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Jeanne's avatar
Jeanne H Community Member

To all freelancers looking for help

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.

 

 

1,965 REPLIES 1,965
Dandan's avatar
Dandan Z Community Member

Thank you for the reply. I have already updated my profile

Radia's avatar
Radia L Community Member

Sorry for the laugh in the other post. 

 

IMO your profile is fine. My suggestion is to keep reading the forums to familiarize yourself with the current situation (and the people) here. Getting job is generally hard right now, but we see evidence that it's probably not for new freelancers. Upwork also confirms that they're rotating the 'chance to get work'.

 

You don't need to change your name if that's the one you use in real life. It could potentially lead to ID verification and bank withdrawal problems.

Dandan's avatar
Dandan Z Community Member

Thank you for the response. In reality, my name is in Chinese characters, so I'm afraid it may not be displayed here

Jeanne's avatar
Jeanne H Community Member

I can see you have worked on your profile. Good for you. However, it can still be improved. You have to find a way to grab the client's attention with the first two sentences. Instead of telling the client about your skills, tell them what amazing things you can do with those skills.

 

If you don't know the Terms of Service and understand them, read again until you do or ask questions here. Please use the post at the top. It contains all the information you need to be safe and successful. Pay special attention to the Red Flags on scams from Wes.

yahya's avatar
yahya i Community Member

thanks

William T's avatar
William T C Community Member

Yahya,

 

Please set your Profile to Public so we can view and Review it.

Jeanne's avatar
Jeanne H Community Member

This thread is not about reviewing profiles. There is a thread for that. Unfortunately, no one seems to use it, except for a couple of dedicated freelancers who respond.

 

 

Brhane's avatar
Brhane W Community Member

How can I get money as freelancer

 

Jeanne's avatar
Jeanne H Community Member

First, you need skills. Go back to the top article you skipped over, and read it and follow every link. You can start your profile with a real picture. Pay special attention to the Terms of Service and the Red Flags from Wes.

MD's avatar
MD N Community Member

Yeah!

Faraz's avatar
Faraz A Community Member

Dear Brhance:

You can work on your profile, keep it updated.

Regards.

Muktar's avatar
Muktar Y Community Member

I appreciate your honest reply. Let's go ahead.

 

William T's avatar
William T C Community Member

Muktar,

 

Please set your Profile to public so we can vew.

Taiwo's avatar
Taiwo F Community Member

thanks

 

Goodness's avatar
Goodness N Community Member

Pls help me

Please help me

William T's avatar
William T C Community Member

Goodness,

 

Please complete your Profile by clicking on the Academy link above for ideas.

Jeanne's avatar
Jeanne H Community Member

Goodness, you literally have no profile. You can't start trying to work because you will be scammed. Freelancing means you need marketable skills, and money to run your business. If you don't have those, you should seek employment. Too many people have spent their last dollars desperately trying to get jobs here.

 

If you want to freelance, you have a great deal of work to do, starting with developing skills. Without skills people will pay you for online, you will only lose money. I'm not trying to be mean; I'm trying to help you see the reality. That's the best way to help you.

 

Read the top post - it has every Upwork resource, plus excellent advice from Wes on scams. Freelancing is not easy and demands people run their own business without help from Upwork or any platform. Freelancing means you are completely on your own for getting and completing jobs.

 

Take a step back and look at the skills you have. Can you use them online? How much will it cost to look for jobs? How much will it cost to complete jobs? All this and more must go into your decision to freelance or be an employee.

John's avatar
John B Community Member

Sure it's a two-way street, but how about Upwork does a better job of monitoring the platform?

Don't allow ads/posts from;

People that pay $5 fixed price - everyone deserves a living wage.

People that have below a 50% hire rate

People that give one sentence or AI generated excessive job descriptions

There's so much more... Upwork really can do so much better

How about giving us a block button so we don't have to see jobs or any future posts from crap employers?

 

John

Jeanne's avatar
Jeanne H Community Member

People that pay $5 fixed price - everyone deserves a living wage.

 

I think it's an excellent idea to raise fees for many freelancers. However, there are clients who won't pay more. The platform, pre let everyone in, had its share of dirt cheap jobs, but not like it is now. And then Upwork lowers fees on small jobs, while simultaneously raising them on higher earning jobs? And, unfortunately, many clients don't care about quality and know you get what you pay for. That's why it feels like 5 v rrr here.

 

People that have below a 50% hire rate

 

No. What if they are new? What if they haven't been able to find a decent freelancer? That would rule out some great clients. Terrible idea.

 

People that give one sentence or AI generated excessive job descriptions

 

Agreed! I'm not sure if there is a solution, but I like the idea.

 

How about giving us a block button so we don't have to see jobs or any future posts from crap employers?

 

Again, the idea is great but problematic.

Archimedes's avatar
Archimedes A Community Member

Good morning, i cannot access my old account because i cannot access my old email address. how can i retrieve my old upwork account. Hope you can help me

Pradeep's avatar
Pradeep H Retired Team Member

Hi Archimedes,

 

Could you please click on my name above this post and send me a private message with the registered email address for your old account?

 

- Pradeep

Abdulwadud's avatar
Abdulwadud M Community Member

Hi

Can put me through some step,I will be happy if you can.

Thank you sir 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pradeep's avatar
Pradeep H Retired Team Member

Hi Abdulwadud,

 

Could you please clarify your questions further?

 

- Pradeep

Shariah's avatar
Shariah Z Community Member

I need help. I haven’t landed and gig yet. I don’t have any money to buy connects that’s why I’m looking for a freelance gig.
Annie Jane's avatar
Annie Jane B Retired Team Member

Hi Shariah,

 

When you spend Connects for submitting proposals, you are investing in what could potentially lead to long-term projects. You have the option to buy Connects but we suggest that you spend them wisely by only submitting proposals to jobs that best fit your experience and skillset. 

 

 You may also consider joining an agency, that way you are collaborating with the agency owner in looking for a job using the Connects from their agency.


~ AJ
Upwork