Myths about freelancing and working online/working from home

Let's attack a couple of freelance myths.

1. Your resume will support your proposal - MYTH
The fact is, and I constantly mention this, that online employers rarely look at your resume; and if they do, it's only after you have been added to their "favorites". It's your proposal you have to rely on.

2. You have to have experience in the particular field to get the job - MYTH
This couldn't be farther from the truth. Again, your proposal can win an employer over even if you don't have experience in the particular position they are hiring for. It's happened to me on numerous occasions.

3. It's not okay to write a friendly proposal, you must be strictly professional - MYTH
While it's not okay to use lingo like "LOL" and that sort of thing, most employers want personality. A lot of them are seeking someone they can develop a relationship with and enjoy working with. But there is a fine line in between what's okay and what's going overboard.

4. Putting your resume in your proposal will show the employer your skills - MYTH
To the contrary, it shows that your ability to sell yourself lacks because you are trying to cram something down their throat that is already available to them and sell yourself with positions you've had before only. Refer back to number 1.

5. It's easy to write a winning proposal - BIGGEST MYTH OF ALL (unless you know exactly what you are doing which unfortunately most people mistakenly think they do).
SO many people think they are seriously writing a good proposal and, on a good day, 1 out of 10 of them are actually winners. It never fails, every time I post a project I'm drowning in terrible proposals and scrounging for just a few good ones. And I can't help but assume the people submitting these proposals think they are actually decent proposals...or they wouldn't have submitted them, right?