Meet our August Featured Contributor Melissa T!
What category of jobs do you work in?
Graphic Design
When did you begin working on Upwork?
In 2014, I started with Elance.
Tell us a little about yourself and how you got started as a freelancer.
I had worked in pharmaceutical advertising for years and had reached burnout. My hours were very long, the work was thankless, and I got to spend very little time with my young son as a result. I knew it was time for a change - one that gave me more flexibility in terms of schedule and more control over the kinds of work I do. A friend of a friend recommended online freelancing (Elance specifically) and the rest is history.
What do you enjoy the most/least about freelancing?
I love that I can control my own hours to a large extent. I love that I can work anywhere I have a computer. That sort of flexibility is the main draw for online freelancing in my eyes. What I don't like so much is the lack of coworkers I see face to face. The Community boards go a great distance toward creating a feeling of camaraderie, but that face to face IRL interaction is something I miss. I've recently started a part time membership at a co-working space so that I can work among other freelancers and remote workers a couple of days per week. I love it.
What was your most successful project/contract?
My most successful project is ongoing. There is a long-standing Enterprise client with whom I've been working for a year and a half. It's far less creative than many of my other contracts, but the team I work with is great and we have a lot of trust for each other. I'm happy to have a long term client that is engaged and considers me part of their larger team.
My most successful fixed rate contract was designing a featured app banner for the Apple App Store. The client needed a quick turnaround and was very responsive, communicative, and collaborative. I finished the project a bit ahead of schedule and the client had a successful run as a featured app. His feedback was stellar and I'd work with him again in a heartbeat.
Do you have any advice for other users on Upwork?
Read the documentation provided on the site before doing any work! I see many questions on the Community boards that could have easily been answered by simply reading the info that's already available. Be aware of the ToS, be smart, know your responsibilities and what to watch out for. That's a good foundation for anyone on Upwork.
At least two fun or interesting things about you?
I skydive and ski, but I'm terrified of heights. Next year I'm planning to start studying for my private pilot's license. Maybe a little self-imposed immersion therapy for my heights fear?
Anything else to add?
The Community is awesome and I'm glad to be a part of it. I've gotten such valuable advice from other freelancers that I can't imagine Upwork without it.