handles all the little details of tax, inventory, bookkeeping and expenses - it's all in your hands now. The good news is that there are a lot of resources - both offline and online - to guide you on your path to entrepreneurship. If you're new to online selling, Multiply and Sulit are good places to start. Make the most of seminars and expos to gain more ideas, suppliers, clients, and contacts.

(3) Offer tutorial services - More and more working parents are turning to tutors to help their children cope with the current school system, which, in the recent years, has began the trend of bombarding students with tons of projects, assignments, fast-paced learning and foreign methods (Singapore math, anyone?). If you're already helping your child with his/her studies, you may want to consider adding 1-2 more kids to earn extra money. Who knows? This may be the beginning of your new career as a tutor/teacher.

(4) Bake/Cater - If you're handy in the kitchen, you'll be loved by moms who are not. Sell cakes and brownies  (these are very popular as party souvenirs) or make packed lunches or meals for moms who are too busy to cook (or just don't know how!).

(5) Write A Book - Seriously, if you have a great story to tell, write it. Gone are the days when you have to print several copies of your work, send it to a publisher via snail mail (with a SASE, of course) and wait several months for a rejection letter. There are a lot of online publications that pay well - and deal with you electronically. Duotrope's Digest is a good source for such publishers. The downside to this profession is that it make take years before you get your big break - unless your name is JK Rowling or Stephenie Meyer.

Gymboree Rates

I just found out (thankfully, before I enrolled my child) that the rates and payment schemes of Gymboree differ (significantly) depending on the branch/location. After visiting 4 different branches, I also found that they were not consistent in some areas. For example, some offer trial classes for free (except for art class), others charge P500 for preview of any class - deductible if you enroll, one branch I visited had a television set in their classroom and let the children watch videos (though I was assured that these were Gymboree videos and only meant to introduce the lesson for the day), another branch inserted snack time during a 1 hour class, etc.

If you are looking into enrolling your child in Gymboree - and I do recommend this after seeing the confidence and skills gained by my toddler after a few classes - it would be best to try out more than one branch in order to find one whose management style, teachers, and costs best suit you (and your baby!). Also, always attend a trial class first.

Toddler's First Flight - The Preparation

The family has decided on Boracay for our summer getaway and this will be the first time my toddler will be boarding a plane. I can easily imagine how things can get really, really bad with a fidgety toddler riding a plane for the first time, so I've been scouting around magazines and websites for air travel tips and toys. Here are the ones I've found useful and will be trying out:

(1) Get a book about airplanes so she'd know what to expect

(2) Have gum or lollipop ready to help her relieve the pressure and unclog her ears

(3) Gadgets such as iPad, iPod, Fisher Price Pixter, or similar items. I have a PSP so I'm setting this up to play her favorite cartoons and songs.

(4) I found a site with tips on how to keep a toddler busy during air travel, using items that are readily available on an airplane!

(5) Travel toys suitable for air travel (i.e., lightweight with little or no pieces that can fall off or create a mess) - magnetic toys, toys with reusable stickers, lacing toys, activity books, pipe cleaners, and pocket doodle toys (i.e., etch a sketch)

So begins my adventure to find good quality, affordable travel toys and books that are available locally...more on my next blog!

Schooling Starts At Home - Teaching Babies and Toddlers

At 2.5 years old, my toddler is able to speak full sentences; can recognize and identify letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and body parts; has memorized at least 10 nursery rhymes and 3 Dora books; knows her fruits, vegetables, and animals; and can count to 50. She is currently learning how to read and write. She accomplished all these long before I enrolled her in Gymboree classes. I'm often asked by parents and yayas if she goes to school already, to which I say no - I've been teaching her myself since she was born. I haven't followed any tried-and-tested approach or teaching methods, mostly I just played it be ear, so I thought it best to list some of the things I tried that seemed to work:

(1) Start reading and singing nursery rhymes to them early on. Even if it seems like it's a useless effort as they don't appear to listen or understand, it does get through. This is evident in the way my daughter - when she finally learned to talk - suddenly sang the songs we sung to her when she was less than a year old. I had a yaya who sang Nobody (Wonder Girls) when she was about a year old. She'd changed yayas since and no one else sang that to her. Imagine her current yaya's shock when she suddenly burst out "nobody, nobody but you!" just the other week, complete with head bobbing action.

(2) Introduce them to books. I can't stress this enough. Let them handle books appropriate for their age to get them interested. I started with Fisher Price books with bright colors. Dora's Little Library came next - it's just perfect for little hands! I also kept telling her that books were not toys. She was not allowed to tear, bend, or fold the pages, or stand/sit on the books. Fully Booked is her favorite jaunt now and she has a huge collection of Barney, Dora, Pooh Bear, and Mickey Mouse books.

(3) Allow them to watch educational shows while eating. When we first introduced solid food, we also introduced her to TV for the first time. She could watch TV while eating, and we showed her Sesame Street videos full of songs that teach ABCs, numbers, colors, shapes, and body parts. This made her grasp basic concepts easily and she actually enjoys eating (I have a lot of friends whose babies refuse to eat so this is a coup for me!). The only drawback was that she eventually graduated to Barney and would watch over and over and over again. She eventually got off this habit though.

(4) Make every moment a learning experience. Buy alphabet bath stickers for the bath. Show her colors and shapes when you're out and about or while playing with her toys. Make her count groceries while sitting in the shopping cart.

(5) NO baby talk. Treat them like little adults so they will learn to act and speak accordingly. You'll be surprised at how they will try to pick up singular-plural and past-present-future tense rules on their own by listening to you speak. Refrain from screaming and shouting when they do something wrong or won't stop crying. Instead, explain things to them calmly, in simple terms they will understand. Keep talking and they'll eventually calm down. And yes, the lecture does get through to them.

(6) Teach them regularly. When my daughter turned 1, I started teaching her ABCs, numbers, colors, shapes, and animals through Brainy Baby books. Flash cards were also a big help. It's best to use simple flash cards, I got ones with the letter in front and sample word and picture at the back. I found that cards with too much information on one side - especially those featuring popular characters such as Mickey Mouse or Barney - were too distracting. This was also about the time we started her on the First 1000 words book.

(7) Do as you teach. My daughter saw me and my husband reading (even if only comics and magazines) and wanted to read as well. She saw her lola do crossword puzzles and wanted to learn how to write. She saw us building puzzles and wanted to try it out on her own. Toddlers love to emulate - be sure to be a good role model to them. If you want them to say Please and Thank You, be sure to always say these key phrases when you hold conversations with other people.

Time to put my toddler to bed :) More tips to come on my next post!

Gymboree and Little Gym

While scouting for a toddler school to prepare my daughter for the "big schools", we were lucky enough to attend the open house of two well-known preschools for toddlers - Gymboree and Little Gym.

Gymboree's toddlers program is held 3 times a week. Each class is around 2-2.5 hours with snack time. The curriculum is a mix of their regular toddler classes covering music, art, play, and learning lab (teaches basic concepts of writing, numbers, alphabet, dates, weather, etc.). The whole class is expected to follow the given schedule for the day. The open house started with learning about the day of the week and the weather, followed by a short music session where they play instruments and follow the movements of their teacher. Next up was an art activity involving paints and crafts. After cleaning up and snack time, the children were given a counting exercise. The session ends with exploring colors and writing through a LeapFrog desk. The whole session is peppered with songs to keep the children engaged.

Little Gym follows a progressive or play-based approach. Their toddler class is held twice a week and lasts for 2.5 hours. The first part of the class is spent in their gym. This part was skipped during the open house so we were not able to experience it. During the trial session, the classroom was divided into 4 sections where tables, chairs, and materials were set up. The class started with snack time (we were informed that all classes start this way). Afterwards, the children were allowed to explore the room and choose the activity they wanted, involving art, colors, and counting. There were always one or two teachers close at hand to assist with the activity, but it's generally left to the parent and child to finish the task. The next activity was story time. The children were free to choose any book from the shelves and give it to a teacher to read to them. My daughter was on her second book when a teacher suddenly announced that it was time to pack up and proceed to the next project. The teacher who was reading to her just closed the book (halfway through it) with my toddler still looking up at her expectantly. This was the only major pitfall for me. After the reading session, all the children were called to gather together and listen to the story of the hungry caterpillar. Once done, the goodbye song was sung and the children got their customary stamps.

Both Gymboree and Little Gym are more focused on activities and play than actual worksheets, though Gymboree uses LeapFrog for writing exercises while Little Gym does claim to use worksheets from time to time for toddlers. The key difference between the two is that Little Gym offers a more relaxed environment where the children are free to explore at their own pace and pursue their interests. Gymboree is more energetic and attempts to engage the children to follow a structured schedule. While I do see the merit in giving children their age the freedom to learn at their own pace through play, I'm leaning more towards Gymboree in preparing my daughter for the bigger schools, especially since I favor the traditional approach. Since she was able to follow instructions and complete the activities during the Gymboree open house, I think she will be able to cope with their learning system.

With regards to the tuition fees, there is little to no difference between the two schools once all the miscellaneous fees are included (I honestly don't know why this is a separate matter for both schools). The additional edge Gymboree offers is unlimited gymplay for members enrolled in their preschool. Little Gym only allows the use of their gym during an actual class/session.

Toddler's First Puzzles!

My 2.5 year old daughter sees me working on puzzles all the time and wants to try it out for herself. So I figure, why not? Brain food and good practice for hand-eye coordination and control.

I bought her JOYTOY'S Spelling Fun set, which contains 16 3-piece puzzles. The puzzle pieces are large and easy to handle. Best of all, each piece corresponds to a letter that spells out the word depicted by the puzzle such as D-O-G, C-A-T, P-I-E, S-U-N, etc. What better way to introduce your little one to basic words and spelling?

My baby took to this puzzle set immediately and it was also quite a hit with the other toddlers in the playroom. I started by laying out one puzzle at a time and teaching her how to properly fit the pieces together. Once she mastered one puzzle, I began to mix the puzzle pieces for 3 different puzzles for her to distinguish and build, one puzzle at a time. The next day, I gave her a mix of 4 puzzles and so on until she can identify and build a mix of at least a dozen of the puzzles.

Eventually, I bought her a 4-in-1 puzzle that consists of a 3-piece, 4-piece, 5-piece, and 6-piece puzzle to increase her level one step at a time. She is now able to dump all of the puzzle pieces and rebuild it on her own.

JOYTOY Spelling Fun costs less than P200 for the whole box of 16 puzzles. I bought it at SM department store. There's also a 4-letter-word set available to start introducing tots to C-A-K-E and D-U-C-K.

4-in-1 puzzle sets are usually found alongside party favors and are a good deal at only P50!

[gallery]

San Fabian, Pangasinan

I recently went on an excursion to Center Beach, San Fabian, Pangasinan with family friends and decided to bring my toddler along. Major mistake. The beach water was murky, the sand was itchy, and the general area was peppered with garbage. While we were getting ready to swim, my brother went ahead and dove in. Minutes later he returned, the victim of a jellyfish that stung his back. We sent my baby to the swimming pool instead.

My husband and I still wanted to brave the waters so as not to waste the long drive so we went back to the beach. While studying the waters, we were approached by a boatman who offered to take us on a boat ride to get to a cleaner beach for P30/head. I ran back to our cottage and returned with the cash, only to learn that we need to pay another P500 each to gain access to the resort with the good beach. We declined and turned away. He called us back, claiming that he can get us in if we give him P150. Disgusted, we joined our toddler in the pool and stayed in the cottage for the rest of the day.

We did pick up some learning points from the long drive, though. Particularly in keeping a toddler entertained in the car. Thankfully, my daughter is the type who usually sleeps the moment the car is in motion, but she was awake for about 2 hours on the way to the beach and on the trip back home. Here are some tips to keep a lively toddler occupied:

(1) Books with reusable stickers

(2) Toys for pretend play

(3) Clay (a bit messy though)

(4) Aluminum foil (make jewelry, animals, etc)

(5) Sing songs

(6) Portable DVD player

(7) Point out animals, colors, and other interesting sights on the road

(8) Snack time!

(9) Kiddie laptops

(10) Take regular pitstops and let your baby run around to expend the extra energy

I'm baaack!!!

Picking this up again more than 4 months after  ;) Better late than never...

Since my last blog post, I have rediscovered my passion for writing short stories and have started writing and submitting stories to various markets, particularly e-zines and anthologies dealing with fantasy, science fiction, and romance. :) I've had 3 stories accepted for publication so far (amidst 6 rejections and counting!). While writing short stories doesn't generate much revenue - though you could get up to $100 for a story depending on how good you are - it certainly does much to keep the brain in motion. The little thrill you get upon receiving an acceptance letter doesn't hurt either. And who knows? This may be the stepping stone to writing an actual novel!

Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, you can now submit your stories to publishers in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, etc.. If your story is accepted, payment is made via PayPal so be sure to set up your account!

As with all other online transactions, a bit of caution is required before submitting and/or signing a contract! Be sure to read the fine print and look up the potential e-zine or publisher via Google to check for its authenticity. Be wary of vanity presses as well. These are publishers that accept your stories and then charge you to print, publish, and distribute! The publishers should be paying YOU.

When in doubt, Duotrope's Digest (http://duotrope.com/index.aspx) is a good source of tried and tested publishers of every genre and length (from nanofiction to full blown novellas!).

Best of luck and happy writing!

Jobs For Moms: Shady Interview

About a month ago, I decided to apply for a work from home  job that just required good computer and typing skills.  The company was not well-known, but as work from home jobs were scarce (and still are!), I decided to give it a go.  I submitted my resume and eventually got called in for an interview.

Since I had applied for the job online and was not familiar with my prospective employer, my mother cautioned me to bring some company during the actual interview.   I actually thought it unnecessary, but humored her anyway and had my husband tag along. 

On the day of the interview we followed the directions sent via email.  I was a bit disconcerted to find that the address was different from the one posted on the company website.  My husband and I found ourselves in a rundown building at the edge of the business district.  The guard had us sign in and told us to proceed up the stairs.  We walked through a deserted hallway, passing units that were either locked or empty.

When we got to the interview site, we found ourselves in a room filled with stacks of computers and ledgers.  The only other people in the room were two other interviewees (both female) and the company owner, who was conducting the interviews.  The owner claimed that the room was usually filled with employees and remarked that it was odd that he was the only one in that day.  While nothing untoward happened, I was grateful for my mother's advice and my husband's presence. 

Learning Points:

(1) Better to be safe than sorry.  If you're not familiar with the company and are called in for an interview, it would be best to have someone come along (even if only to drop you off after surveying the interview site).

(2) Sometimes, though we hate to admit it, mothers do know best. :)

Clean Up, Make Extra Money

Looking for extra cash?  No better place to start than in your very own home. 

Perhaps you have a pair of butterfly walking wings that were left unused when your child learned to walk long before meeting the size requirement.  Or maybe you have a pair of brand new, branded, ultra expensive baby shoes that your toddler fitted perfectly, but refused to wear the moment you got home - and hasn't touched since.  You may be an avid reader with oodles of old, aging books stocked on the bookshelves.  And so on.

Clean up your house and earn some money by selling your used books, electronics, knick-knacks, and whatnot online.  With the scores of Free Classfied Ads sites to choose from (I use sulit and olx myself :)), your modest garage sale can now reach out to millions of homes across the country.

Selling online is a tad different from dealing with a customer face-to-face in your own backyard.  If this is your first attempt at this sort of transaction, here are some tips to see you through:

(1) Sell only items that are actually usable.  Old is OK (it is secondhand stuff, after all), but it's main function/purpose should still hold.  Books with worn covers and colored pages, for example, are still worthwhile so long as all the pages are intact (no torn or missing text).  Selling quality items will increase your chances of getting good feedback/reviews, which, in turn, will help you get more customers in the long run.

(2) Take good photos of your products as this will be the main means for potential customers to inspect the quality of items for sale.  In addition, most ad sites prioritize ads with photos.

(3) Be prepared to handle transactions remotely as you can get customers from any part of the Philippines.  This means finding a reliable courier and knowing the corresponding fees.  You also need to consider payment options such as GCASH, deposit to your bank account, or remittance via M Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier, LBC, or the like.  Note that M Lhuillier and Cebuana Lhuillier are not related and/or interchangeable (i.e., payment made through ML Kwarta Padala can't be received through a Cebuana Lhuillier branch)

(4) As in all situations, especially in dealings over the Internet, always have your security in mind.  Do not divuge too much information about yourself, only what's necessary to close your sale.  When arranging meet ups, be sure it will be in a safe or public area.  Having a companion along may be best.  Think of your customer as well.  Consistency between your given name and payment details (i.e., account name) will help convince your client that you're a legitimate seller. 

(5) As exciting as it is to close a sale and gain some extra cash, know your limits in choosing items to sell. ;)  Don't go overboard in trying to sell every little thing in your house.  I know it's tempting to be rid of the knick knacks your packrat of a husband stocks in your house, but it's always prudent to ask first :)

The Intricacies of Online Job Hunting

After securing a valid ID, I started my job hunt for suitable, legal part time or work from home jobs that would give me a much needed break and extra income, but would still leave most of my time free for my daughter.

The Internet is a good source for job openings.  Some sites filter the part time from the full time jobs, making it easier to search for one that works for you in terms of location, requirements, schedule, and pay.  Below are sites I frequently monitor for potential part time jobs:

http://www.jobopenings.ph/list_specific_jobs.php?by=parttime_jobs

http://job-search.jobstreet.com.ph/campus/philippines/job-opening.php?by=part-time-jobs

Of course, since nearly everyone and anyone can access the Internet these days, it's always worthwhile to do a bit of research before submitting vital information to a potential employer.  Here are some things I look out for:

(1) Company/Employer - if you're not familiar with the company, search for more information first from blogs, news articles, friends, or family

(2) Job Description and Requirements - trust your instincts.  An ad looking for someone who's female, no more than 25 years old, with pleasing looks and personality, and no other requirements or an ad - from a company that focuses on sales - with vague job requirements save for the promise of no selling required and high pay, but you absolutely must first attend a seminar to learn more about their products makes me think twice.

(3) Any job that requires you to pay a registration fee is likely a scam.

When in doubt, it also helps to search for "[job description / company name] scam".  Chances are, someone will have blogged about the scam (if any) already.

When you do find a job you like and decide to submit your resume, make your intentions clear in your cover letter.  I once submitted my resume as is and got no response.  My family said they probably considered it a big joke that someone at near managerial level is trying to apply as a clerk/encoder/assistant/entry level position.  True, I was overly qualified for the jobs I was applying for, but the part time and work from home aspect mattered more to me than a career path (at least for now).  I resubmitted my resume with a letter explaining that I'm a stay at home mom looking for a part time job.  This time, I got a positive response. :)