Bad JSS

[cdebras]

Hi! I work on Upwork since January. I am a professional translator. I got my first JSS few days ago. I was really looking for it. But I got crushed with the result. I don't understand why I have such a bad Job Score despite good reviews and new work from old clients. I know private feedback is an important factor, but I really thought my clients were happy with my work... Why would they give good public reviews, thank me for my great work in private messages and leave terrible private feedbacks? I contacted Upwork client support but they didn't help. Please advise, there is no way I am going to attract new clients and improve my score. Should I start all over? Thank you in advance for your answer. 

[sjbercot]

Hi Charlotte, your JSS must be *very* new because it's not yet visible on your public profile, so I'm not sure what kind of score you have. But it is likely your private feedback and the small number of jobs. Some clients leave poor private feedback and good public feedback because they're afraid of retaliation from freelancers (you'll unfortunately see freelancers and clients engage in feedback score bargaining) or because they don't want to ruin a freelancers public score because of a bad experience with you. Some people just want to be liked and avoid conflict. But with just a few scores, one or two lower private feedbacks can have a big impact, and since you've got one public just below 5 stars, you can maybe assume that client wasn't stellar in his private review either. But lots of people bounce back from a drop in JSS, so it's not a lost cause.

By "start all over," do you mean close your profile and open a new one to look like a new member with a new feeback history? That seems dishonest, and I believe it violates the ToS. 

[cdebras]

Hi Sarah! Thank you so much for your quick answer! Is is possible to have a JSS on my profile but not visible yet? I had no idea, and yes, I am new on Upwork. Are you sure there is no score associated to my profile? Regarding my 4 stars review, It was a trial test for a writting project on Casino/gambling and I was off topic but my client swear that he didn't leave any private feedback as it was a trial. And he knew it would affect my score. Nice. Yes, by starting all over, I meant delete my account. I have on my profile a 39% Job !!!??? score which is a disaster if it goes public... I am a professional translator and I have a solid experience. Of course I would never consider doing such thing if I knew I was not providing quality work to my clients... I have 15 years Work experience. Thanks again for your help Sarah!

[mtngigi]

Charlotte,

I do not see a JSS on your profile either. Be aware that it is against TOS to have more than one account, or to close an account and start a new one ... that's a good way to get yourself suspended. Many people have brought themselves back from low JSS - it can be done.

One metric to look at to get an idea of private feeback is to look at the percentage of "clients who would recommend you".

[data_divas]

As mentioned you cannot create a new profile, it's a sure fire way to banned on the platform for good.

The private review must have been very low to make your JSS 39% even with just a few jobs completed.  Maybe Petra will be along to explain what may have happened to get that score.

I'm not sure what to do, it does't hurt to try and submit proposals though and see how it goes.  You may have to lower your rates for a bit to get some jobs and hopefully get past this. 

I wouldn't give up, just keep trying and see, wishing you good luck!

[cdebras]

Hi Julie! Thank you for your answer! I really don't understand how it is possible to get such a bad score with only 5 contracts. 4 of them with 5 stars reviews and good feedbacks, already 2 projects with the same client, and one 4 star review which was a test and no private feedkack given (according to the client).. I am glad the job score indicated to me is not public yet but I am stressed if it goes public soon.. May I ask who is Petra? And how she could check my problem? Thanks again Julie!

[petra_r]

A JSS of less than 50% is never (!) shown on any profile. Clients will not see your JSS when they look at your profile.

It is impossible for clients to NOT leave private feedback, they have to when they leave the public feedback.

You want to be very careful who you work with and stay away from the "bottom of the barrel" price segment (the nonsense of the "we pay you $ 3 for 300 words" variety) as such clients are almost invariably as mean with their feedback a they are with their money.

There are only 2 things that really hurt your JSS:

1.) Bad private feedback

and

2.) Contracts that never lead to any earnings (canceled contracts, fully refunded contracts, contracts that opened and stayed open for several months with nothing having (ever!!) been paid. 

We've seen people recover from worse JSS scores. Because you had so few completed contracts, every single contract has a BIG impact. That means that just a handful of successfully completed contracts will have a huge impact. You do have to be super careful who you work with though. 

Edited to add:

Whilst a low (below 50%) JSS does not show on a profile, it does show on search results.

[cdebras]

Thank you Petra for your answer. That helps me understand how it works. Just a last question, I still don't understand how I got such a low score, 39% (at least visible for me). Could it be a system mistake?? Thanks again Petra. 

[petra_r]

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Charlotte D wrote:

Just a last question, I still don't understand how I got such a low score, 39% (at least visible for me).  

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There are only 2 things that really hurt your JSS:

1.) Bad private feedback

and

2.) Contracts that never lead to any earnings (canceled contracts, fully refunded contracts, contracts that opened and stayed open for several months with nothing having (ever!!) been paid. 

If you don't have 2.) - your JSS is caused by 1.)

You need to get out of the low cost swamp. I understand that new freelancers try to get a foot on the ladder by taking cheap jobs from cheap clients, essentially to boost their profiles. Unfortunately, that often misfires in a spectacular manner because people who pay abusive rates have (clearly) no respect for their freelancers. We see this all the time.

There is also the argument that when freelancers work at a tiny fraction of professional rates, they hurt the marketplace as a whole. 

Sorry, when I see someone who claims to be a professional translator translate 1200 words for $ 10 it makes me sad and angry at the same time.

[cdebras]

Thank you again Petra for your answer. I would never work for such a low rate. Never. But from what I see (in the translation field), most clients ask for cheap rates, and there are always freelancers willing to do the job for few dollars. This is hurting the marketpkace, I totally agree... The only time I accepted a very low rate was for a writting test, and only because I thought there was a potential. But I will not do it again... 

[petra_r]

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Charlotte D wrote:

Thank you again Petra for your answer. I would never work for such a low rate. Never. 

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Unfortunately, seeing stuff like this on your profile makes clients think that you do...

**Edited for Community Guidelines**

The next thing that happens is that the same client invites someone like me and nearly has a heart attack when I quote them $ 100 or more for the same thing 😄

[cdebras]

Petra, I never did that 10$ translation for 1187 words, where did you find that?

**Edited for Community Guidelines**

[g_vasilevski]

Hi Charlotte,

The contracts Petra is referring to are listed on your profile. You can also view them by going to My Jobs > All Contracts. Thank you.

[cdebras]

Got it, and weird. On my profile it shows 5$ contract for 1187 words translation, but on my contract page, it's 10$ for 385 words...???? I NEVER did that 5$ contract with that client. And Petra, these types of clients are "low budget" clients with Fixed-price only projects... 

**Edited for Community Guidelines**

[cdebras]

Got it, and weird. On my profile it shows 5$ contract for 1187 words translation, but on my contract page, it's 10$ for 385 words...???? I NEVER did that 5$ contract with that client. And Petra, these types of clients are "low budget" clients with Fixed-price only projects... 

**Edited for Community Guidelines**

[jr-translation]

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Charlotte D wrote:

Got it, and weird. On my profile it shows 5$ contract for 1187 words translation, but on my contract page, it's 10$ for 385 words...???? I NEVER did that 5$ contract with that client. And Petra, these types of clients are "low budget" clients with Fixed-price only projects... 

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I am curious to know why you are a professional translator. Nothing in your profile (education or emplyment history) includes any hints of that.

[cdebras]

Hi Jennifer, I am an expat in thailand since 10 years. I was mostly working in the digital marketing field for English and French companies, in my prior life but had to find another way to earn money on our little island in Thailand (not much opportunites for me here). That's when I started to do translation work in my community. And I work a lot with my sister who is a well established translator (she lives in the UK). 

[jr-translation]

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Charlotte D wrote:

Hi Jennifer, I am an expat in thailand since 10 years. I was mostly working in the digital marketing field for English and French companies, in my prior life but had to find another way to earn money on our little island in Thailand (not much opportunites for me here). That's when I started to do translation work in my community. And I work a lot with my sister who is a well established translator (she lives in the UK). 

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Then mention it with the number of years you have been doing it.
Right now your profile is on the same level as people claiming 6 years of English at school makes them professional translators. Some of them are well established but far from being professionals.

I am not questioning your undocumented qualification, but try to show the flaws in your profile.

[cdebras]

Ok, I will clarify, thank you Sarah.

[emanuel_froes]

never work for a lower rate than the cleaning service. I find the same

[emanuel_froes]

Completeley true! I will mark this.

A low paid composition (for 15$) gave my 50% JSS of today. It was the worst paid job of my life ever AND a music that i worked  A LOT on, because i liked it. And because of my passion for this, i toke the job, because i like orchestral music and this was a chance. But 15$!!!! Later i felt used, after i heard my music and saw the value inside.  And the worst: the guy canceled the contract after ghosting, and because he did not "liked". Just as someone turn a page he did cancel my contract without further ado.  20 days of work.

[sjbercot · Accepted solution]

Yes, that's quite low! You're right, I think that's too low to be a private feedback problem. It sounds like that client was a bit misinformed. He can't give only public feedback. But anyways, I checked again and you don't have a visible JSS yet to me.

I did hear of a recent bug where Upworkers saw a different (very low) JSS on their profile view than other people were saw (there are threads on here about it but I forget where). It could be that maybe.

[petra_r]

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edited - wrong post replied to

[emanuel_froes]

The same with me. I was guided by my public sucess. SUddenlly I see 50% JSS. WHy does Upwork hides from us the most important part, right at the start?!!!!

[sepic]

I mean, I couldn't be happier when my first JSS got revealed today. Upwork has been of great help when they gave me an avaricious rating of 54 percent. I mean, can they lower it below 50 so that client can't see it. At least, nothing is better than something in this case.