Can't find a job, top rated

[olga_krav]

Hello!
I'm a graphic designer, top rated. The problem is that lately it has become difficult for me to find a job. Sometimes my previous clients give me tasks, and that's great, but for some reason, finding new ones has become difficult.
I send proposals only if the task matches my skills and experience, I don’t write patterned cover letters, I select clients with high hire rates.
Of the 30 proposals, it’s good if 1 works .. I want to hear your opinion, really has become less work, or it’s harder to get it, or I’m just unlucky... Maybe something is wrong with my profile? But what...
Thanks in advance!

[dayna-feldman]

I am experiencing the same issue.  I am always changing my cover letters and never use a template.  I have sent out so many proposals in the last two months and I have not received any responses.  And my invites have gone down tremondously.

[olga_krav]

By the way, invites stopped coming to me, there was only one from upwork talent specialist, but it was inconclusive, unfortunately

[joansands]

I think, Olga, that you are in a very competitive category. Lots of competition.

[olga_krav]

Yes, maybe you're right

[sergio-soria]

I am in the same area as you and I did notice that even clients with high hire rate, with a good history, are not hiring, not even getting back to take a look. I find it strange... Maybe they are finding talents elsewhere.

As for your profile, I would remove the first line because your name and title are already displayed and you probably also greet them in proposals. So it's not necessary to repeat yourself. The 2 first lines are the ones clients see in the list of proposals, so don't waste them. I am very picky so I would add a blank line between paragraphs... But if your profile has been like that for some time and everything was fine then the problem is not there. So what I said is just to polish it. I must admit I have seen profiles that are a complete disaster and still they get lots of jobs so I don't know. In my opinion yours is very solid.

Since you are already vetting clients quite a bit my recommendation would be to pass those jobs that already received 20 to 50 proposals. I believe they feel overwhelmed with so many.

Invitations not received are explained by the fact that clients with free accounts can only send 3 invitations. That limit was put a couple months ago.

[olga_krav]

Yes, I also noticed that many jobs remain not closed, about 1/3 of my submited proposals were left without hiring and even without a single interview with anyone. I also think that such clients find freelancers elsewhere. In this case, I think it would be great if upwork would close such jobs automatically after some time.

I also prefer not to apply if I see that 20 or more people are applying for this job.

I didn't know about such innovations for employers about interview invitations, but this really explains the situation.
Thank you for viewing my profile and for your answer!

[lysis10]

It makes me LOL that people think top rated is like striking gold. I rarely win anything in the open marketplace. Just as an example, I spent 60 connects before I won my first open marketplace job last month. 

And before the lames chime in with OMG UPWORK STEALING MONEY CONNECTS OMG SO MUCH MONEY SPENT. 60 connects is $9 and the contract right now is at $1300, so yeah idc about spending connects.

[sergio-soria]

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Jennifer M wrote:

It makes me LOL that people think top rated is like striking gold. I rarely win anything in the open marketplace. Just as an example, I spent 60 connects before I won my first open marketplace job last month. 

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Right. We weekly read threads where anxious freelancers ask why they did not receive the badge. I always say for their information that neither Top Rated nor Rising Talent badges guarantee an easy flow of jobs. Sure the badge makes you a little bit more noticeable but there are many freelancers who have it anyway.

[alanhorenstein · Accepted solution]

The freelancer search results are driven by changing algorithms, and those strongly impact invitation flow.

As well, client behavior is impacted by Upwork policy changes. 

Adding "US Only" as the hiring default probably hurt non-US freelancers. 

Not long ago, Upwork took away many features from clients, making them part of premium plans. I don't know a single client who did not curse Upwork over taking away for example, their ability to open a detailed time report. 

My clients are still using Upwork, but they are not as enthusiastic about it any more.

All that said, Upwork could be the canary in the coal mine for an upcoming economic recession. Outsourcing responds in strange ways to a downturn. Slowing demand can spur additional spend on freelance marketing projects, but ultimately diminished cash flows are a limiting factor. When business slows down, freelancer spend is easy to reduce. In later stages, when people are laid off from their permanent jobs in restructuring efforts, outsourcing surges. 

[olga_krav]

I'm glad that everything is so good at your job, but I also know freelancers who started working recently, and they can spend much more than $ 9 and not earn anything in 2-3 months and even more. I would not wish anyone to be in such a situation.

[sergio-soria]

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Olga K wrote:

I'm glad that everything is so good at your job, but I also know freelancers who started working recently, and they can spend much more than $ 9 and not earn anything in 2-3 months and even more. I would not wish anyone to be in such a situation.

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I definitely think you are a good freelancer, be persistent and keep and eye on announcements regularly. Sometimes they do change things or test new features that we find out randomly, and unfortunately many of those have negative effects. In my opinion the key is to be the best you can, clients come back to you when they like your work, clients even send you bonuses when they feel satisfied. And that way you don't need to bid that much. But yes, sometimes the only way is bidding. It's even harder (harder than ever indeed) for newcomers.

It's also good to try some other alternatives outside Upwork just in case. So don't put all your eggs in the same basket.

[olga_krav]

Thank you so much for your advice and support! I appreciate it.

[shahriyar123]

I'm also facing the same issue from the few months. I just set my availability badge to online. I spent extra connection to rank my perposal but nothings works. Don't know how the client judge your proposal. 

[studiowgroup]

Hi Olga, 

I completely understand what you went through and I certainly hope things have picked up for you.

I came across your post as I was doing some research today on Upwork. I have 25 years of experience as a brand consultant and graphic designer. I had to step away from my company and start freelancing again due to the economic shift. Therefore, I'm on Upwork again this year.

I have never sent out so many proposals a day and not a bite and I'm saying over 20 just to test it, of course within my skill set.

I have to be honest, if I wasn't I'd be lying, Upwork almost devalues, the good talent if you don't have return clients who understand your value and who you are. Any new client that gets on there want someone dirt cheap who they can throw work at and walk away. In actuality, the sad part is they end up coming back with no budget and they realized I need a good work.

Moreover, the competition is far too great. People are charging $20-$30 an hour and just shooting out the work. I can't do that, I'm old-school I have to have a brief and I have to talk to my clients to understand with their vision is in the scope of work otherwise I'm doing a disservice and I'm completely in the dark.

Unfortunately, people don't want that anymore, they just want to get it done so it's on both ends. The world is a crazy place and for us designers it's even harder to get work right now. 

I really hope it picks up for all of us. I love what I do and I have a feeling I have to go shift into another career.

Again, I hope things look up for you, and this is just how I feel. 🙂