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.

adb40519 · ‎05-03-2021

Hi! Last week I had 100% JSS Score and Top rated badge, now it fall down to 85% and my tip rated badge disappeared.

Can someone look at my profile and tell me what are the steps I need to take to have this fixed? Thank you!

youssefbahaa · ‎05-03-2021

Hi Angelica, Sorry to hear that you lost the badge, however, you are not far from getting it back.
If you were asking about the reason why your JSS dropped, it might be because of your last contract; even though the public feedback is not bad, this doesn't mean that the client gave you nice private feedback. And because you have only completed 3 jobs, that contract effect was huge on your JSS.

What to do?? All you have to do is to try to get more new contracts and do your best to finish them successfully and politely ask your clients to leave nice feedback for you. then you'll notice a boost in your JSS soon. Once you get your JSS above 90%, you'll get your Top-Rated Badge back soon.

I wish you the best of luck!
Youssef

JoanneP · ‎05-03-2021

Hi Angelica,

Once you meet the criteria listed here, the badge will be added to your profile automatically. Please allow the system to update within 24-48 hours once you meet the listed requirements.

whitmarief · ‎06-14-2021

My JSS score suddenly dropped from 100% to 88% and I lost my Top Rated status. But when I go to my stats page, it still says 100% of clients recommend me. What’s the deal?

petra_r · ‎06-14-2021

Whitney F wrote:
My JSS score suddenly dropped from 100% to 88% and I lost my Top Rated status.

Did you have a cancelled contract recently?

The contract that closed on the 7th of June, who closed it? You or the client?

Whitney F wrote:
But when I go to my stats page, it still says 100% of clients recommend me. What’s the deal?

That only updates every several contracts, so it means it just hasn't caught up yet.

nabila_pervaiz · ‎06-15-2021

Hi Everyone,
I want to know about a Long-term contract system. I'm working with a client who gives me regular projects in milestone form. Each project is different from the other. Should I ask him to propose a new contract for each project? Or is it fine to do all projects in a single contract?
Which method will increase my JSS?

Thank you in advance.

jefreylandicho · ‎06-17-2021

From what I know, both will help increase your JSS and I believe the total earned in a job weighs more than the quantity

petra_r · ‎06-17-2021

Nabila Pervaiz B wrote:
. Should I ask him to propose a new contract for each project? Or is it fine to do all projects in a single contract?
Which method will increase my JSS?

Both long term (3+ months) contracts and successfully completed contracts help your JSS, but you should not harass the client to have to go through the rigmarole of opening a new contract for every milestone when they clearly prefer the ease of just adding a milestone.

It would be pretty inappropriate to ask the client to keep hiring you for new contracts all the time just to manipulate your JSS.

Also bear in mind that the JSS is Dollar weighed to a degree, so bigger contracts affect your JSS more than smaller ones and in this way working on one long contract will work in your favour.

dhankyharshil · ‎07-13-2021

Hi Upwork Community,

I have a unique situation that I haven't faced in my years on Upwork. A client asked me to do a piece of work for which I quoted him a fixed price. Instead, he sent me an hourly offer with a 1 hr. limit with the total amount as the hourly rate. I didn't mind as I have worked hourly offers before too, so I started working and billed the client for the hour. After billing the hour and sending the work, I get a notification 5 mins. later that the contract has been suspended.

Due to privacy issues, Upwork won't disclose why the contract is suspended (which is understandable) except they have told me it's an issue on the client side. Because I didn't append memos on the hourly tracking app (I know, rookie mistake), I am not eligible for the Payment Protection Program, meaning I won't get paid. On top of that, the client has disappeared off the face of the earth now, so it doesn't look like the contract will be reactivated anytime soon.

At this point, I am fine to let go of that one hour of work. It really is not that big of a deal, but given that the contract amount was reasonable sizable, I am worried it will impact my JSS if I end the contract with 0 earnings. My question is that with the new Upwork rules where contracts without feedback do not count towards JSS, does that extend to contracts with no earnings too?

Any alternative solutions would also be welcome. Thanks in advance!

2a05aa63 · ‎07-13-2021

It would only impact your JSS if the client left a negative private feedback but most likely they got banned so it won't be an issue.