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.

feed_my_eyes · ‎03-02-2020

Andrew C wrote:

The major issue is - clients leaving projects open - and clients not following up at the end of projects.

Now, leaving projects open... OK, I have a few and I have regular ongoing amounts applied to them. So these should not factor negatively - these are REGULAR ONGOING PROJECTS WITH BILLINGS.

Once again - because some people are apparently incapable of reading all of the previous explanations in this thread - ongoing contracts with regular payments DO NOT negatively affect your JSS. On the contrary, they have a positive effect. If your JSS is going down, this is not the reason.

The only secrets to maintaining a high JSS are: 1) Do good work; 2) Choose to work with good clients. Both of these are within your control.

bigtomjp · ‎03-02-2020

Valeria,

“ Total earnings on the contract are considered regardless of how long it took to complete the contract.”

This is the most messed up part of what is a happening. In what world does is a $1000 project that takes 90 days to compete more valuable than a $200 project completed in a day? A $/day average rating seems like a a better way to go, but the lack of transparency makes it really useless.

elsiefay · ‎03-02-2020

One of my first clients on Upwork happened to be fairly big job. As I was new, there were a few hiccups in regards to timing (I underestimated the amount of time and client had added on additional work that I did not think to factor into my estimate). Client also happened to be a fairly difficult client and demanded I give them finished despite me giving daily updates on progression of the job and it not being finished. As a result, client gave me a less than perfect score on my first job, which resulted in 83% JSS. I had to lower my rates and work extra hard at getting my next client. My next client hired me and was extremely happy with my work, giving me 5 stars. This bumped me back up to 94%. Now I find out that I have been dropped down to 84% again due to this change. I've already been having slow months on Upwork as I tried to rise me JSS (which I did through delivering really good work), only to find out that I've been dropped back to where I was originally. Very discouraging.

andrew_croft · ‎03-02-2020

>>2) Choose to work with good clients. Both of these are within your control.

Unfortunately, no it isn’t.

Some projects appear great on the outside, and the clients become turds through no fault of our own.

Upwork allows clients to post their project for free - often with far too little detail - without any recourse against them - they don’t have to pick someone, they can leave it sitting there until it expires.

The quality of some of the job postings is just ludicrous. Of course I don’t bid on those, but you cannot always tell from two sentences exactly what the project is going to be, and can’t until you spend bids to ask - COSTING YOU MONEY.

There should;d be a project clarification mechanism. That’s a whole ‘nother issue.

yasirkhattak177 · ‎03-02-2020

Upwork, give all privileges to the client. I wrote to Upwork support that I have proof that my client gave me a review which I didn't deserve but they didn't help me. There should be some mechanism that can check whether the client gives the result on the basis of the work or not. I'm talking about the worst cases. Sometimes Client gives review and ratings on the basis of their mood, which is very harsh.

marafx · ‎03-02-2020

I canìt stop wondering: why people that complain about JSS have Not public profiles, while who don't complain have a public profile???

enebeli-godwin · ‎03-02-2020

Perhaps you don’t yet realize that could possibly be the only way lots of freelancers in third world countries who are compelled to work their assess off for crappie pay can benefit from this new rule. I see most of the hailers with hourly rates of $70+ and I'm not so surprised they're totally delighted.

yasirkhattak177 · ‎03-02-2020

because whoever complains, there JSS rating has been dropped. Because of this injustice to me, I left working on Upwork. Because my rating has been dropped and now it's further dropped because of these new changes.

yasirkhattak177 · ‎03-02-2020

Agree. And at the same time, Upwork should give some safety to freelancers as well.

kalidzakaria · ‎03-02-2020

First it was the increase in upwork fees then the paid connects and now this.

I'm Top Rated with 100% JSS - I survived 🙂 - but the thing is, there are no clients like before.

I emagine upwork increased fees on clients too. Now good Jobs are hard to find and no where near before those changes.

Alas!