Jan 1, 2023 03:00:10 PM Edited Dec 1, 2024 10:46:30 AM by Jeanne H
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.
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.
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.
Sep 1, 2023 11:35:54 AM by Jeanne H
Upwork has changed, a lot. Please review the post at the top, and pay special attention to the
Red Flags on Scams from Wes.
If the work is good and timely, then leave it up, but add more to it.
You need to go to the Academy and learn about writing your profile, because it needs work. There is so much more involved than having four paragraphs. Your intro must grab people and tell them what you can do for them, that is so much better than anyone else. Not just skills or experience, but your unique talents you will use to do a fantastic job.
Sep 2, 2023 09:14:37 AM by William T C
Khuram,
Please complete your Upwork Profile and click the Academy link on the top of this page for success TIPS.
Sep 10, 2023 10:04:52 AM by Jeanne H
Did the links to all Upwork resources in the post stop working? Thanks for the notice, I will make sure they are all functioning properly, as they always do.
Sep 2, 2023 10:46:51 AM by Jeanne H
Khuram, you are at high risk of being scammed. Your profile tells clients and scammers that you haven't done the basic work you must do to freelance. Your profile must be completed, and in your case, rewritten. Go back to the top article, and use it. Everything you need to know is in that post. Use the resources, and learn and follow the Terms of Service. Pay special attention to the Red Flags on Scams from Wes. If you don't take steps to protect yourself, you will be scammed.
Sep 2, 2023 08:16:54 PM by Sumaira T
Hi I also need for you give me a chance to show my self I want a chance to earn money on this side
Sep 2, 2023 09:17:13 PM by William T C
Sumaira,
Please complete your Profile or you will not receive any Jobs from the site. Click the Academy link on the top of this page for instructions.
Sep 3, 2023 12:37:05 PM by Jeanne H
You need to go back to the article on the top. It is pinned to the top by Upwork because it contains all the information you need to be safe and start your path on Upwork. Currently, your profile will only get you scammed. There is nothing there. Scammers know you haven't read or don't follow the rules.
Everything you need is in the article - read it and follow every link before you even consider looking for work. Pay special attention to the Terms of Service and the Red Flags on Scams from community member Wes.
Freelancing requires marketable skills, money to purchase self-employment needs (Internet, connects, etc.), patience, determination, and again, marketable skills. It will take dozens, if not 100 proposals, before you get a job. This is the numbers we are seeing for new freelancers.
If you try to get jobs now, you will be scammed and lose it all. After you have read everything in the top post, if you still have questions, you can ask them here. BUT you must go through the entire post, links and all, to learn the rules first.
Sep 4, 2023 09:34:54 PM Edited Sep 4, 2023 10:06:01 PM by Annie Jane B
**Edited for Community Guidelines** who can help me https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01ea8f8840353f5f82
Sep 6, 2023 02:47:00 PM by Jeanne H
What do you need help with? I suggest you read the top post because your profile is incomplete. It is a sign to scammers you haven't read the rules.
Be aware that you can't post jobs or names here without redacting all identifying words.
Post again if you need help, and someone will reply.
Sep 4, 2023 11:16:18 PM by Anis U
I have 60+ in progress contracts and the client hasn't been given any more work for 6 months, and the client also has not ended the contract. Please let me know if the contract doesn't end and don't earn more than 6 months does it affect my JSS?
Sep 5, 2023 01:51:37 AM by Annie Jane B
Hi Anis,
Thank you for reaching out. The contract status- whether it's active, closed, or idle, does not affect your JSS. Your JSS will only be affected by public and private feedback on a closed contract. You can learn more about this here.
Sep 7, 2023 08:37:04 AM by Anis U
Hi Annie,
I have one more question.
If I end a contract and the client never gives any feedback, does this affect my JSS?
Sep 13, 2023 08:02:33 PM by William T C
Anis,
Make sure to close all completed contracts because both clients and Upwork's system can conclude that you are too busy for new projects.
Sep 18, 2023 12:05:12 PM by Jeanne H
Can you point to where you found this information? How does Upwork's system "conclude" a freelancer is too busy?
Sep 18, 2023 12:46:36 PM by Mark T
William,
I think I've come across similar advice before but it can be a bit of a catch-22 situation. I don't want a lot of jobs in progress on my profile, sure, but I don't want 50+ counts of "No feedback given" either.
So the question is, which is going to affect my chances of new jobs more?
Sep 18, 2023 03:44:27 PM by William T C
Mark,
Jobs should be closed along the way, therefore this type of situation should never occur. Basically that is the design of Upwork.
However, if you never close those jobs, you will always be at a disadvantage, whereas you will be at a one-time disadvantage if they are closed at once.
Sep 18, 2023 05:17:05 PM by Jeanne H
There is no penalty for having open jobs. I have clients who want the jobs to remain open.
That being said, that's an incredible amount of open jobs. I don't think I've seen so many open. I hope you are following a different path now.
If you want to close them, do a few at a time, so you have no feedback interspersed with good feedback. While your profile is important, some clients don't care much and are looking into the proposal, while others may focus on the profile.
I would not suggest closing all of them at once, but it's your choice. Obviously, it doesn't seem to have harmed your career here, and clients are still hiring you.
Sep 6, 2023 03:33:44 PM by William T C
Innocent,
Please write the Summary into four compelling paragraphs with a keen focus on the first sentence and add a Project Catalog.
Sep 5, 2023 05:23:15 AM by ABDUL M
Please review my profile and let me remove the deficiencies.
https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01e1cba23babe9fab4
Sep 6, 2023 02:43:09 PM by Jeanne H
Go back to the top and use the links. Pay attention to the Terms of Service and the Red Flags for Scams. Your profile needs work. Use the links in the post to use different areas of the Academy to learn about profiles.
The current one is too long, with too many emojis. You have to sell yourself in the first couple of sentences. Tell the client why you can do the job better than anyone else.
Learn about scams, because no one, including Upwork, will protect you.
Sep 5, 2023 12:51:32 PM by Konstantin G
Hello good people,
Would like to check in my profile aswell. After 20+ jobs applied and 50+ connects spent didnt get any job. So now lets look more in the reasons...maybe 🙂