Sep 1, 2017 03:51:49 PM by Pandora H
Most of you already know the drill here, but if not........
Folks, feel free to share crazy job postings you see. I've been wanting to create a thread like this for a while, and think it would be fun of we can keep it updated periodically.
Warning: Do not copy paste a job description, do not include a link to the post, or client details. Keep it within forum post guidlines!
Not sure what those guidelines are? Go here: https://community.upwork.com/t5/Announcements/Upwork-Community-Guidelines/td-p/3/jump-to/first-unrea...
Solved! Go to Solution.
Feb 14, 2022 02:46:26 PM by Andrea G
Hi all,
We are closing this thread due to its size. Feel free to visit this new thread if you'd like to continue sharing your experience with odd and curious jobs.
We encourage you to have fun and discuss your experience. That said, please be mindful of our Community Guidelines and refrain from posting links to job postings, names of persons or companies, or any other identifying information. Additionally, if you come across a job that violates Upwork TOS, please flag it as inappropriate following the steps outlined here.
Oct 4, 2020 12:02:35 PM by Aleksandar D
Hi Salima,
Thanks for reporting this to us. Our team will review the job post and take action according to our internal processes.
Thank you.
Oct 4, 2020 11:56:45 PM by Slavko A
Ok here is one from me:.
"Well I have been getting mocked by mockers and I'm just trying to build some type of firewall or encrypted data to block this out and stop people from reading my thoughts"
I do not know what to think about this?
Oct 11, 2020 10:32:38 AM by Richard W
"Build/Create anything online that makes me a profit"
That gives me an idea for a job post: "Make me $200. Budget $100."
Oct 13, 2020 09:50:17 AM by Aleksandr S
Richard W wrote:"Build/Create anything online that makes me a profit"
That gives me an idea for a job post: "Make me $200. Budget $100."
I regularly see such jobs too: "implement a profitable forex strategy for $50".
If I had one, why would I share it with anyone?
Oct 28, 2020 04:55:01 AM by Nedra W
Of all the academic fraud postings I've seen, this one takes the cake. A student is looking for someone to write a paper about an ethics case study, using ethical theories and arguments.
I have a great idea for a case study about a student who pays someone else to write a paper for them...
Oct 28, 2020 05:32:00 AM by Aleksandar D
Hi Nedra,
You can use this flag option found on each job post or message anytime you’d like to report a violation.
Thank you.
Oct 29, 2020 05:17:38 AM by Nedra W
Believe me, I did report it right away. I just thought it was so egregious I had to share. 🙂
Nov 5, 2020 04:05:50 PM Edited Nov 5, 2020 06:40:58 PM by Joanne P
This one def tops the most crazy I've ever seen. Really hope he wasn't successful.
**Edited for community guidelines**
Nov 5, 2020 04:54:25 PM Edited Nov 6, 2020 03:03:10 AM by Vladimir G
Gee Rochelle, I just can't figure out why you're not more compassionate toward this poor victimized guy. Sheesh! **Edited for Community Guidelines**
Nov 15, 2020 11:24:35 AM Edited Nov 15, 2020 11:29:49 AM by Sergio S
I can't believe the one I've just seen. They have 10 conference videos in X language. They want a video editor who understands X language and also Y and Z languages to create subtitled versions for Y and Z. This means 20 videos (each video almost 30 min). Transcriptions for the original in X are not provided and you need to actually be a translator too. They want this completed in one week. Budget is a 2-figure number! Yeahhh, right! Be my guest, bro One can be a polyglot and a video editor, sure, but all this unrealistic deadline and payment is just too much! I have seen lots of people asking for the sun and the moon in Upwork but this one just got me astonished.
Nov 15, 2020 01:42:27 PM Edited Nov 17, 2020 08:18:49 AM by Vladimir G
Hey, with the economy collapsing/collapsed, they fantasize that we are so desperate we're willing to be **Edited for Community Guidelines**. They're just showing you WHO they are.
So pathetic that it's not even funny any more.
Suzi
Nov 30, 2020 09:46:46 PM by Mikko R
Sergio, now you're confusing the client.
"What? Don't all video editors speak AT LEAST 10 languages?"
😄
Dec 5, 2020 10:17:59 PM Edited Dec 5, 2020 10:44:49 PM by Renata S
Composers, start your ovens!
Someone Down Under wants a freelancer to write and record a parody song of the Madonna song Like a Prayer on the theme of "sourdough bread.”
It seems like you'd need a miracle to get the meter to work.
Dec 6, 2020 11:57:08 AM Edited Dec 6, 2020 12:00:23 PM by Renata S
Ray C wrote:
Shoot me the link I can do this!
I'm PMing you as we speak, Ray. There are less than five applicants and none of the invited freelancers seem to be responding.
Did I mention that they want you to perform it too?
Dec 6, 2020 06:58:11 AM Edited Dec 6, 2020 07:58:51 PM by Preston H
re: "...on the theme of sourdough bread. It seems like you'd need a miracle to get the meter to work."
The meters are quite reliable. I don't know why you would be worried about them not working.
Dec 6, 2020 09:59:47 AM by Ray C
Seriously I write parody lyrics for all kinds of songs.
Yellow Snow, Yellow Snow, Yellow Snow,
Sung to the tune of "Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow."
Oh, the pressure is getting stronger,
Can't hold it too much longer.
If I can't find any place to go
Yellow Snow, Yellow Snow, Yellow Snow,
Oh, the question right now is whether...
I can keep my knees together...
Till I find someplace to go...
Yellow Snow, Yellow Snow, Yellow Snow.
Well I guess I drank too much beer...
So just stop by the side of the road.
Or I might have to go right here;
my bladder's about to explode
I can feel myself start to weaken
I think I might be leakin'
I need to find a place to go...
Yellow Snow, Yellow Snow, Yellow Snow.
Dec 6, 2020 11:10:53 AM by Nedra W
You have quite a talent, Ray. Be sure to use it for good and not evil.
Dec 6, 2020 12:57:13 PM Edited Dec 6, 2020 01:21:49 PM by Renata S
Some of the more recent seasonal offerings (beyond the usual barrage of requests for ethics essays with 24-hour deadines) are particularly cockle warming (because I must admit, I've always found client specs for design projects really funny):
A company is looking for someone to create "Chrismukkah" illustrations (by which they mean Christmas and Hannukah hybrid designs). One of the images they're looking for is something they call a "Jewish Santa" who's decked out in a blue suit rather than a red one and has peyos (those curls Jewish men have behind their ears). Another design they have requested is something called "Ho Ho Ho - Oy Oy Oy," in which Jewish Santa and a standard red-and-white-suited Santa are hugging.
These illustrations are to have a "very 'now' vibe that encompasses the charm and magic of the holidays" while simultaneously drawing "inspiration from mid-century modern products and motifs."
So that's like a retro now vibe?
Dec 7, 2020 06:46:40 PM Edited Dec 7, 2020 07:52:56 PM by Renata S
And then there are those jobs that just scream "take me!"
Edit 75K word poorly German translated romance novel. One week turnaround. The fixed rate works out to about 0.6 cents per word.
Dec 7, 2020 06:49:43 PM by Suzi E
Gee, Renata, why are you being so greedy! LOL...I wonder if the person who wrote the job description also did the "poorly German translated romance novel". I suspect so.
Dec 7, 2020 07:11:22 PM by Renata S
Suzi E wrote:Gee, Renata, why are you being so greedy! LOL...I wonder if the person who wrote the job description also did the "poorly German translated romance novel". I suspect so.
So greedy? If you've ever had the thrill of working with particularly crappy translation, you'll understand the romance will likely be over by page 3 (if it ever does in fact get started).
I couldn't decide whether "poorly German translated" meant translated poorly into German or translated poorly by a German into some as yet undetermined language. It's possible you might spend the first day simply trying to decipher the remit. And by the second day, it might occur to you that you don't actually speak the language it was poorly translated into.
Dec 7, 2020 07:32:05 PM by Suzi E
Thanks so much for the giant belly laughs. I just got home from a root canal...so it was just in time!
................................."poorly German translated" meant translated poorly into German or translated poorly by a German into some as yet undetermined language
Yes it is a quandary to figure out. I was also confused by the possibilities. It makes it even harder to eagerly apply. I'm sure there will be hundreds of applicants, and you'll have to put in a very competitive bid. Maybe .001 cent an hour would do the job.
Suzi
Dec 7, 2020 07:56:25 PM by Renata S
Suzi E wrote:Thanks so much for the giant belly laughs. I just got home from a root canal...so it was just in time!
................................."poorly German translated" meant translated poorly into German or translated poorly by a German into some as yet undetermined language
Yes it is a quandary to figure out. I was also confused by the possibilities. It makes it even harder to eagerly apply. I'm sure there will be hundreds of applicants, and you'll have to put in a very competitive bid. Maybe .001 cent an hour would do the job.
Suzi
Suzi,
I wish you a speedy recovery. I know people say laughter is the best medicine. But seriously, if you've had a root canal, take whatever pain medication they gave you.
Dec 8, 2020 10:37:14 AM Edited Dec 9, 2020 09:16:23 PM by Muhammad F
"Write 2500 words in the budget of $5 and get 5-star ratings. The budget is tight so don't apply if you don't accept the payment. But a 5-star rating is a must if you can complete the job without plagiarism."
Now you can decide if the client was buying writing services or bargaining work with 5-star ratings and some coins 😄
Dec 8, 2020 10:43:54 AM by Suzi E
This pinpoints the problems with the way Upwork allows clients to hold freelancers hostage for their ratings.
Once a customer understands how much they can harm a freelancer with a low rating, it's Katie bar the door! It becomes a game of how much can I screw the freelancer for some lousy pay...because the system makes the freelancer desperate to get good ratings.
And, unfortunately, the freelancer has no protection. If you make the mistake of working for one of these scammers (and some can very convincingly appear to be sane), your Job Success Score is negatively skewed LONG TERM!
Suzi
Dec 9, 2020 05:30:14 AM by Jennifer R
Suzi E wrote:This pinpoints the problems with the way Upwork allows clients to hold freelancers hostage for their ratings.
Once a customer understands how much they can harm a freelancer with a low rating, it's Katie bar the door! It becomes a game of how much can I screw the freelancer for some lousy pay...because the system makes the freelancer desperate to get good ratings.
And, unfortunately, the freelancer has no protection. If you make the mistake of working for one of these scammers (and some can very convincingly appear to be sane), your Job Success Score is negatively skewed LONG TERM!
Suzi
Wrong: Freelancers just have to start to read and apply the ToS. Report these clients and your problem is solved.
Dec 9, 2020 10:41:20 AM by Suzi E
Been there. Done That. Even with the proof of such manipulation in writing from the client, I got no help from Upwork. I stand by my statement. Unfortunately, that was my experience.
Suzi
Dec 12, 2020 06:21:28 PM by Ray C
Jennifer, Those bullet points you listed are not applicable because they hardly ever threaten to give you bad feedback. They just keep asking for more and more, telling you you did it wrong when they are asking for the impossible, or scope creeping, or just milking you for more work then you agreed to do. And the other examples are either to protect the client or examples that never happen. I'm afraid Suzi is right and you are WRONG!
I too have tried contacting support when this happens and they say "it's best if you try to work it out with your client." They can't do anything to help. It's a client-centric system. And since it doesn't matter to the client if we give them a bad review they can blackmail us. And you can have 2 years of rave reviews and thrilled clients and then one of these people does this and your score drops three points overnight and takes years to recover from it. it is putting the needs of the service provider last. And treating seasoned professionals with stellar track records the same as a beginner or a disreputable freelancer.
Dec 17, 2020 11:29:48 AM by Jennifer R
Ray C wrote:Jennifer, Those bullet points you listed are not applicable because they hardly ever threaten to give you bad feedback. They just keep asking for more and more, telling you you did it wrong when they are asking for the impossible, or scope creeping, or just milking you for more work then you agreed to do. And the other examples are either to protect the client or examples that never happen. I'm afraid Suzi is right and you are WRONG!
I too have tried contacting support when this happens and they say "it's best if you try to work it out with your client." They can't do anything to help. It's a client-centric system. And since it doesn't matter to the client if we give them a bad review they can blackmail us. And you can have 2 years of rave reviews and thrilled clients and then one of these people does this and your score drops three points overnight and takes years to recover from it. it is putting the needs of the service provider last. And treating seasoned professionals with stellar track records the same as a beginner or a disreputable freelancer.
Lets see:
Attempting to or actually manipulating or misusing the feedback system, including by: ... offering services for the sole purpose of obtaining positive feedback of any kind;
It is a ToS violation if a freelancer offeres to work for close to nothing just to get a positiv feedback. In theory every freelancer sending a proposal for a job that promisses that includes 5* guaranteed violates the ToS and should be suspended.
Same goes for clients:
Requesting or demanding free services, including requesting Freelancers to submit work as part of the proposal process for very little or no money or posting contests in which Freelancers submit work with no or very little pay, and only the winning submission is paid the full amount;
I am afraid you did not read the ToS as thoroughly as you should have. Maybe you want to re-read them before your account gets suspended FNR.
Dec 12, 2020 05:54:31 PM by Ray C
Suzi E wrote:This pinpoints the problems with the way Upwork allows clients to hold freelancers hostage for their ratings...
Suzi
Oh Suzi! Truer words have never been spoken! that was a real killer for me for my first couple years here. Although it rarely happens to me anymore but I still get one every now and then. I think the best way to handle it is just to tell them "Listen I'm really sorry, I would love to do this 39th revision for you but I was just diagnosed with non-non non non Hutchinson's Lymphoma and one of the symptoms is "inability to freelance." Keep the money, I gotta go waste away in some ICU for the remainder of my life." And hope they take pity on you.
Dec 12, 2020 07:58:13 PM by Suzi E
SO FUNNY! Thanks for the laugh. LOL in fact. After all, the hostage should be able to work it out with the kidnapper. You're such a weakling! When it's a violation of Terms Of Service, it's not my job to "educate" the client. They just move on and pull the same number on the next freelancer.
When you tell a client that their "offer" is a violation of Terms Of Service, you certainly will not get the job.
Unfortunately, it ends up with the professional freelancers taking only 1 out of every 10 jobs offered. Upwork actually gets less business by using this "pro-client" approach. I'm darned picky about whom I will work with.
It makes for a very toxic work situation for any new freelancer, no matter how many years of expertise they have.
Then, of course, if you don't work with these types of "clients", your stats look bad!
I just wish there were a way to prevent these kinds of predators from preying on freelancers in a system skewed against them. That's the positive change I can't figure out how to bring about at Upwork.
Suzi
Dec 17, 2020 12:26:32 PM Edited Dec 17, 2020 01:03:25 PM by Amanda L
Suzi E wrote:You're such a weakling!
If you're being held hostage by a client for anything, then you are the weakling, honestly. Too weak to stand up to a client and/or walk away instead of letting them bully you. Too weak to walk away the moment a client exhibits this behavior and still work for them. Too weak to have confidence in your own ability to choose better clients and vet better in the future. You've pinpointed the problem perfectly - the issue is freelancers who let clients bat them around. You have the power. You can walk away. Sure, there will be consequences, but do you want to be a hostage to a client or do you want the control over your business?
Dec 8, 2020 11:53:52 AM by Renata S
Muhammad F wrote:"Write 2500 words and get 5-star ratings. The budget is tight so don't apply if you don't accept the payment. But a 5-star rating is a must if you can complete the job without plagiarism."
Muhammad,
You can flag that post as a violation of the Upwork ToS. Clients aren't supposed to bargain with freelancers using promises of high ratings.
Dec 11, 2020 06:38:32 PM by Muhammad F
Yes, I am already doing that but Upwork takes a few days to process things, and until that time they have already hired someone for the work.