Job size will now be factored into your JSS

lenaellis · ‎02-03-2020

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 work. We 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.

hidemi-takagi · ‎03-02-2020

I see here many negative feedbacks about this new revision to the JSS but although I still need to see how it will affect my own JSS, looking at it in a first glance I think it is an excellent improvement to the JSS calc algorithm since a high paid job, by itself - should be reflected in your JSS - as no matter how you look at those high paid jobs, no one pays us high pay unless we work hard or provide something very special. Combine it with the feedback calculation and you give high paying jobs the right weight they should have in our JSS.

I see no reason why so many people here think it will hurt their JSS? If you have just a few high paid job and you got one-star negative review on them and you have 100 small jobs you got 5 stars on, that's already say something about your skill to handle high paying jobs. This is an excellent parameter to value your skills and should be included in the JSS.

canadajohnito · ‎03-02-2020

Please return my JSS because I have active client

marafx · ‎03-02-2020

I think the negative reaction comes mostly from those that do not understand that real value and knoweledge comes with a cost and that accepting dumping prices is wrong from start.

ankit-wpexpert · ‎03-02-2020

Hello If this type of thing happens then the people who get low budget jobs never come on the top rated and they will not get the new jobs then how peoples works on upwork

a_delcroix · ‎03-02-2020

Well, as far as I concerned, with a Top-rated status and a 100% JSS, I was perfectly happy with how it worked. I hope it won't impact my JSS or else I'll need to find another option to work - I worked hard to get this status and if this impacts negatively my JSS, I will be very very angry, considering in addition the time needed to get a contract, how much we pay as "upwork fees" etc.
Besides, that's unfair to newcomers, because we all know how hard it was to get a first contract and then get rates and reviews and JSS.

I am not convinced at all.
Let's wait and see, but considereing how some clients are very unreasonable and sometimes even unfair, I can't imagine how this can be a good things. It will just add some precarity and pressure, bacause if you want to d small jobs and work less, then you'll be less "valuable" than someone else though it's completely fair.

susanmccall · ‎03-02-2020

Lukas M wrote:
.....
What about letting clients fix their private feedback? because private feedback isn't private if it drops your public JSS.

This is situation is disappointing for many freelancers.

I agree. One time a client gave me a 5 star public rating but must have given me a low private feedback rating because it had dropped my JSS significantly (and I couldn't understand why the client would do that as they never indicated to me there were any problems with me or my work).

Another question that comes to mind is... what about when clients don't leave feedback at all? Not that a freelancer gets negative feedback, but rather, just doesn't get anything -- I had a different client do that, too.

One more question: How does Upwork determine what a "higher paying" job is?

Thanks,

lesterb22 · ‎03-02-2020

I worked my way to get to 88% Job Success Rate and recently got 5.0 feedback from my client. I was expecting to get 95+ JSS next week. But I think I am badly affected of this changes. It seize me from setting a goal nextweek.

Getting a Freelancer Plus + More Connects.
I have already sent a message on Upwork Team with regards to this issue and they have admitted that there is a discrepancy on my JSS which is the reason why the JSS shown in my profile is not accurate.

Please help me fix this.

mithun_howlader · ‎03-02-2020

This is very good for every freelancer.

lesterb22 · ‎03-02-2020

Now I got 78%.

Which what it is not supposed to be.
Would like to get help...

alisio · ‎03-02-2020

More complicated often does not mean better. I understood JSS as something, which is reflecting the general work-related qualities, as keeping the deadline, replying and asking questions, availability, reactiveness, openness etc. And those qualities can be evaluated independently on the job's character.
To evaluate specific skills and knowledge, for that we have our profile, samples of our work, recommendations or comments.
So, I do not see any reason to use "money" as a "higher value"... again and again.