🐈
» Forums » Coffee Break » Re: Jokes! Or just things that seem like joke...
Page options
mthornton-cpc
Community Member

Jokes! Or just things that seem like jokes

**Edited for Community Guidelines**

 

Add this to the long list of "what were they thinking?" items we've all compiled over the years. 

 

Sent invitation by Upwork Talent Specialist (not supposed to be a joke). Job description was boilerplate language (not supposed to be a joke). But, the TS says "it would be a great opportunity" for me. A great opportunity? There's got to be a joke here somewhere. 

 

I also keep getting emails about jobs being posted to the Graphic Design talent cloud on behalf of enterprise clients that have absolutely nothing to do with graphic design. Data collection, mining expert needed, customer service reps... last I checked none of them are graphic design-related. Another joke? 

 

A horse walks into a bar... 

10 REPLIES 10
VladimirG
Community Manager
Community Manager

Hi Melissa,

 

I checked the job post you flagged and do see the confusing language the client had used but also see they included a number of file attachments related to their project. I do see our agent noted the reasons for inviting you to review this job in the initial message. While our dedicated team can only advise clients about possible changes they could make to their job post, clients are free to decide how they would like to describe their job as long as the description doesn't violate Upwork ToS.

They are also entitled to receive the service our team provides to all clients, especially if they are new to Upwork as is the case with this client. Also noting that not all clients might have a high proficiency in English and this might also affect the way they describe their project.

 

Nevertheless, I'll make sure to check with the team and ask them to reach out to the client and possibly suggest a few updates that they could consider to improve their job description.

 

Regarding the emails you mentioned receiving, could you please send me a pm and clarify if those are related to the invites you received or to job recommendation notifications?

~ Vladimir
Upwork

I hear you, Vladimir, but the Talent Specialist didn't even sign their name to the invitation. A blank slate sent by a blank slate. It doesn't inspire interest in the job posting or confidence in the Talent Specialist pool. Proficiency in English or any other language doesn't preclude filling in required fields. How can jobs be posted without adding any description? 

 

Bottom line is that I have to take time to respond to an invitation that never should have been sent to me in the state it was sent. If I don't take the time to respond promptly it affects my response stats.There's got to be a better way to do things. 

 

Re: the talent cloud, I've flagged every one of them for the last couple of months. I'll see if I still have a screenshot. 


Vladimir G wrote:

Hi Melissa,

 

I checked the job post you flagged and do see the confusing language the client had used but also see they included a number of file attachments related to their project. I do see our agent noted the reasons for inviting you to review this job in the initial message. While our dedicated team can only advise clients about possible changes they could make to their job post, clients are free to decide how they would like to describe their job as long as the description doesn't violate Upwork ToS.

They are also entitled to receive the service our team provides to all clients, especially if they are new to Upwork as is the case with this client. Also noting that not all clients might have a high proficiency in English and this might also affect the way they describe their project.

 

Nevertheless, I'll make sure to check with the team and ask them to reach out to the client and possibly suggest a few updates that they could consider to improve their job description.

 

Regarding the emails you mentioned receiving, could you please send me a pm and clarify if those are related to the invites you received or to job recommendation notifications?


Forgot to add that the TS simply used the same boilerplate language that's in every TS invitation email I receive. They simply cut & pasted the skills I have listed in my profile that match the client's requirements in the correct section of their scripted email. Freelancers, for obvious reasons, are often advised not to use copy/paste cover letters when submitting proposals. Might be helpful to advise the TS team of the same. 

Melissa, I'm LOLing in empathy. You've succinctly covered all the reasons why I removed myself from the Talent Specialists hit list eons ago.  

 

When I start reading positive comments about TS intros I'll reactivate my availability for them.

Wendy, ha! I have a shred of hope (it's my nature) that eventually I'll get a TS email that will be worth reading. It's sort of like my faith in democracy - not always backed up by experience, but I can't let go of the effort. 

The democracy aspect I agree with wholeheartedly and have had sorely tested for the last 2 years.   Hope does spring eternal.


Wendy C wrote:

Melissa, I'm LOLing in empathy. You've succinctly covered all the reasons why I removed myself from the Talent Specialists hit list eons ago.  

 

When I start reading positive comments about TS intros I'll reactivate my availability for them.


Hit list, indeed. 

VladimirG
Community Manager
Community Manager


Re: the talent cloud, I've flagged every one of them for the last couple of months. I'll see if I still have a screenshot. 


Hi Melissa,

 

I apologize I missed that you were referring to email notifications related to jobs posted in talent clouds you're apart of. Talent clouds set up by Enterprise clients, creating their own private network of freelancers they've hired and worked with before, which they can engage in the future and consider them for their new jobs, since freelancers there already have experience working with their company.

 

Talent clouds are not skill specific but rather set up to manage a specific project, a portion or majority of jobs an Enterprise client is hiring for and looking to complete on Upwork. That's why some of the jobs posted there might not match your skill set but since you're part of their talent cloud, you'll receive a notification for it if that option is enabled. 

 

You can use the option to filter or turn off notifications for each talent cloud you're a part of by going to Settings > Notifications and selecting a preferred option as shown in the screenshot below.

 

TCM.png

~ Vladimir
Upwork

And I plead as remiss as Vlad ....

Thanks for the talent cloud explanation, Vladimir.

 

I remain mystified at boilerplate emails without signature from Talent Specialists inviting freelancers to jobs, obligating them to respond or suffer the response rate consequences. Unless there's been a change and invitations from TS aren't tallied in that score, of course. 

Latest Articles
Learning Paths