To all freelancers looking for help

[#1]

I have always had freelancers come to me for help. In the last year, the river has swelled into an enormous ocean.

You don't need me; Upwork provides an enormous amount of information that few ever use. If, after you have gone through all the information I provide, you still have questions, that is when you ask additional questions in the forum.

If you think you will make big bucks right away, you are mistaken. The majority of freelancers never land a job because they have no skills and aren't interested in educating themselves. Others believe online freelancing is a path to full-time employment. It can be, but highly unlikely on this platform.

Freelancing is not for everyone. It means you are self-employed and must adhere to all regulations and laws governing responsibilities, such as paying taxes. Freelancing means you are on your own. No one has your back, including Upwork. If you don't follow the rules, no one will or can help you.

If you are willing to work hard, follow the rules and prepared to spend a lot of connects and proposals, you can be successful, as many are on Upwork. While so many fail, it is almost always due to lack of skills and treating freelancing like employment  where the employer will make sure you do the job correctly.

If you want to succeed, start with the Terms of Service, then read this from Wes. 

Then go here. Then here.  Next, check this site regularly for events such as webinars and other learning opportunities.

After that, go here for safety information, and then here. If you still need help, after you have gone through all the previous steps, you can find additional help here. This thread is dedicated to new freelancers. And here are announcements from Upwork that can help keep you up to date.

It will take some time to go through all the information. I'm not suggesting people should not post in the forum, I am suggesting before you ask questions and want help, you need to help yourself first.

From Prashant P: "And have relevant profile picture of your face.  Not some desks, or Mickey mouse, or full face covering." 

From Susan S: "And patience! Have patience! It takes a while to get started, even after going through all the information available."

From Martina P:  "Only one thing you forgot, namely telling people to use all 15 skills, if you have all 15 skills"

And with advice from Maria T, I will say, 

Refrain from personal messages, please read all the links I have added.

[#2]

Please note that 20% applies to client relationships (not just single contracts) that never reach $500 in sales. If we are able to provide a service that brings clients back for more, the commission drops to 10% after the first $500 in contract billings. At that point, the initial "extra" 10% effectively becomes a one-time finder's fee of $50.
If we cannot provide a service that invites ongoing or repeat contracts, then yes, we are stuck with a 20% commission.

[#3]

Bernadette,

You are quite new on Upwork and you're off to a good start. However, I do a lot of profile reviews and if you like I could give you some pointers ... if you're amenable to that.  Just let me know or ask for help on the "New to Upwork" forum option.

[#4]

Great work thanx really appreciate 

[#5]

Thank You. Appreciated and so very informative with all those links 😊 I've shared some

[#6]

Great, You are very right.

Everyone needs to take personal responsibility sometimes.

However, assistance and support should be provided when such is needed.

Anyway, I am still new here and I need positive energy.

[#7]

Strange🙄

[#8]

What is strange?

[#9]

Thanks for the help

[#10]

Hi,

Always aim to give 100% effort on projects you work full-time on Upwork. Showcase your skills in your portfolio to achieve better results, which will ultimately lead to better career opportunities.

Best regards,

Thanks for the useful links.

[#11]

Great info...

[#12]

Greetings,

My rising talent badge disappeared after 1-2 days. Though, I didn't receive a mail that I was warded this but I saw it on my profile with the 30-connect that come with it. Now, I can't find the rising talent badge anymore. Thanks

[#13]

It's because you got your JSS, nothing to worry about. Rising Talent only applies until the JSS is calculated.

[#14]

Alright, thank you so much Liz. This is appreciated 🙂

[#15]

I'm wondering if what this guy is doing is even legal. I mean is this safe? 

**Edited for Community Guidelines**

[#16]

Scam... Well, since it's allowed by Upwork you might  get the dollars but you risk losing all of your Google accounts.

Scam

or

Risk

[#17]

Does not look safe to me.

[#18]

I am beginner  . I dont have any Experience. So pleas show me the way.

In fact I really need to your help.

[#19]

Zainab, 

You need to carefully read the very first post in this thread by Jeanne H. and read all the links she has provided. Nobody can help you unless you help yourself first.  This thread is not about people who somehow think that freelancing is easy; it is about people who want to learn more about this site and who can learn simply by taking the first steps that Jeanne has kindly taken the time to formulate. 

In general, if you have no experience of freelancing but have skills you can offer clients, then this thread is for you. If you have no work experience at all, then freelancing is not for you until you have acquired the skills necessary to allow you to make a living from them or to add to your income. 

[#20]

please give me free link my country is very bad i need it give me a job so i can do your projects give me free link and give me a job my country is so bad i need help i need help please help me

[#21]

re: "please give me free link my country is very bad i need it give me a job so i can do your projects give me free link and give me a job my country is so bad i need help i need help please help me"

That is not how this works.

[#22]

Dear Ali:

First of all you should work on your profile, make it public becasue it is private.  So that people can look your capabilities,  if some one want to provide you help in getting job can provide you help.

Regards

[#23]

Beware freelancer "experts" bearing how-to advice. I have viewed a number of pages, sites, and videos from freelancers or former freelancers claiming they have the key to getting rich on Upwork or other platforms. Here is the process.

1. A) make an account
2. B) Click yes on terms of service
3. C) make a profile
4. D) pick a category
5. E) apply for jobs
6. F) terrible advice on how to get jobs, annoy clients...

These supposed experts literally tell people to just click on the terms. Then pick skills or categories for what you want or like to do. If new freelances see this stuff, no wonder they believe Upwork is a paradise.

If you are looking for expert advice, start with the Upwork Academy and resources. It doesn't matter if the person made 100 million dollars, there are no easy ways to get started, and times have changed.

[#24]

Why do you think that times have changed? I've heard it from my first days on Upwork, then oDesk. In my opinion, sure there's always more and more competition, but more clients, too. Freelancing has gone mainstream in these years. It is just as easy to begin today as it was 10 or 20 years ago, maybe with local differences (some countries have become a lot richer so $ made in America is not as attractive for people living there, devaluating the whole freelancing thing, but this isn't Upwork's fault).

Getting started is as easy as being able to do something which is in high demand and not much competition/where you can protect your niche preventing much competition.

[#25]

"Why do you think that times have changed?"

Because times have changed, both in terms of Upwork's policies and freelancing in general.

In my opinion, sure there's always more and more competition, but more clients, too.

I see no evidence there are just as many clients based on my observations and other long time freelancers. There are 18 Million or so freelancers. Do you really believe there are that many clients? The numbers are way down, with the fees going down as well.

It is just as easy to begin today as it was 10 or 20 years ago,

No, it is not. Even top-rated excellent freelancers with long histories on Upwork are struggling to find decent projects. Some are doing great, but not the majority. For the new freelancers, they have a tough time trying to break in to a platform flooded with garbage profiles and proposals.

Getting started is as easy as being able to do something which is in high demand and not much competition/where you can protect your niche preventing much competition.

Many people who want to be freelancers have no skills or not to the level they need. These freelancers are wasting their time, money, and effort, because they have no chance at a career, or even making money. No online platform is the place to learn skills. You are talking about a person who is already highly skilled and is looking for a niche. The majority of freelancers do not have marketable skills and will only be scammed.

[#26]

thank you