Solved: Closed job after interview

lascap_01 · ‎08-30-2018

Many jobs are getting closed after declining to do a test or sample and this is annoying because it looks like they think Upwork is an easy way to get things done for free.. isn't it time to completely forbid this behaviour?

prestonhunter · ‎08-30-2018

Pascal:

Upwork DOES forbid this behavior.

Clients are not allowed to ask freelancers to work for free.

But there are freelancers who do new free work. I think most of them are new and unexperienced.

It is rogue/errant freelancers who allow this kind of behavior.

Imagine a diner going to a nice restaurant, ordering a meal, and when it come time to pay the bill, the waiter just looks at the diner and says: "Eh, don't worry about it. I don't care."

The next time the diner goes to that restaurant, the waiter does the same thing.

It would not be surprising if the third time the diner went to the same restaurant, he expects to get the meal for free. EVEN THOUGH that is NOT the restaurant's policy.

That's essentially what we have happening at freelancer with a SMALL PERCENTAGE of freelancers. Until we can get them to stop, then, yes... this kind of behavior will persist.

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emiguelina · ‎08-30-2018

@Pascal S wrote:
Many jobs are getting closed after declining to do a test or sample and this is annoying because it looks like they think Upwork is an easy way to get things done for free.. isn't it time to completely forbid this behaviour?

Ohh but if it is already forbidden. The problem is: as long as they find even just " 1 " freelancer willing to do a free test this will continue... But those jobs getting closed is good, it could be Upwork closing them because of the "free test" behavior.

prestonhunter · ‎08-30-2018

Pascal:

Upwork DOES forbid this behavior.

Clients are not allowed to ask freelancers to work for free.

But there are freelancers who do new free work. I think most of them are new and unexperienced.

It is rogue/errant freelancers who allow this kind of behavior.

Imagine a diner going to a nice restaurant, ordering a meal, and when it come time to pay the bill, the waiter just looks at the diner and says: "Eh, don't worry about it. I don't care."

The next time the diner goes to that restaurant, the waiter does the same thing.

It would not be surprising if the third time the diner went to the same restaurant, he expects to get the meal for free. EVEN THOUGH that is NOT the restaurant's policy.

That's essentially what we have happening at freelancer with a SMALL PERCENTAGE of freelancers. Until we can get them to stop, then, yes... this kind of behavior will persist.

lascap_01 · ‎08-30-2018

Sadly I get 2 out of 5 clients asking for test or samples... really annoying 😞

Thanks guys I will be more prompt next time it happens

prestonhunter · ‎08-30-2018

Re: "Sadly I get 2 out of 5 clients asking for test or samples"

My policy is to always say "Yes."

But on my terms:

"Yes, I would be happy to create custom samples for you. If you will set up an hourly contract and send me a hire offer, I will accept that immediately and create as many samples as you would like."

I don't necessarily feel that freelancers need to "confront" freelancers who ask for free work. I think we can give clients a chance to do the right thing by guiding them toward hiring and paying for work.

As long as it is clear that we aren't working for free.

jr-translation · ‎08-30-2018

@Pascal S wrote:
Sadly I get 2 out of 5 clients asking for test or samples... really annoying 😞
Thanks guys I will be more prompt next time it happens

Keep in mind that you also get your connects back when a job gets closed for violating the ToS.