Do clients understand how Upwork's proposal system works?

[#1]

Today I saw yet another job posting that included only the following to describe the work to be done:

"I need help with a finance project related to modeling."

I don't respond to such job postings now that they cost me more money than ever before with a practically zero chance of submitting a winning proposal if the client has sent invitations to other freelancers to submit a proposal or, less importantly, other freelancers have boosted their proposals.

Submitting proposals takes time, effort and money. If you, as a client, are seeing few freelancer responses to your job postings, take a look at whether you are making it worthwhile for a qualified freelancer to submit a proposal. Experienced freelancers are often not at all interested in submitting a proposal just to find out more about a job that may or may not be of interest to them.

[#2]

Sure, you are absolutly right. This is because, I as a freelancer have consistency submit several job proposal without getting any response till date. So going out of CONNECT also makes some freelancers who are ready to work with client staying away from sending proposal again. This is also because nobody knows who is ready to accept there invite after the sent proposal

[#3]

I think we are in the same boat here. Still, I am not getting discouraged at all. I have only stopped bidding for a while to carefully learn how the system works and then jump in again. I encourage you to never give up. Get well informed and well organized, and then come back stronger.

[#4]

Oddly I've found Enterprise Clients are the worst when it comes to demanding flat-fee bids and never, never, never providing enough information to do so.  

[#5]

That is a surprise. I'd think big clients would be the smartest clients in that respect.

[#6]

It's because from my experience the majority of Upwork Enterprise Clients hire low-pay off-shore hiring managers who don't understand the nature of the job they are posting and aren't willing to answer any questions 

[#7]

Because enterprise clients are used to a different scheme - a general description of the vacancy without any specifics, and then a search in the received CV. This works when you know what company we are talking about and, of course, do not pay for sending a CV and an interview.

In the case of Upwork, this is not the case. The rules prohibit giving detailed information about the employer, and sending proposals costs money.

I think this is a shortcoming of Upwork, especially in the case of corporate clients. We have courses for freelancers - some are even sent there by force. I do not see a problem in the fact that before publishing the work, the client was also forced to familiarize himself with the detailed rules and confirm that he understood them.

[#8]

The problem with enterprise clients is that you have too many managers and not enough workers. I find I love working with small business owners because the client is the one approving or asking for changes. When you have a team of people and a meeting every week with a group of "managers" I find that they want you to be the performer and leader of a presentation that you never agreed to do. Being a freelancer you are given work to complete. BUT with enterprise clients I feel that you have to do a lot of extra meetings and changes and work you may or may not get compensated for. 

[#9]

Clients understand that Upwork - trash platform with cheap unskilled freelancers who doesnt worth the time to describe. Client posted something then forgot. In best case returned to read couple of spam proposals from AI.

Client will describe something if need to pay an $5 or will be responsible. But it is free at all. 

[#10]

Unfortunatley that is the image of Upwork that the platform itsself is cultivating.  And the more the platform advertises itsself as fast and cheap, the more trash gets heaped onto the pile.  

[#11]

Very sad for new and upcoming freelancers.

[#12]

It's sad for everybody - nobody wins in the race to the bottom 

[#13]

I prefer the one or two sentence job submission since many of the long submissions are created with AI and are almost meaningless.

[#14]

Or they are simply role descriptions for hiring someone on a full-time basis (as if Upwork was a regular job board) rather than a specific job that must be completed.

[#15]

Yesterday I saw this at the end of a job post....

"Note: Freshers and begginers please don't apply and save connects. Thank You"

[#16]

That's a good warning that at least some new Upworkers will know to pay attention to.

I hope they also pay attention to a client's requirement for an "Expert", requiring a level of expertise whtat many new Upworks likely don't have.

[#17]

But at the same time, I see a huge number of posts seeking Expert level work for $15/hr.  UW has devalued the term Expert so that it means basically nothing.  Same with "Expert Vetted" - there are no Experts vetting anyone at Upwork.

[#18]

Unfortunately yes! Though I just joined Upwork, I have curiously been observing and trying to learn the tricks of the trade and I think Upwork is gradually becoming complacent and greedy.

[#19]

Very caring of a client. I wish others will learn to show concern for freelancers connect too. 👍

[#20]

Here's the entirety of yet  another job (costing 19 connects to apply to):

"Hi we need a business analyst, preferably ex PE or businesses banking, or worked with either or both before."

[#21]

So vague! How can they expect to receive a carefully written proposal. I have learned to shy away from such jobs to save my precious connects.