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Job size will now be factored into your JSS

lenaellis
Community Member

UPDATE: The JSS Metric has been updated to reflect the changes that were announced below. As of today, March 1st, all Job Success Scores are now displaying the updated value.


We will soon update JSS metrics to reflect job value in the calculation. Today, a one-week $20 job typically carries the same weight as a one-week $1,000 job in JSS. Soon, JSS will be weighted by job earnings. For example, a one-week $1,000 job will be weighted more than a one-week $20 job. JSS will also exclude contracts with $0 earned and positive feedback. All other JSS policies will remain unchanged.



What does this mean?

We are making this change so a freelancer’s Job Success Score will display a more comprehensive representation of their freelancer workWe understand not all jobs are equal. We know higher budget contracts require more work and freelancers who complete these more complex contracts successfully should get credit for them. Just as longer-term contracts hold more weight in JSS calculations than shorter ones, we believe contract value should also hold significance in the calculation. By giving these jobs more weight, these jobs will have a greater influence on a JSS. 

 

Many freelancers will see an increase in their scores if they’ve successfully completed higher budget contracts in the past. At the same time, a small percentage of freelancers may lose their JSS, see a drop in their scores, or lose their Top Rated badge. Today, we are emailing freelancers whose JSS will see a decline of 5% or more, to let them know they will be affected.  Freelancers that see a drop in their score can improve their JSS by completing more jobs with positive feedback, as it works today. Larger budget contracts with positive feedback will result in a higher increase in JSS, however, all great feedback contributes to JSS and whether you work on large or small contracts you can still reach 100% JSS.

 

This change will take effect in March, at which time all Job Success Scores will be updated retroactively. We know many of you will have questions about this update. We won’t be able to discuss your individual score or outcomes of specific contracts. We have listed some anticipated questions below, let us know if you have any additional questions.



FAQS:

 

Can I know what my new JSS is now before this launches?

We will not be able to provide you with your updated score until the JSS calculation refreshes at launch, in March.

 

Does this mean if I don’t get big contracts I’ll never be able to get a JSS of 100%?

Receiving stellar feedback on smaller budget jobs can still get you to a JSS of 100%. We are only changing the impact of jobs based on earnings. This means that strong client feedback on a higher-budget job could boost your score more than a lower-budget job. All other aspects of JSS will remain the same.

 

How will I know if it affects me?

The majority of freelancers will be affected positively by this change and will see an increase in their scores. We are sending out emails to those who will likely see a drop in their score once the new JSS calculation goes into effect in March. 

 

Can this affect me positively, will my JSS go up?

Yes! The vast majority of freelancers on the platform will see an increase or very little change in their scores. This is because you may have worked on one or more higher paying contracts in the past, and because you received great feedback that great feedback is being weighted more. 

 

Can I lose my JSS?

A small percentage of freelancers may lose their JSS. This is because they had one or more jobs with no earnings. Positive feedback on contracts with no earnings will not be factored into JSS once we move to the new calculation. As a result, some freelancers won’t have enough outcomes to be eligible for a JSS until they successfully complete more jobs. Nearly all freelancers have scores after completing eight projects. 

 

How does weighting work specifically? 

To ensure fairness and avoid manipulation, we don’t share the specifics about how we calculate the Job Success Score. Thanks for your understanding.

 

So if I take a bigger job and get negative feedback that counts more than positive feedback on smaller jobs?
Yes. A job with higher earnings will always impact your Job Success Score (JSS) more than a smaller job. For example, feedback on a $1,000 job carries more weight on your JSS compared to a $20 job. However, receiving poor feedback on a job with more earnings can be balanced out by doing well on a job of the same size in the future or on a number of smaller jobs. 

 

Can I lose my Top Rated badge?

Yes, a small percentage of freelancers who see a decline in their JSS may drop below 90% and lose their Top Rated badge. This is because they received less-than-positive public or private feedback on one or more of their higher-paying contracts. Feedback on contracts with higher earnings will affect JSS more after this new change.

925 Comments
richard_wein
Community Member

I think this is a good idea. It will make it less risky to take on small jobs from clients who are new to Upwork and therefore an unknown quantity. True, big jobs will be more risky JSS-wise, but at least if a big job tanks your JSS you'll have the comfort of the big earnings!

 

It seems to me that this change will increase the power of the Top Rated feedback removal perk, since TRs will be able to remove those particular damaging results.

 

By the way, I doubt the weighting of jobs will be strictly proportional, ie a $1000 job having 100 times the weight of a $10 job. That would be too drastic. It will be interesting to see how the weights are scaled.

 

A question. What weight will no-earnings jobs be given?

wlyonsatl
Community Member

I don't see how this would affect a freelancer with a steady flow of similar-size projects, but it will make it harder for established freelancers trying to raise their JSS by doing a large number of small projects where they hope to get client feedback that's much more positive then they have gotten on previous larger projects.

 

I do think Upwork should figure out how to allow (force?) clients to leave feedback periodically on long-term projects without having to go through the rigamarole of closing the project, leaving feedback and re-opening the project. But it appears the JSS algorithm already positively factors in the idea that if a client has had the same freelancer working for them for a long time, the freelancer must be doing a good job, so the close, rate, re-open process isn't necessary anyway.

petra_r
Community Member

Richard W wrote:

 

By the way, I doubt the weighting of jobs will be strictly proportional, ie a $1000 job having 100 times the weight of a $10 job. That would be too drastic.


That was how the average star rating was (and still is, for clients) calculated, minus the $ 1000 ceiling. So one huge job going wrong could literally destroy your average, One huge job ending really well was an insurance against several poor outcomes on smaller jobs.

 

webdone
Community Member

The whole JSS calculation is worst part of UpWork.
Calculation is kept secret because it is buggy and **bleep**ty. We already pay you highest fees in market but you still want more and try to blackmail us with JSS calculation. We do not know but maybe you look into our messages and see mention of Skype and decrease the JSS? Maybe you consider membership in calculation. Why clients are not allowed to edit private feedback?

Why PRIVATE feedback is considered while calculating PUBLIC JSS?

I am really considering other platforms because of these blackmailing tricks by UpWork

jobbe314
Community Member

"Hey UpWork - how about if you focus on getting clients to provide mandatory replies to job submissions?"

1000% agree with that!!!

agsdeveloprezz
Community Member

This is good initiative for those who have been working for longterm client.

I want to know about those jobs in process since years as some clients have started a job years ago and work is still in process and lot of earning as this type od job are need regular work on daily or weekly basis.

 

Thanks

Javed

dyumnin
Community Member

Will ongoing projects/earnings also be factored into JSS at a later date?

I have jobs which are running for more than a year. The very fact that the client is still paying me every week is an indication that they are satisfied with my work. But since the Job is not completed it is not impacting my JSS.

barada00
Community Member

Vijayvithal J wrote:

Will ongoing projects/earnings also be factored into JSS at a later date?

I have jobs which are running for more than a year. The very fact that the client is still paying me every week is an indication that they are satisfied with my work. But since the Job is not completed it is not impacting my JSS.


I second that also what Javed asks.

I have clients working with me for more than 2 years. If I get a bad rating shall I ask them to close the contract and start a new one?

kochubei_valeria
Community Member

Hi Vijayvithal and Baris,

 

Long-term relationships do and will continue contributing positively to Job Success Score. 

wendy_writes
Community Member

Valeria, do we have a confirmed date in March as to when the switch will occur?