I'm giving up already. Please, somebody do something.

[603aa5fb]

Hello everyone!!! To be honest, I'm super exhausted. There's nothing I haven't tried and nothing about Upwork I haven't read. I teach High School students the English Language and its Literature and I'm an online book reviewer. I'm extremely good in Copywriting, Copy editing, Proofreading, Ghostwriting and even Content writing. But it's so sad that nobody wants to hire me because I'm new, I don't have a job success score because I've never been hired, I've never been invited for verification or to write the Upwork exam even though I've tried and passed, and I don't have any badge to my profile. How do I get these things, if nobody gives me a job? It's so sad. Can someone please hire me to set my profile rolling to the right direction within the my first year here? I really want to work on getting at least 90% JSS in my first 12 months and other requirements been asked for by clients. I'm giving up already. I really want to work. Like I said earlier, I'm very good with Ghostwriting, Copywriting, Copy editing, Proofreading and even Content writing. 

 
Too many people have badges and verified profiles already and clients would definitely pick them over new Freelancers like me, anytime anyday. I don't know what's holding clients back on trusting me with their work. I don't want to give up and leave Upwork. I love this platform and I want to work here full-time, please. Somebody should hire me, please. 

 
I really do hope and pray someone reaches out to me or invites me for a job interview. I'll definitely deliver great products. Thanks everyone. Love y'all.

Best regards. 

[a_lipsey]

---

Belynda B wrote:

Hello everyone!!! To be honest, I'm super exhausted. There's nothing I haven't tried and nothing about Upwork I haven't read. I teach High School students the English Language and its Literature and I'm an online book reviewer. I'm extremely good in Copywriting, Copy editing, Proofreading, Ghostwriting and even Content writing. But it's so sad that nobody wants to hire me because I'm new, I don't have a job success score because I've never been hired, I've never been invited for verification or to write the Upwork exam even though I've tried and passed, and I don't have any badge to my profile. How do I get these things, if nobody gives me a job? It's so sad. Can someone please hire me to set my profile rolling to the right direction within the my first year here? I really want to work on getting at least 90% JSS in my first 12 months and other requirements been asked for by clients. I'm giving up already. I really want to work. Like I said earlier, I'm very good with Ghostwriting, Copywriting, Copy editing, Proofreading and even Content writing. 

 
Too many people have badges and verified profiles already and clients would definitely pick them over new Freelancers like me, anytime anyday. I don't know what's holding clients back on trusting me with their work. I don't want to give up and leave Upwork. I love this platform and I want to work here full-time, please. Somebody should hire me, please. 

 
I really do hope and pray someone reaches out to me or invites me for a job interview. I'll definitely deliver great products. Thanks everyone. Love y'all.

Best regards. 

---

Hi Belynda,

So, it's hard for a client to take you seriously as a writer or proofreader or copyeditor when your profile has grammatical errors and is not that well written. Your post here similarly has many errors. I know it stings to hear that as someone who studied as you say you have, but please know I'm bringing it to your attention because clients can assess your skills by your own profile, and if it's not error free and well written, you won't get a job. 

Review your profile again, pay attention to sentence structure and style. 

[603aa5fb]

Yes, that really does sting quite deep. But, it's okay. I get it. At least, I was reached out to for the verification process. Finally!!! I'm very glad. 

[designchampion]

Start off by doing work for very cheap, like $5 an hour or a set price way below what your work is worth. You need to build your success score and your reviews. To give you an idea, I started a little over 2 years ago and I began working for around $25 an hour and I did set price projects as low as $50 for a logo. I increased the price every month as I got more reviews and built my process and skills. There is a lot you will learn about how to improve your presentation. Now I charge $2400 for a logo and I am increasing that price by $200 every month. You must put in the time and be patient with the process. You will also learn to get better at writing proposals or jobs and creating special documents to attach that will highlight your skills and knowledge.  Wish you the best! - Chris

[a_lipsey]

---

Chris M wrote:

Start off by doing work for very cheap, like $5 an hour or a set price way below what your work is worth. 

That's terrible advice. It's one thing to set your rate a little bit below market to get the first gig. It's another to price yourself so low you can never dig yourself out. If a client sees she worked for $5/hr, they are going to question why they have to pay more. 

[astepanov83]

---

Amanda L wrote:

---

Chris M wrote:

Start off by doing work for very cheap, like $5 an hour or a set price way below what your work is worth. 

That's terrible advice. It's one thing to set your rate a little bit below market to get the first gig. It's another to price yourself so low you can never dig yourself out. If a client sees she worked for $5/hr, they are going to question why they have to pay more. 

---

I think that's a misconception that clients are going to have issue with past low paid jobs. I started off with very small fixed price contracts. Later on I applied to a hourly job, impressed a client. Then I steadily progressed.

Would be great to have some sort of statistics of what clients think about it. Until then, saying whether this advice is terrible or not is unjustifiable.

[joansands]

Well, Aleksandr, you are a shining example of a successful freelancer. What I wouldn't give to have your skills!

[tlbp]

You need to look at the profiles of successful freelancers. I would bet that if you do, you will find that few of them start with a greeting or a sentence about what they've studied. Clients want professionals who can solve their problems. They don't care how you came to know the solution, they just want you to be able to deliver it.

To be a freelancer you have to have a skill that people want and be able to sell that skill. 

I would not advise spending money purchasing connects if you aren't confident in both abilities. 

[603aa5fb]

Thank you very much for this. I appreciate it a lot. Especially the advice on not spending money purchasing connects. I will rearrange my profile, according to some of your advice. Thanks. 

[petra_r · Accepted solution]

---

Belynda B wrote:

 There's nothing I haven't tried and nothing about Upwork I haven't read.. 

---

Then how come your profile looks like you've not read anything at all?

Why is there no portfolio? How is any client supposed to take you seriously with not a single portfolio item?

The pictures used for your non-existing portfolio items are not your creations.

Amanda has already pointed out the poor (for someone who claims to be a writer) English.

---

Belynda B wrote:

I don't know what's holding clients back on trusting me with their work. 

---

**Edited for Community Guidelines**

A client looking for a writer expects decent English, portfolio pieces they can read and nothing that is someone else's copyright. Your profile disappoints in all three aspects.

[feed_my_eyes]

In order to have any chance of success as a writer here, you need the following:

1. Knowledge of sales and marketing, so that you know how to address a client's needs and convince them to hire you. (Begging people in the forum to hire you is inappropriate and against the rules.)

2. An outstanding portfolio with an absolute minimum of 5 different pieces that you've written.

3. Perfect (or near-perfect) spelling and grammar, including knowing when to capitalise words and when not to do so.

4. Ideally, a specialised niche or two in which you can claim to have better expertise than most other writers (and be able to back up this claim with your education and/or experience).

Until you have all of these things, you don't have much chance of success here. And here's a bonus tip. I don't know what's appropriate in other parts of the world, but I can tell you that if you're addressing an English-speaking client who lives in North America, Europe or Australia, do not begin your proposals with "hi dear". It's very inappropriate to say that to a total stranger or in a business setting.

[603aa5fb]

Your comment is super amazing! Thank you so much. I will definitely follow everything you said. I learnt a lot from it. Thanks. 

[603aa5fb]

To be honest, I didn't know how to go about the portfolio thing, even after reading about it. But I'm glad you dragged my attention to certain things. I will review my profile. And, I'm happy to say I was reached out to for verification. Thanks a lot for the guidelines.