My Two Star Review

The freelancing site that I use, oDesk.com, uses a five star review system that lets both employers and freelancers to leave feedback for one another. In these reviews, there are six categories: skills, quality, availability, deadlines, communication and cooperation. Prior to my two star review (actually it’s 2.9), the lowest review that I had (out of 25 feedbacks) was a 4.9 out of 5. The 4.9 review came as the result of having to adjust a deadline with one of my clients. The two star review came from Mr. Bangladesh, who you may remember from my earlier post.

I know I said that I was going to end the contract with this client back in July, but I kept trying to negotiate, then I just stopped talking to him, hoping that he would end my contract and move on. After a while, I sort of forgot about him. The other day, I was going through my open contracts, and I realized that he was still there. Still hoping, I guess that I would come back and write articles for $2.50 a piece. Right, I’m just breaking even at $5 and $6 an article. So, I finally steeled myself and ended the contract. I knew that I’d get a bad review.

I cannot see a review until I have completed mine, so I never know what I’m going to get until I’ve already given my review. When I give a client a less than stellar review, I feel obligated to explain why. I was actually trying to be nice, and I gave him a 4.4 star review giving him low marks for communication and cooperation. I also made the following comment,

"Due to a miscommunication, I accepted this contract thinking that I would be paid a higher rate per article. Nonetheless, I decided to continue writing for this employer for a time, and after a while I asked for a price raise to my normal rate. I was refused, and, as a result, I asked this employer to end our contract as I could not continue to work for such a low rate. After repeated requests to end the contract I did it myself.

Otherwise this employer is quite flexible and easy to work for."

He did not leave a comment for me, but marked one star for cooperation and communication because I would not “cooperate” by writing articles at a rate so low it would not be worth it. I would not “communicate” even though I said “no” six or seven times, and I even explained why I could not work for so low a rate. I also got low marks for availability and deadlines, but five out of five stars for quality and skills.

Actually, I’m not really surprised or concerned by this, but I did hope that he wouldn’t be so harsh. Oh well, I suppose everyone has a bad review from time to time. On a lighter note, my dad suggested the perfect business name for my writing services: Keyboard Hopper. I think it’s great.

Have you ever had a bad job or employer? How did you deal with it?