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New talent badges are now available!

ilianamontauk
Community Member

Earlier this year, we shared some of our upcoming plans to highlight top talent on Upwork. We understood that you are looking for more ways to stand out and want better access to high-value opportunities with quality clients. As we continue to attract more businesses seeking flexible talent solutions, we have also heard their need to more quickly find talent they can trust for complex, strategic, and long-term work. To further our continued efforts towards this vision, we're excited to announce two new talent badges: Top Rated Plus and Expert-Vetted.



Screen Shot 2020-07-07 at 8.54.10 AM.png

TOP RATED PLUS

 

What is Top Rated Plus?

 

Top Rated Plus is a new status for talent that has a proven track record of excelling on large or long-term contracts on Upwork. On average their contracts last 7 months. These professionals and agencies are highlighted because they have delighted clients on large contracts. Businesses frequently seek talent for large projects or longer-term relationships, and trust talent with this proven experience on Upwork. Right now Top Rated Plus talent has earned more than $100K on average through Upwork, four times as much as Top Rated talent.  



What are the benefits?

  • Priority access to work with Upwork Enterprise and Business clients: they will be able to find you more easily in search, and our Talent Services teams will prioritize inviting you to their invite-only jobs. 
  • A Top Rated Plus badge displayed on your profile visible to clients on Upwork’s Enterprise, Business, and Plus plans (to all other clients you will continue to appear as Top Rated)

 

What are the requirements to become a Top Rated Plus freelancer?

  • Earned $10,000+ in total earnings (all contracts included) the past 12 months
  • Worked on one of more large projects in the past 12 months without negative feedback. What is considered a large project can vary depending on the skill category:
    • $5,000: Design & Creative, Engineering & Architecture, Legal, Translation, Writing
    • $10,000: Accounting & Consulting, Admin, Data Science & Analytics, IT & Networking, Sales & Marketing
    • $15,000: Web, Mobile & Software Dev
    • $20,000: Customer Support
  • Are not an exclusive agency contractor
  • Maintained Top Rated status

 

What are the requirements to be Top Rated Plus as an agency?

  • Earned $20,000+ in total earnings (all contracts included)
  • Worked on one or more large projects in the past 12 months and no more than 10 percent of the contracts had negative outcomes. What is considered a large project can vary depending on the skill category:
    • $10,000: Design & Creative, Engineering & Architecture, Legal, Translation, Writing
    • $20,000: Accounting & Consulting, Admin, Customer Service, Data Science & Analytics, IT & Networking, Sales & Marketing
    • $30,000: Web, Mobile & Software Dev
  • Maintained Top Rated status

Timing

  • The Top Rated Plus badge was released today to some clients. If you qualify for this badge, clients on Upwork’s Enterprise and Business plans will now see it on your profile, as will some clients on Upwork’s Plus plan. You will start seeing the badge on your own profile and MyStats later this summer - we’ll notify you by email once you can see it there.

 

Screen Shot 2020-07-07 at 8.54.16 AM.png

EXPERT-VETTED 

 

What is Expert-Vetted Talent?

 

Expert-Vetted Talent is a new status for talent that has deep experience in their field, on or off Upwork. Upwork invites this talent to participate in a rigorous pre-screening process. We chose to highlight these professionals because businesses frequently seek talent with a strong combination of expertise and soft skills, and they trust talent that has been pre-screened by professionals in the relevant field. This talent will get prioritized for clients on Upwork’s Enterprise and Business plans, whose average project value is over $8,000. 

 

What are the benefits?

 

  • An Expert-Vetted badge on your profile to help you more easily stand out and find quality work with top clients on Upwork’s Enterprise and Business plans. All other clients will see your Rising Talent, Top Rated, or Top Rated Plus badge if you have one.
  • Priority access to work with clients on Upwork’s Enterprise and Business plans
  • A personal relationship with an Upwork Talent Manager who helps match you to opportunities aligned with your goals

 

Our team is hard at work to further enhance the Expert-Vetted experience, so expect more exciting updates on the horizon including opportunities to engage with this exclusive community of professionals like you and other ways to more easily access high-value work.

 

What are the requirements to become an Expert-Vetted freelancer or agency?

This opportunity is available by invitation only. Keep your eyes peeled for an invitation in your email inbox or when you log into Upwork. Once we are able to offer this opportunity to more people, we will provide an update here.

 

If you are invited to participate, you will need to pass a rigorous pre-screening process which may include a portfolio review, coding tests, interviews, or other steps relevant to your area of expertise. Agencies participate in a similar process to assess the agency’s expertise.

 

Our initial focus is Design & Creative; Web, Mobile, and Software Development; and Sales & Marketing.   



How is this different from previous programs, like Upwork Premium?

Expert-Vetted replaces previous programs for expert-level talent. We’ve done extensive research with businesses seeking expert-level talent on Upwork for large projects and created new criteria in line with current client expectations. If you’ve previously taken an assessment for Upwork Premium or Upwork Pro, thank you! We have your results on file and will take them into consideration as we grow the program and extend additional invitations. Your results also continue to be available to our Talent Services teams which take them into consideration when sending invitations to jobs.

 

Timing

  • The Expert-Vetted badge was released today to some clients. If you qualify for this badge, clients on Upwork’s Enterprise and Business plans will now see it. You will start seeing the badge on your own profile and MyStats later this summer - we’ll notify you by email once you can see it there



RISING TALENT & TOP RATED

 

Freelancers who are currently Rising Talent or Top Rated will continue to keep those badges and benefits. Expert-Vetted and Top Rated Plus are not replacing Rising Talent or Top Rated.

 

When you earn Expert-Vetted or Top Rated Plus status, your new badge is only visible to Upwork's Enterprise and Business clients—as well as select Plus clients for Top Rated Plus.* All other clients will see your Rising Talent or Top Rated badge if you have one.

 

See the chart below to learn which badge clients see when they look at your profile, depending on the client type.

Screen Shot 2020-08-17 at 6.57.38 AM.png

 

 

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We care deeply about helping you succeed on Upwork. There is plenty more to come! We will continue to invest in our talent badges and other solutions. We'd love to hear your thoughts on how these new statuses impact your work and other ways we can help you achieve your goals.

 

Thanks!

 

Iliana Montauk

Product Manager

 

*Beta test update July 2021: We are always working to improve features on our platform, from time to time some users may see options while we test changes for this reason. Over the next few weeks we'll be testing a way for badges be visible to all clients when searching Project Catalog. If there are any changes that will permanently take effect we will update you here!


559 Comments
colormaster
Community Member

Hi everyone.

I have earned Top Rated Plus, but month ago it disappeared without any notification. I have all required conditions (meet all criteria) and twice asked help from UpWork support. I even found possible reason to help a team to solve the problem but they didn't fix it.

 

First time support told that it is known issues and will be fixed soon. And day later he told me that it is fixed and close the case. Second support person approved that it is an bug issue (not mine) but my problem wasn't solved in a day or couple, and even in 2 weeks+.

 

So I have couple questions:

- Is somebody else have the same problem?

- Why support and team doesn't fix problems?

- Why there are no advantages comparing to "Top Rated" ? (I hardly earn it and now there no advantages, even some problems).

 

Screenshots attached below, and aprove meeting of all criteria, and show possible problem.

JoanneP
Moderator

Hi Anatolii,

 

I can understand that it can be frustrating. I know that you worked hard to earn the Top Rated Plus status. I can see that you already have an open ticket regarding this issue. One of our agents will update your ticket and assist you further.  

pierremailsoar
Community Member

Hello,

I was just wondering what were the thresholds to be considered for the expert vetted program. 

I've joined shy from a year ago and made over $100K, became Top-Rated "Plus", and I have several ongoing contracts work north of $15K. I'm just wondering at what point do I have a chance to qualify for the expert vetted? How about if UpWork simply doesn't have an expert in my field? (email deliverability)

 

kinector
Community Member
You're asking my problem, Pierre!

I love your profile, you're totally crushing it over here! Brilliant work!

Just asking, why do you care? A true expert, as you've correctly noticed, sits alone on top of the food chain and does what he/she wants. Works only for those worthy of the expertise. And never any less.

You don't go and start testing Wayne Gretzky's precision of passing or hockey instincts. You just watch that guy go and let him... go. 🤪

The same thing here. And BTW everywhere else in global business. Don't care. Do your thing. Own your niche. Work for the best types of clients only.

If your clients appreciate you but the platform doesn't even understand what it really is that you do, why care? 🤣
pierremailsoar
Community Member

Thank you for the kind words, Mikko,

I care because I felt like getting this badge was going to allow me to work for bigger companies, better opportunity, and simply recognize that I'm really good at what I'm doing.

It's really not a matter of ego, but I just figured if this distinction existed there was a reason behind a nice shiny badge. But overall, you are right and correct, my behavior is to do good work and get good reviews, but I'm still interested in understanding what the difference in exposure and opportunities could be.

 

 

AleksandarD
Community Manager

Hi Pierre,

 

We are inviting freelancers to be vetted based on their skills and reputation and also on the demand for their skills in our marketplace. Right now we are slowly rolling out this option but plan to gradually increase the number of freelancers we vet. The best way to get invited in the future is to create a complete profile, stay active on Upwork, and maintain a great reputation among your clients. We are initially prioritizing freelancers who have already been successful on Upwork (as indicated by Top Rated status and contract history) but will also expand to newer freelancers in the coming months.

 

Thank you.

rainmaker1145
Community Member

Currently, Upwork help section states the following for the availibility of expert-vetting:

Expert-Vetted is available for Web, Mobile, Software Development; Design & Creative; and Sales & Marketing freelancers and agencies.

 

When will this be available for other groups (more specifically Accounting and Consulting) within Upwork?

kristenselim
Community Member
Hello,


My name is Kristen ,
and I signed up for Upwork a year ago. I’m ashamed to say I am not sure how
a d where to start.
I know there are videos to help and it seems to be pretty easy However;
I need help and speak to someone to get me going. Is there any one I can
speak to?

Sincerely ,
Kristen
exinox
Community Member

Hello Upwork,

 

I got 10k earning and past 12 month and I am a Top Rated Freelancer but did not get Top Rated Badge yet.

 

Can you please advise and fix this?

 

Thanks.

petra_r
Community Member

Gautam C wrote:

I got 10k earning and past 12 month and I am a Top Rated Freelancer but did not get Top Rated Badge yet.

 


You do not qualify for top rated plus because you do not have one contract that qualifies. Your overall earnings don't count.