Skills

The Skills section allows you to rate your work skills using an Elance test. The results are compared against every other person who took the test at Elance, as shown in Figure 4.9. If you score well, this is a great way to stand out. Conveniently, if you don’t score well, you can choose to not display the results. You can even retake the test down the road when you’ve honed your skills a bit more.

The system also allows you to self-rank yourself in the skills areas. Many contractors do this, but it really doesn’t prove anything. I mean, are you really going to rank yourself low in a skill and then post it? But the option is there, nonetheless.

Figure 4.9: Tested skills rank you against other Elance contractors; self-rating skills allow you to post your own score.

Surveys have shown that clients do find it important that contractors take these tests. They like to see how potential hires rank in specific categories that will be of relevance to their projects. Also, taking skill tests helps raise your Elance level.