Hire rate is only 10%

[#1]

Hi Upwork Community, I have taken a  survey on Upwork, and here is what I have found. 

Mostly Clients on Upwork don't hire any freelancer. 

How do I know that?

I did some survey, I checked the last 100 jobs posted by clients and it turned out only 10% of clients hired any freelancer. 

So we waste a lot of our connects on these clients. 

Upwork should charge them before posting the job so they can't play these tricks.

You can take the survey from your end as well. 

I wish you have a good day! 

[#2]

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Malik Hamza N wrote:

Upwork should charge them before posting the job so they can't play these tricks.

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No. For the 1000th time, Upwork should absolutely not do something that hurts all freelancers and causes them to earn much less. 

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Malik Hamza N wrote:

I did some survey, I checked the last 100 jobs posted by clients and it turned out only 10% of clients hired any freelancer. 

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That isn't a universal statistic, and if you just check "the last 100" jobs posted in your feed, it is nonsense because they haven't been open long enough to give meaningful results. If you checked the 100 previous jobs of a specific client you completely wasted your time because every job post tells you the hire rate of the client.

If you don't like the client's hire rate, move on. 

[#3]

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Malik Hamza N wrote:

I did some survey, I checked the last 100 jobs posted by clients and it turned out only 10% of clients hired any freelancer. 

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Most of which would likely have only posted the job within the last few hours or so?

Not sure you thought that one through very well. You'd have to go back a month or so to get a reasonably accurate picture. 

[#4]

I did. I checked jobs from the last two months. I have mentioned earlier you can see from your end as well. 

[#5]

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Malik Hamza N wrote:

I did. I checked jobs from the last two months. I have mentioned earlier you can see from your end as well. 

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From my end it looks very different. I am hired on average for 2 to 5 out of any 10 job posts I apply to.

[#6]

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Malik Hamza N wrote:

Hi Upwork Community, I have taken a  survey on Upwork, and here is what I have found. 

Mostly Clients on Upwork don't hire any freelancer. 

How do I know that?

I did some survey, I checked the last 100 jobs posted by clients and it turned out only 10% of clients hired any freelancer. 

So we waste a lot of our connects on these clients. 

Upwork should charge them before posting the job so they can't play these tricks.

You can take the survey from your end as well. 

I wish you have a good day! 

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It is wise to learn as much as possible about the marketplace before you invest. There is no trick. It is a fact that some posted gigs will end without anyone being hired. If you don't want to invest in connects where there is a possibility that no one will be hired, then you now know not to invest in connects. Make an informed decision. 

[#7]

I post jobs and typically hire within 15 minutes, and then take the job posting down. When I post jobs like that... asking for freelancers who are available to work with me "right now", I always hire someone. But very few freelancers ever have a chance to see these jobs.

Are you certain that your survey method takes these types of jobs into account?

[#8]

Not sure about the percentages. I think the hire rate depends on the client, yes, but it also has a lot to do with what type of job you are trying to be hired to do. 

I am a voiceover artist and have been for over 10 years, but I've only been doing it on Upwork for about 2 years. My hire rate is about 1 for every 60 proposals - pretty dismal. I find that it is also seasonal - I tend to get more work in the Fall and Spring than Summer and Winter.

But my wife does freelance writing for books and articles. She gets hired for about 80 percent of the jobs she applies for. She will be in the middle of a writing job and gets two or three more job offers. 

Yes, I think it has to do with your profile and proposal, but it also has A LOT to do with what area you are applying for jobs. Writing jobs seem to have a lot of need. Unfortunately I DO NOT like to write.

[#9]

Hi,

As an employer on Upwork for many years, let me share some of my feedback with you all to give you an idea why I decline a lot of freelancers. Here's a list of DOs and  DON'Ts that about 80% of freelancers on here do, if you can avoid them you're going to automatically put yourself ahead:

1. Don't just copy and paste the job description back at me and say you can do it

2. Don't just re-word the job description and say you can do it

3. Don't add loads of emojis (or any?) to your bid, it's childish

4. Don't say "lets jump on a call to discuss", I don't have time to phone everyone who bids, and if you can't be bothered to type then it's never going to work

5. Don't use a PO box and pretend you're living in the UK, it's blatantly obvious you're not

6. Don't just write "i can do it" or something vague

7. And last but not least, DON'T just copy & paste your CV or mention loads of irrelevant experience.

Now to the list of DOs...

1. Describe briefly how you can do the task. Don't go overboard. It's amazing how few do this simple task.

2. Ask a few questions about the ACTUAL job/project, to prove you've actually looked into it and not just spammed new job listings

3. Optionally, suggest ways you can improve or do the job in a a better way

4. Suggest when you can start the work in your reply.

5. If you get a reply from an employer, try to reply within an hour, not 3 days later!

[#10]

Fantastic post, thanks for taking the time to write from the client's point of view. This deserves to be pinned to the top of the forum, IMO.

[#11]

As the CEO of an agency with 17 years of experience, I completely recognize that clients are more interested in what you can do for them rather than the intricacies of your process. In this context, understanding the client holds greater importance than ensuring the client understands every detail.

Regards,
Shahid A.
https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/shahidanwar
https://www.upwork.com/agencies/425204480980709376/

[#12]

This is an excellent list! It's unfortunate that any freelancer would need such a list, but many do. Thank you for posting! I agree with Christine that this should be pinned to the top.

Freelancers, if you don't know and practice all of the points in this post, refer to it and until you have it memorized.

[#13]

Thank your for the tips. 

[#14]

There are more scam/fake jobs than real ones. I think that's acknowledged by everyone. Your personal survey doesn't surprise me, but there are clients who can't find skilled freelancers. If we charge clients to post, the few remaining ones will leave. You don't charge people to potentially hire. What if they can't find a freelancer? And don't tell me there are plenty, when there are as many scam/fake freelancers as clients, perhaps more.

Yes, it sucks. Instead of running off clients, freelancers need to learn about vetting. Vetting means you won't find many great jobs, or maybe none, but at least you won't waste time and money. Freelancers should never depend on one source for income. There are many ways to freelance, and if people don't know how, they need to do some work and find out through research and study.