Hiring People that Disappear

31 replies
So I tried posting a job on Odesk yesterday for some link builders just to see what people are doing, and hire a couple to assess their work. There was no shortage of applicants who promised to submit to link directories, angela and paul's links, social sites, profile spamming, blog spamming, etc.

I hired two about 24 hours ago, and neither started yet. I've had this happen a couple of times before where I hired and then 10 days past, and nothing. I assume I will be hearing from them soon, but is this common for people to fail to respond for 24 hours after being hired?
#disappear #hiring #people
  • A lot of people bid on every job going, then when they get accepted, they work through them as and when they can.

    I always put a time limit on my jobs - for smaller jobs that I expect the results within 24 hours - for larger jobs that I want a progress update every 24 hours. That helps to weed out people who wouldn't work well with me.

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  • Profile picture of the author dvduval
    Yea, especially the low paying jobs probably requires bidding on lots of jobs to get accepted, but then I assume people may get accepted for several jobs and then not be able to deliver in a timely manner. Is that what you are saying?
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Originally Posted by dvduval View Post

      Yea, especially the low paying jobs probably requires bidding on lots of jobs to get accepted, but then I assume people may get accepted for several jobs and then not be able to deliver in a timely manner. Is that what you are saying?
      That's about par for the course. The small jobs typically pay so little they bid on dozens of jobs, and then end up with a fulfillment issue afterwards if they get too many jobs which they cannot possibly deliver on in a timely manner.
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      • Profile picture of the author HaRrY84
        Originally Posted by paulie888 View Post

        That's about par for the course. The small jobs typically pay so little they bid on dozens of jobs, and then end up with a fulfillment issue afterwards if they get too many jobs which they cannot possibly deliver on in a timely manner.
        For that reason it is better hire full time workers...period.
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        • Profile picture of the author dvduval
          Originally Posted by HaRrY84 View Post

          For that reason it is better hire full time workers...period.
          I don't necessarily agree with this. Some of my best employees work 25 hours/week. I don't have as much experience in data entry. But with things like programming and design, I find there is more burnout in full timers. It also gives you room to push a part times for more hours if there is an exceptionally busy week.
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          • Profile picture of the author paulie888
            Originally Posted by dvduval View Post

            I don't necessarily agree with this. Some of my best employees work 25 hours/week. I don't have as much experience in data entry. But with things like programming and design, I find there is more burnout in full timers. It also gives you room to push a part times for more hours if there is an exceptionally busy week.
            Unfortunately, if you're talking about outsourced workers overseas, you're not going to get that much latitude in terms of working hours. It's either full-time or part-time, and the part-timers are not going to wait around for you to give them more work to do.
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            • Profile picture of the author dvduval
              Originally Posted by paulie888 View Post

              Unfortunately, if you're talking about outsourced workers overseas, you're not going to get that much latitude in terms of working hours. It's either full-time or part-time, and the part-timers are not going to wait around for you to give them more work to do.
              I'm talking about my experience over many years working with people remotely both in the United States and overseas. I have multiple people that work 25+ hours every week and have for years. I also have a couple of full timers (again have worked for a few years now). I just find that part-timers can be great at around 20-30 hours/week. Less than 15 and I don't really go for that except for a targeted project.
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              • Profile picture of the author paulie888
                Originally Posted by dvduval View Post

                I'm talking about my experience over many years working with people remotely both in the United States and overseas. I have multiple people that work 25+ hours every week and have for years. I also have a couple of full timers (again have worked for a few years now). I just find that part-timers can be great at around 20-30 hours/week. Less than 15 and I don't really go for that except for a targeted project.
                Unless you're talking about independent outsourced workers, then what you're doing now with odesk is going to be a whole different ballgame. These are for the most part people who are trying to make a living independently working on the internet, and they cannot afford to be tied down to something uncertain when their livelihood is in question, especially at the typical low rates that are common at odesk.
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                • Profile picture of the author AustinDigital
                  I get this alot and it is extremely frustrating. You get a ton of people applying, and then you interview them and all seems well, then once you hire them they are nowhere to be found.

                  I usually will give it a week or so to start depending upon the project and then trash them. Also, I've found alot do not check in like they are supposed to and just start the work on their own.
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        • Profile picture of the author myob
          Originally Posted by HaRrY84 View Post

          For that reason it is better hire full time workers...period.
          Exactly. I went through this similar experience several years ago. When you find some some good writers, hire them as full-time employees. Other things may be outsourced as needed, but good dependable writers who also understand marketing are hard to find.
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          • Profile picture of the author paulie888
            Originally Posted by myob View Post

            Exactly. I went through this similar experience several years ago. When you find some some good writers, hire them as full-time employees.
            Full-time workers are obviously going to be more loyal and reliable, for the simple reason that they know where their next paycheck is coming from (you) if they accomplish their tasks as promised (and that there will be many more paychecks down the line if they work hard and overdeliver).
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  • Profile picture of the author warriorkay
    Perhaps they are still "holidaying",

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  • Profile picture of the author Lauryn
    That's a little upsetting isn't it?

    I link it to poor time management skills. Know what you want to do and have a strong time management plan to do it... or struggle with delivering work to your contracts on time.

    I had one who took over a week to give deliverables. I just ended the contract with "3" star feedback and she was mad, talking about the deliverables she DID have, but never showed me. I didn't care... she can use those articles for someone else for all I care.
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    Don't be an arse and try to flip something you clearly have no knowledge of against me.

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  • Profile picture of the author centarec
    Unfortunately this has happened to me many times, and you should be lucky if they respond. That's why it is better to get recommendation from other people concerning who you hire, and once you have your good team, stick to it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Robert Colle
      Originally Posted by centarec View Post

      Unfortunately this has happened to me many times, and you should be lucky if they respond. That's why it is better to get recommendation from other people concerning who you hire, and once you have your good team, stick to it.
      I completely agree with you. It is very rare to get a good team of workers or freelancers and some people who have not yet experience working with outsource personnels usually take it for granted when they find a good worker that delivers on time and in quality as well as quantity. But I thin if you are fortunate enough to get one of such then you should treasure him or her and treat them with respect and kindness. And until you actually get disappointed, that you can understand the worth of what you previously had.

      Well I hope your workers will be back and working soon maybe as somebody said they are still feasting.
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  • Profile picture of the author JackPowers
    You might want to take different time zones into account. If someone from Asia is bidding and you're in the US, then there's a 12 hour time difference. People have to sleep and possibly work a fulltime job as well, so there's the first 24 hours.

    I'd be worried if there was no reply in 3 days or so with freelancers.
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    • Profile picture of the author hilhilginger
      Originally Posted by JackPowers View Post

      You might want to take different time zones into account. If someone from Asia is bidding and you're in the US, then there's a 12 hour time difference. People have to sleep and possibly work a fulltime job as well, so there's the first 24 hours.

      I'd be worried if there was no reply in 3 days or so with freelancers.
      Yeah i really appreciate the idea you set forward.Thanks!
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    • Profile picture of the author bobsilber
      Originally Posted by JackPowers View Post

      You might want to take different time zones into account. If someone from Asia is bidding and you're in the US, then there's a 12 hour time difference. People have to sleep and possibly work a fulltime job as well, so there's the first 24 hours.

      I'd be worried if there was no reply in 3 days or so with freelancers.
      I've found this to be the case. So I take that into consideration when including my time limit in a post.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bruce NewMedia
    Lately I've been having similar experiences on Fiverr and Fiverr-like sites. I find many service providers can be fickle, so i expect to go thru many and am always looking for more.
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  • Profile picture of the author 82ana
    One guy I interviewed to write a few articles gave me a 2 day turnaround time, soon as I hired him. He told me there had been a death and he was leaving immediately for 5 days!

    I've posted low paying, decent and high paying jobs but there almost always time issues. Even with WSO hires (sorry to report). Your best bet is Odesk, if you want freelancers that can be held responsible if they disappear.

    tsk.
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    • Profile picture of the author Makati Bars
      Very common practice. It has happened to me a good number of times. Many of these folks will try to get every job possible, then prioritize them when they get them. Your project may not have been at the top of the priority list.
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  • Profile picture of the author myeanne
    That's the main problem when you're hiring a freelance person. Like I always advice, look for a reputable firm or company to avoid disappearing acts.
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  • Profile picture of the author aduttonater
    They will get back with you soon. If they were about who they are and what they do they would not run away with your $$$. Have you paid them yet? I advertised for a few small businesses and provided them with an update every week of all my posting and calls. Included times and links. It was very organized.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andrea Wilson
    It must be the time difference. But if its 7 days since the day you hired them and they were still unresponsive then there must me something wrong.


    Andrea
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  • Profile picture of the author Hexor
    People like that is wasting money. They are hired but they didnt do there job. If thats me, right after me, i will do my job because i need money for my school expenses. Service seller with that attitude must given 3.0 feedback because of slow performance and turnaround.
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  • Profile picture of the author HelpfulHannah
    Ughhhhh there is nothing I hate more than people you hire just disappearing. It is so frustrating. But you know what is worse, when your software project is almost finished. You just need a few simple changes or a little upgrade and they disappear leaving your software useless. That's what happened to me and it is driving me crazy.

    Here are some tips that I have learnt to avoid it.

    1. Set tight but realistic deadlines... make sure they know up front that you require them to write the 3 articles in 24 hours (very realisitic). Most sites protect you if they don't deliver.

    2. You get what you pay for. When I was hiring article writers I only got them in the US. I was fooled too many times to get the cheap ones.

    3. Good people don't last... They get over run with work and either up their prices or disappear. So keep looking.

    I hope that helps,
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  • Profile picture of the author alexswanson23
    "Hiring People that Disappear"

    Your title is very misleading lol
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    • Profile picture of the author bobsilber
      Originally Posted by alexswanson23 View Post

      "Hiring People that Disappear"

      Your title is very misleading lol
      It isn't misleading, but since this is your first post, I guess you are posting not too helpful posts to build up your post count and to get your promotional signature line seen. Not a very good start.
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      • Profile picture of the author Diane S
        I was just sure I could find one or two part time VA's from the Phillipines. The first one used the death in the family excuse to disappear. Hey, at least it was something, instead of silence! I later saw him accepting jobs for someone else. Geez, do I need to put on more deodorant or something?

        The second writer sent me eHow articles as unique articles and did not even know enough to remove the html links. Let her go immediately.

        I haven't revisited the adventure of finding a VA overseas and I might not ever. If I feel I must have a VA, I will only use somebody that is not overworked and comes recommended by someone I know.
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  • Profile picture of the author donhx
    Originally Posted by dvduval View Post

    So I tried posting a job on Odesk yesterday for some link builders just to see what people are doing, and hire a couple to assess their work. There was no shortage of applicants who promised to submit to link directories, angela and paul's links, social sites, profile spamming, blog spamming, etc.

    I hired two about 24 hours ago, and neither started yet. I've had this happen a couple of times before where I hired and then 10 days past, and nothing. I assume I will be hearing from them soon, but is this common for people to fail to respond for 24 hours after being hired?

    This has been my experience and why I am not a fan of low-end off-shore workers. Unfortunately, many are so desperate they bid anything to get a job...but will dump you if they get another job that pays a few cents more.

    I see the same thing on Fiverr. People promise anything for $5 (actually they get $4), but they don't deliver. I tried them out after seeing so much praise for Fiverr here on the WF, but I have found that even people with great feedback are not doing what they say.

    Competent people cost real money. If people are at a subsistence level, then you are going to have problems with performance.
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  • Profile picture of the author jonibravo
    There maybe different timing zone in your home country and in the country where hired person resides. In this case he/she will not be able to respond you in immediately 24 hours. Another issue is Spamming...people apply without intention to work. Another thing is people usually promise to work though they are not interest in low paying jobs. They post their CVs just to get information whether someone will hire them or not.
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