Update on Specialized Profiles for Freelancers

[Isabelle Anne A]

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Valeria K wrote:

Hi Wendy,

In all cases, the profile that is most relevant to the job requirements will automatically be shown with the proposal. The general profile and any other specialized profiles will still be visible to the client when they view the proposal.

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[Mark W]

Could someone provide some insight as to why these are requisite?

I cannot add portfolio items without creating a specialized profile that I do not need or want. Almost every page of the proposal process has some kind of blurb for creating specialized profiles. Everywhere I go, "Create a specialized profile!" as if I was not already exceedingly aware of the feature.

I am glad that Upwork is intent on creating new features that may benefit some freelancers. I don't know why Upwork felt it was necessary to make these specialized profiles anything but voluntary. 

[Sherif R]

It's supposed to be an optional feature, at least last I checked, so it's weird that you're forced to create one! In any case you should be able to unpublish that specialised profile you currently have.  Funny thing is I can't find the unpublish button that used to be there.  (Feature aparently is in beta so things keep changing). Anyway, If you scroll down on 'Manage my profiles' page towards the bottom, you should see your specialised profiles listed and there's an option to delete it.

[Mark W]

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Sherif R wrote:

It's supposed to be an optional feature, at least last I checked, so it's weird that you're forced to create one!

It definitely isn't optional. To add portfolio items you must have a specialized profile. Since my portfolio items are now attached to the specialized profile and editing the portfolio item doesn't let me move them to my general profile, I therefore cannot delete the specialized profile. If I was to delete it, my portfolio items would disappear and I would lose my top rated status for having an "incomplete profile".

That's what I'm having an issue with. I'm happy to see new features rolled out, happy to know Upwork is trying to add useful tools for freelancers. In this case, we're being forced to use this feature and I'm not sure why. Upwork must feel strongly about this feature and I'd like to hear their reasoning as to why I must maintain multiple profiles. 

[Sherif R]

Hmmm...beats me!  Last thing you'd wanna do is wipe out your top score.

You probably need some one from the Upwork team to weigh in on this...  I'm also intersted to know what happened with the ability to unpublish profiles.  Let's hope someone from the team can chime in and share some answers.

[Bojan S]

Hi Mark,

You won't be able to upload a new portfolio item without selecting a Related Specialized Profile. Please know that this is working as designed. Specialized profiles allow freelancers to better showcase their portfolio items in a format that helps clients find best freelancers for their specific projects. However, if you don't want a portfolio item to show on a Specialized profile, you can go to that profile's portfolio section, click on the pencil icon in the upper right corner of that section and then un-select that item from the list.

Thank you!

[Sanja D]

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Bojan S wrote:

Hi Mark,

Specialized profiles allow freelancers to better showcase their portfolio items in a format that helps clients find best freelancers for their specific projects. 

Thank you!

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No. You just created something that works better on mobile devices. UW completely "forgot" to add a Print Design category, so those of us who specialize in that should choose...what exactly? Web design? Editorial? Word Press? Or should I just quickly learn a new skill that's on your list? That's nonsense - I don't want UW to pick and choose how I present myself to the clients. If UW wants to do that - you can then send my proposals as well.

[Avery O]

Hi Sanja, 

While Print Design isn't a sub-category under Design & Creative, you can choose a category that fits best, and note "Print Design" as a skill in your skills tags. 

[Sanja D]

Hi Avery,
I did check that list when I was forced to create a specialized profile - there's no category "that fits best".
I have no idea why UW insists on specialized profiles - but it would be silly for me to choose "similar" category and spend half of the description explaining that that's not really a category I specialize in...

[Vladimir G]

Hi Sanja,

Thanks for following up. We're aware of your sentiment towards and experience with using the specialized profiles feature but can only reiterate what we've communicated with you before, that while the specific category you're looking for isn't available yet our team is working on expanding the list of available categories. Thank you for your understanding and note that the feedback you provided has been shared already with our team.