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On this page you will find Web resources for:

• Freelancing and Contracting: Sometimes the "client" (person or company seeking to hire a contractor) pays the fee for the matching service. Usually, the "freelancer" pays for the matching service. Occasionally, the matching services are free and other for-fee services are offered. Sometimes organizations offer the matching services for free to organization members. Look for a "How it works" or "How we are paid" link to explain their process to you. Be sure that you read and understand the contract, typically called "terms and conditions" which includes who pays the fee, and when / how you will be paid for your work, before you sign up for any of these services!

  Find the fees! Most of these sites are supported by fees paid by someone (either the employer or the freelancer). Be sure to read, print, and save any/all of the legal notices appearing on the Web site, particularly the terms and conditions of the site's relationship with you, and the site's privacy policy. These are the legal documents governing your relationship with the site -- your responsibilities and their responsibilities. Be very cautious if you don't see any! And, check the site periodically to see if these documents have been changed.

• Temping: Most of these sites are the Web versions of "real" employment agencies with names familiar to generations of job seekers. They hire the temporary worker and then sell the worker's services to an employer. So the "temp" worker receives their paycheck from the agency. Typically, employers may offer the temporary worker a permanent job, but terms and conditions apply that usually cost the employer an additional fee. This raises your cost of hire, but it gives both you and the employer an opportunity to "try before you buy" - testing the relationship and the job fit.
  

These sites require that you complete a registration form with your contact information before you can search through the opportunities posted by potential employers. Be sure to track down and read the "terms of use" and privacy policy for each site before you register. Don't proceed unless the terms and privacy policy are acceptable to you. For many, freelancing is a way to continue an income stream without changing locations. I doubt that many freelancers get rich this way, although being "freed" from the usual workplace situation may be more than enough compensation.

• Elance - businesses post "jobs" (by category, which ranges from administration and law to Web design plus many more) and evaluate the responses from "service providers." The fee for this matching service is paid by the service provider and varies based on the "plan" chosen by the provider. A rating system provides pre-selection feedback on the service providers and a payment management system is offered, too. A privacy policy posted in the terms of service.
• Guru.com - connects independent professionals (a.k.a. "freelancer") with contract projects posted by employers in categories ranging from administration to Web design). The cost of this matching service is paid by the freelancer, and the cost depends on the type of membership chosen by the freelancer.  They have a "SafePay" application which takes care of invoicing and collecting the payments. A privacy policy is posted.
• Net-Temps - an employment portal targeted primarily to contract, temporary, and temporary-to-permanent employment, but not available for employers to use directly.  They must go through a staffing agency, which is a unique approach. The agencies pay to post their jobs and to search through the resume database. A privacy policy is posted.
• oDesk - offers "providers" the ability to find project or hourly "jobs" in many different categories, from administration to Web development. The provider pays the flat 10% fee for every job, regardless of whether it is a fixed-price project or a per-hour job. oDesk processes the payments and has a payment guarantee.  Be sure to read the fine print on that payment guarantee so you understand what you are agreeing to.  A privacy policy is posted in the policies sub-section of the legal section.
• PeoplePerHour - based in the UK, charges a minimum flat fee to the freelancer for any "job" found through them based on the type of membership the freelancer has selected. The jobs available cover many categories and the freelancers offer a very wide range of "skills for hire."  Be careful of the difference in the value of currency if you aren't based in the UK. A privacy statement is posted. 

Be sure to check with your local yellow pages for listings of local temp agencies. These are mostly national and international.

• AccounTemps - an international temporary employment agency, owned by the Robert Half international staffing company, which specializes in finance and accounting positions, search by city and state or province (in the U.S. and Canada) and keyword. Most positions indicate a start date and a duration. A Privacy Policy is posted.
• Adecco - an international temporary employment agency supplying the services of both temporary and full-time clerical, industrial, and technical associates. Registration is required before searching the jobs. A prvacy policy is posted.
• Kelly Services - pick your country and keywords or specialty. Then, search for a job. A privacy statement is posted.
• Manpower Professionals - specializes in engineering, IT, finance and accounting, healthcare, and other professionals, offering contract and contract-to-permanent positions. A privacy policy is posted.