We have a very special guest for Freelance Blend Podcast – John Jonas, the founder of OnlineJobs.ph and advocate of the 17-hour work week. John created OnlineJobs.ph when he saw the demand for good Filipino talents among his fellow US entrepreneurs. In this episode, you’ll learn why Americans love working with Filipinos and how you can be sure to always please your US client. We also talked about how OnlineJobs.ph differs with other freelancing sites and how you can make the best use of it.
The Difference of OnlineJobs.ph with other Freelancing Sites
OnlineJobs.ph focuses on stability of a job providing bigger and longer engagements than typical freelancing jobs. One thing I noted that set them apart is that the freelance work is done outside the website. Once an employer hires you for the job, you are free to contact each other via other modes of communication like instant messaging, emails, video messaging, etc. You also have to arrange with the employer your compensation and preferred mode of payment.
While seemingly risky, John assured that their employers are 100% legitimate and they have 0% scam rate. The reason is because the website doesn’t give out freebies and employers are required to pay for their job posts.
John is proud to say that OnlineJob.ph has produced thousands of jobs for Filipinos, mostly long-term in nature.
How to Start in OnlineJobs.ph
As a freelancer, it’s free to sign up. You just need to fill out the information required by the site. John advises to be as honest as possible when listing down your skills. If you don’t have any skills, highlight your determination to work hard. He also cautioned against being shy and not admitting to an employer that you can’t do a job. He calls this shyness as “disappearing” because he observed Filipinos tend to disappear and not communicate when they are unable to finish a job. Americans hate this attitude and would rather prefer that you tell them upfront when you don’t know how to do a job.
Here are other tips to make the best use of OnlineJobs.ph:
- Learn to do something. This will help you increase your skills.
- Don’t mass apply. Personal applications get better chances for a reply.
- Establish credibility. You can upload a government ID (blur personal details).
- Working the 17-Hour Work Week
When I asked John how he can work for only 17 hours a week, his basic answer was to outsource what you can’t do. Essentially, if you’re not good at technical stuff like creating a website, then you outsource it. You should also find someone who writes well in English.
Resource and Links
Quotes
“If you are looking for a job, put in the effort. Don’t take the easy route.”
“Once you’re employed, don’t disappear.”
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