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.

phillipstia · ‎07-09-2020

Hello!

The more work I do, even though I am doing repeat work for clients and seem to be maintaing mostly 5-star reveiews, my success rate is steadily dropping. It has gone from 95% to 88% over the last 6 months. If I wasn't satisfying my clients, I could understand this, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Does anyone know how I can increase this success rate? Take one some short-term, fast jobs maybe? I would really like to keep it above 90%.

Thanks,

Tia

lucioric · ‎07-09-2020

Hi. if you talk about working for free, it is against the Upwork TOS. If you talk about jobs that you fail to complete successfully and the time passes without the client paying you, or if he closes the contract and give you a bad feedback, it will affect negatively your JSS.

Best regards.

kasaeesajad · ‎07-12-2020

Good day!

I have already finished two works in 2019 and the clients didn't end the contracts. I have sent a message to them but they are not available for any response. I have ended both contracts because the job was already done. the problem is It had a big effect on my job progress. what can I do to fix my job progress? they are not available no longer ;( .

petra_r · ‎07-12-2020

Sajad K wrote:
I have ended both contracts because the job was already done. the problem is It had a big effect on my job progress.

Those two contracts did not negatively affect your JSS at all.

You either had contracts with nothing ever paid, or poor private feedback. Unless you have a HUGE percentage of "No feedback" contracts, the are not doing any harm whatsoever.

kasaeesajad · ‎07-12-2020

Hi Petra! Thank you for your response, but I have only Two contract with "No feedback given", that they are for these two clients! all my other feedbacks were 5/5. Actually, my JSS was %89 before I end the contract few days ago. after I ended the contract it decreased to %82.

petra_r · ‎07-12-2020

Sajad K wrote:
Hi Petra! Thank you for your response, but I have only Two contract with "No feedback given", that they are for these two clients! all my other feedbacks were 5/5. Actually, my JSS was %89 before I end the contract few days ago. after I ended the contract it decreased to %82.

It didn't. It updated last Sunday, and the public feedback is irrelevant.

You no longer have enough completed contracts in your 6 month and 12 month windows, so your JSS has to be calculated from your 2 year window. Again, a couple of "No feedback" contracts can not be the reason because you were paid money under those contracts.

kasaeesajad · ‎07-12-2020

Is there any solution to fix it?

petra_r · ‎07-12-2020

Sajad K wrote:
Is there any solution to fix it?

Complete contracts with great outcomes.

andrew_croft · ‎07-12-2020

Sajad KI said...

>>Good day!

>>I have already finished two works in 2019 and the clients didn't end the contracts. I have sent a message >>to them but they are not available for any response. I have ended both contracts because the job was >>already done. the problem is It had a big effect on my job progress. what can I do to fix my job progress? >>they are not available no longer ;( .

Ya, Upwork doesn't care.

Seriously - have pointed this out to them numerous times. They don't care.

Customers are lazy.

Customers are forgettable.

Customers often don't give a **Edited for Community Guidelines** about how Upwork operates and do not care about the freelancer once their project is done and do little to assist us in these cases.

I too have three or four OPEN projects from May/June that the clients are not responding, not closing them off. How is this MY FAULT? Upwork - seriously - HOW IS THIS MY FAULT????

I'm going to update my profile to include a warning note about the jSS score and just how pathetid this rating system is and why employers shouldn't bother with it.

That's all we can do in light of the fact that Upwork doesn't care one bit.

aditipie · ‎07-12-2020

Andrew, I can sense that you are upset about the JSS. And you are not alone.

Along with vetting clients, it is important to provide clients with useful tools. Clients need to have checkboxes to shortlist freelancers they want (e.g., large contract, over $5000 or over $10,000; served on 1 job- 500 jobs... etc.) Rather than be a gate-keeper or a quality controller, Upwork can position itself as a facilitator and have much better results in terms of relationships with both- clients and freelancers. There will be no need for JSS. Star rating feedback is enough.

I too wish that Upwork keeps their mind open and understand that this is not a "sour grapes" situation i.e., just because we didn't get a high JSS, we are complaining.

It takes a lot of humility to hear out someone who is displeased with you; to see that freelancers are giving useful suggestions and want to engage in a meaningful dialogue; and then to critically examine Upwork's role....