16 connects to apply for a job - has the connects required to apply gone up?

[#1]

I was just applying to jobs on Upwork, and noticed a job post required 16 connects to apply!

I though it was 2-8 for a job

[#2]

Hi Arpit, what other channels do you use for leads?

[#3]

12 & 16 connects is way too much. I'm so disappointed about Upwork.

[#4]

In my opinion, if they want to keep increasing things, they should make us get more jobs easily. We are paying to get paid, but at the end of the day, we pay them to get nothing.

We are looking for jobs, but we are now the ones spending and not getting the job. 

This connect war is becoming unbearable ☹️

[#5]

How can they make you get jobs more easily other than culling freelancers off the platform?

[#6]

• I don't know how they want to do it. It's either they reduce connect war or they hide the bidding strategy. Culling away freelancers won't be the best option

[#7]

Other than putting up more of a barrier to making proposals, I don't know how any other way that they could reduce competition either.

[#8]

Frankly, I wouldn't mind using more connects if Upwork would get rid of all the scammers and apply a filter to work here again. It is extremely annoying and disappointing to see several of these scam jobs every day and all these people commenting: "Hey, I'm a content writer hire me". Oh, I don't forget the invitations that you get these days "Please contact me for a very important project on my telegram account". Also, you don't get any assistance anymore, you can only get the AI chat and email, so if you need something urgent you are on your own. 

[#9]

• I am not bothered about the scam jobs because I easily fish them out. When you see an unverified payment account and check the percentage hire rate I think it should tell you if the client is legit or not. My concern is the bidding strategy and the increase in connections for proposals. And now I think freelancers are more than clients, you could see a just submitted job in less than 5 minutes; before you could submit a proposal, 50 persons have already submitted, and you would be wondering how it happened 🤷‍

[#10]

I agree with the author. 16 connectors is a lot. However, I often come across works that are evaluated very cheaply. And spent connections do not correspond to earned money

[#11]

Yeah, hopefully they work out a way to better price the smaller jobs. Otherwise, I think this will make things better.

[#12]

Yes, it is hard nowdays but I think we need to keep in mind that:

1. Focus on relevant and promising job opportunities: Instead of applying for every job that catches your attention, consider targeting projects that closely match your skills and expertise. By narrowing your focus, you can ensure that you're spending your connects on opportunities where you have a higher chance of success.

2. Optimize your profile and proposals: Make sure your Upwork profile is well-crafted and showcases your skills effectively. Take the time to write personalized and compelling proposals for each job application, highlighting your relevant experience and qualifications. A well-tailored proposal can significantly increase your chances of getting hired, thus making the investment in connects more worthwhile.

3. Build your reputation and portfolio: As a beginner freelancer, it's crucial to focus on building your reputation and gathering positive feedback from clients. By delivering high-quality work and providing excellent customer service, you can gradually attract more clients and establish a strong portfolio. Over time, this can lead to higher-paying projects that make the investment in connects more manageable.

[#13]

Focus on relevant and promising job opportunities: Instead of applying for every job that catches your attention,

What some people here don't realize, is that an increased connect cost WILL cause less freelancers to apply for a job, meaning that you will have a BETTER chance of getting an interview and landing the job if you decide it's worth the cost.

[#14]

Wishful thinking. It will more likely end up as those with capital but lacking experience, edging out those with experience but unable to afford the added Connects needed to purchase. Remember, it now takes $3 to send one.

[#15]

You think clients will just happily hire people with no skills and no experience because they had more money to send proposals? You must think clients are paralyzingly stupid and incompetent. 

[#16]

16 connects is too cheap. Upwork should take the bull by the horns, charge a flat $5 per application and let clients and freelancers sort themselves out.

Cheap clients will run for the hills. Cheap freelancers wil follow them.

Upwork will be left with freelancers who can command proper job fees - so can pay 5 bucks without a second thought.

The client-base will be firms who realise Upwork is where you come when you're looking for experience, ability and professional competence.

I get most of my business elsewhere now. If Upwork is going to raise its game and filter out the cheap half of the market then I for one am looking to come back.

[#17]

I agree with you (or, alternatively, would impose a monthly fee of $100 or more with 15-20 free proposals and absolutely no option to send more than that ever no matter what you were willing to pay). But, the business I (and it appears you) want Upwork to become is not the one Upwork wants to be. 

[#18]

Interesting - you're proposing a subscription model, I think...

Right now that would be very tough given the state of the client base here. But 12 months from now when higher Connect prices have raised Upwork's game - and made it less like Tinder - then we could reasonably expect there to be clients worth paying $100 per month to pursue.

May I ask why you're not convinced Upwork is looking to aim higher as a freelancer platform? The introduction of Connects - and now the price rise - does seem to suggest they want to price out the cheaper end of the market. Which is a beneficial move overall, I feel. 

[#19]

I'm not proposing it, because it wouldn't suit Upwork's purposes at all. But, it would be great for skilled freelancers. 

I've very convinced that Upwork's goal is to cultivate more large clients that use freelancers in an ongoing capacity or go contract-to-hire. Partly, this is something I've been expecting for a long time, because it would dramatically reduce their overhead while stabilizing revenues and keeping them at about the same level or higher. I started hypothesizing they would take this direction 18-24 months ago, but at that point there wasn't a lot of evidence. 

Now, Upwork has introduced contract-to-hire jobs, and they make up a fair percentage of the new job postings. They disclosed on a recent earnings call that they have shifted their advertising to draw in more long-term clients...and that happened right about the same time long-time successful freelancers started reporting that there were fewer and fewer postings that suited them. 

Upwork can make a LOT more money providing 250,000 long-term, relatively low-wage workers to 500 large companies on an ongoing basis than they can patching together high-end freelancers who charge 5x as much but work mostly on a one-off basis and require Upwork to service 800,000 clients. 

[#20]

---

Gary M wrote:

May I ask why you're not convinced Upwork is looking to aim higher as a freelancer platform? The introduction of Connects - and now the price rise - does seem to suggest they want to price out the cheaper end of the market. Which is a beneficial move overall, I feel. 

---

Upwork recently increased the fees that they charge to freelancers who have long-term, high-spending clients - from 5% to 10% - while lowering the service charge to freelancers with projects under $500. I think that was a pretty clear indication that they don't care whether the higher end of the market stays or goes, either. If they wanted to reduce low-skill, low-pay jobs - along with a lot of associated scams and calls to customer service, I should think - they could start by eliminating the data entry category altogether.

[#21]

You know, I'm actually wondering: why people with copywriting/language backgraound are so eager to prove this point of expensive connects?  I don't believe that you get a lot of competition from India, Pakistan or other countries where English is not a native language. On the other hand, I've looked through these comments, and I haven't seen any developers, who supported this idea. Altough they are in real competition here with low fee per hour developers from certain countries. 

[#22]

On the contrary, they are well-versed in English. They're a former British colony. You have to refresh on those history lessons. So yeah, they are competition even in that field.

[#23]

It's a very different English than most American copywriting and content writing calls for...much more stiff and formal and with little awareness of American colloquialisms and casual phrasing. I've hired hundreds of writers and screeened submissions from several thousand and the difference is striking.

[#24]

You're misunderstanding the issue. It isn't that too many proposals means too much competition. It's that too many poorly-written proposals from unqualified freelancers prevents clients from ever seeing the proposals of qualified freelancers and leads them to flee the platform without hiring anyone.

[#25]

This is ridiculous!

It took me 2 years to get accepted on this platform as a presentation designer.

I have raised millions in Silicon Valley, have helped thousands of entrepreneurs, and have written 4 books about entrepreneurship. Still, Upwork was rejecting me for 2 years.

A couple of months ago, my friend in the USA applied to Upwork with 0 experience and got accepted instantly with an empty profile. Was I pissed off? Yes! I uploaded a perfect portfolio with a 100% completed profile but I was getting rejected. Meanwhile the platform favored my friend because of their location.

So, you guys are debating about increasing the connect prices is a better way to eliminate people who cannot afford it? I have a better suggestion.

Eliminate the profiles with 0 experience! Put every freelancer on an online skill test, video call, or screener something that will eliminate the low-quality profiles!

How does Upwork benefit from this? 

1- I know lots of clients who will never set foot at Upwork again because of the low quality of the workforce. Even though your money is guaranteed, most clients don't bother with the refunding process. Work only with professionals that know what are doing!

2- Instead of the no-sense making connect system, convert it to a subscription model. Charge experts more per month, intermediate less. So, if you claim to be an expert, you have to pay $50/m to apply for expert jobs and you need to verify your skills as an expert. Keep the boosting option it's fine! 

[#26]

Please, don't turn upwork into another twitter where you pay to get verified.