I have worked online in some capacity or other for almost ten years.  You would have thought by now I would have got used to things changing every time I turn around, but it still manages to throw me a little.  No sooner do I get comfortable with a site, system or software than it all gets "improved", "upgraded" and "revamped" with what are touted to be "great new features" presented in an "exciting new interface".  While I may not be happy about change, what my decade of experience has given me is the savvy to not waste time ranting and resisting, but to sigh, grab a cup of coffee and dive into exploring and learning how to get the most out of the latest and greatest reincarnation.

The latest site to undergo a makeover (I don't count Facebook, as the goal posts change on that site on a near daily basis and often change right back before I have had a chance to hit "publish" on my new how-to articles) is Elance.

A few of the changes are great; I tip my hat to the developers for finally adding a time clock that you can change to reflect the timezone of each project.  Got a client in London?  Set the clock to GMT and see what time it is over there at a glance.  However, the biggest changes have happened over Profiles. 

Levels

At first glance, I liked this idea of creating a streamlined system of ranking providers on "levels".  I was never keen on the fact that in order to get a nice purple Pro Provider sign next to my name that I would have to pay to have credentials verified.  Nor that I would have to pay to be tested on a particular subject.  However looking deeper, it seems that Elance's profit is still a motivating factor behind the changes.   To get a higher level rating you need to get verified, sit tests and worse, it seems pretty clear that you also have to be working on a regular basis to keep your level.  I take on maybe three clients a month on Elance, but there are some times when I am working on a major project and don't use the site at all to find work.  So while my skills and professionalism hasn't dropped, my level will.

New Profile Layout

This I do like.  Profiles are clearer, with summaries of feedback ratings and latest jobs, letting prospective clients get a more complete feel for a provider at a glance.  I also applaud Elance for giving the option of making your earning private.  As a longterm Elancer, I am happy to boast about my earnings as a means of justifying a project fee, but it can be a factor which stops newbies from getting jobs as clients choose someone with more experience.  Unfortunately, online marketplaces can be just as much of a popularity contest as other areas of life.

So that's my take on the new Elance profiles.  What's yours?