Some queries about cover letter

[nayan_paul11]

In cover letter-

1. should I add Skype or other social ids?
2. should I add my portfolio site?
3. best way to show my sample works?

[aocumen]

Hi Nayan Chandra, 

I would recommend that you continue communicating on Upwork until after the contract has started. In that case, you can setup the call to be done via the Upwork Message Center. You may learn more about doing a video/voice call here.

You may want to check out these articles from our Hiring Headquarters to help you create proposals that win jobs, and help you boost your career on Upwork: 

• 17 Tips for Boosting Your Success on Upwork
• How to Create a Proposal That Wins Jobs

[nayan_paul11]

Hi Avery O, Thanks.

"I'm also starting to learn that Upwork REALLY doesn't like it when you use external communication tools and would prefer you limit yourself to the tools made available to you."- Jason C

As opinion above, should I add my portfolio site (where my contact information are available) in my Upwork profile portfolio?

[aocumen · Accepted solution]

This is an excellent question, Nayan. 

You will not be allowed to add a website, or any link on your profile that has a contact form, or a link where they can contact you outside of Upwork. It would be best to show these portfolio during the interview stage already since it's a violation of the Upwork ToS to have website links on your profile that have its own contact form, or your email address.

[nayan_paul11]

Thanks, Avery O! 

Now I have the solution and I am going to remove that portfolio which has contact information.

[greenfieldit]

You can't add URLs to a cover letter and from what I understand you have to include links to your portfolio in your profile 😞  I'm also starting to learn that Upwork REALLY doesn't like it when you use external communication tools and would prefer you limit yourself to the tools made available to you.  It's not perfect but the upside to upwork is great enough that I'm willing to live with...for now 😉

[g_vasilevski]

Hi Jason,

Just to clarify about the communication: We recommend to keep your communication on Upwork but using skype/email to communicate with your clients is not a violation towards Upwork.
Accepting or offering to get paid outside of Upwork is a violation on our TOS. If you have any additional questions feel free to post them here.

[richard_wein]

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@jason C wrote:

You can't add URLs to a cover letter

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 Yes you can.

P.S. Jason, I see that your Upwork portfolio has a link to another website, through which you can apparently be contacted. If so, I believe that's a ToS violation. You might want to remove it ASAP.

In case you're not clear, you can have such links in your proposals, but not in any part of your profile.

[akashgupta0711]

No you can't add more thing in conver letter. just define that what you can provide your client how can you help them. no need to add any portfolios and other thing. if he asks for the portfolios then you can send them sample. thank you and have nice day.

[richard_wein]

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@Akash G wrote:

No you can't add more thing in conver letter. just define that what you can provide your client how can you help them. no need to add any portfolios and other thing. if he asks for the portfolios then you can send them sample. thank you and have nice day.

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 I see nothing wrong with sending a sample in your proposal. It takes only a few seconds to attach an existing sample file, and nothing is lost if the client chooses not to look at it. On the other hand, if the client does choose to look at it, it could encourage him to interview you. I'm pretty sure that my first Upwork client only interviewed me because I sent him a very appropriate sample.

As far as I recall, every one of my proposals has had either an attached sample file or a link to a page of my website. And while I can't say I'm the most successful of Upworkers, I haven't done too badly. Of course your circumstances may be different, and the same thing doesn't work for everyone.