Jan 1, 2023 03:00:10 PM Edited Jul 15, 2024 10:49:08 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.
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.
Sep 14, 2023 12:16:08 PM by Jeanne H
You need to read the top post and follow every single link. You will only have scammers contact you because you haven't done the basic work. Your profile is a beacon to scammers. With your current profile and knowledge of Upwork, it is highly unlikely you will find a legitimate client. I'm not telling you this to hurt your feelings, I'm telling you this to try and help you understand the reality of freelancing.
If you do not have money for freelancing, you will fail. It is just a fact, and I can't change the world, no matter how much I want or try. Freelancing means you pay for everything.
If you don't have money for freelancing, do not waste your last dollars here, because it won't work. If you don't have marketable skills, and money to run your business, you will lose it all.
Employment is your other option, and you might want to seriously consider it. With an employer, you don't have to put money up front, and are often not required to have specific skills.
Sep 14, 2023 12:06:51 PM by Jeanne H
You need to go back to the top article, read all of it, and follow every single link. You will not find jobs, but only be scammed. Scammers look at your profile, and see what I do. You are not ready to freelance and have not done any of the work.
Freelancing means you are self-employed and responsible for everything you do, including paying for all things necessary to freelance. No one will protect you or help you if you don't follow every rule. Protect yourself, because no one, including Upwork, will do it for you.
Sep 15, 2023 12:15:35 PM by Mohammad Mahedee H
Dear Jeanne H,
Thanks for your valuable information. It will help me to move further.
Regards
Mahedee Hasan
Sep 15, 2023 12:42:57 PM by William T C
Mohammad,
Please use three Skills in the Title and write four compelling paragraphs for the Summary with a focus on the first sentence since it appears in client search.
Sep 16, 2023 07:55:24 AM by William T C
Arif,
Please complete your Profile. Click the Academy on the top of this page for detailed instructions.
Sep 16, 2023 11:59:46 AM by Jeanne H
If you want to freelance, go back to the top post, read it and follow every link. You will find nothing but scams with your current profile. "All of them" is not a job title, but it is a sign to the scammers that you have not bothered to read the rules or present a professional profile.
Pay special attention to the Terms of Service and the Red Flags on Scams from Wes.
Freelancing demands marketable skills, money to run the business, including connects, fees, etc. You are responsible for everything, including knowing how to avoid scams. If you don't follow the rules, no one, including Upwork, will help you. It's your choice.
Sep 16, 2023 10:09:47 AM by Raman K
Hello Upwork Community!
I'm seeking guidance on improving my freelancing journey. Upwork banned my account for 30 days for hourly protection something. As you all know its tough to get jobs nowadays.
Please help me with these doubts:
1. After ban I'm not getting any views on my profile
2. How much time my profile will take to get on Track
3. Can I start my freelancing journey on Upwork normally
Could experienced freelancers kindly review my profile and share tips? Your insights would be invaluable! Thank you in advance for your support.
#FreelanceHelp #UpworkCommunity
Sep 16, 2023 10:58:21 AM by Jeanne H
You need to learn before you apply for a single job. First, you need to understand everything about why you were banned, before you lose your account permanently.
Read the post at the top you skipped over. It contains all the resources you need to follow the rules, create a profile, and learn about freelancing on the platform. It's your choice to learn or lose everything.
Sep 17, 2023 12:48:27 PM by Amit K
Jeanne, Your response has always been a useful one. But about "can spend more connects" is not right. Someone with a good experience and profile deserves a better chance than someone with more connects. This boosting thing is not helping at all.
Sep 17, 2023 01:53:49 PM by Jeanne H
If you read my posts, you will know that I do not encourage most people to boost. Why? Because most people will not get the job and it's a waste. I don't boost, but if I saw a great job and really wanted it, had very qualification, and knew I would be in the top spots, then I would boost.
If you have good experience and a great profile, and excellent skills, you may not need to boost to get a job. Many freelancers don't. It's a choice, and a bad one if you do not excel in the job description.
If it's not helpful, and you don't know you are one of the best, don't waste your money. However, some freelancers find it very useful.
And yes, freelancing costs money, no matter where you go. You have to be prepared to spend money for things like job access. What many don't understand is that fewer freelancers with no skills, and even using connects, helps to separate the serious from the dabblers. When you have less garbage proposals, clients are more likely to see yours.
I am well aware the world is not an even playing field and that money is different depending on many factors. None of that changes the fact that freelancing costs money.
Sep 17, 2023 04:26:52 PM by William T C
Amit,
Be careful on taking advice from everybody on this site without looking at their profile to see if they truly have success.
Only apply for jobs that most closely match your profile so you can be the Best Match which stands out in the client's proposal feed. It's not necessary to spend extra to be in the top four spots.
Sep 18, 2023 11:59:38 AM by Jeanne H
Be careful on taking advice from everybody on this site without looking at their profile to see if they truly have success.
How do you define "success" in the profile?
Sep 19, 2023 09:00:54 AM by Jeanne H
I do not understand why people will post, I ask a relevant question, and they never respond.
Sep 22, 2023 02:38:22 PM by Jeanne H
It is not necessary to boost to get jobs. If you don't have marketable skills, and every qualification for the job, and do your work better than almost anyone - then you don't apply no matter how much you need money. If you really want the job, and know, you are one of the top two - then and only then do you boost, and reasonably. Boosting is no substitute for skills.
Plenty of freelancers don't boost, and others boost only when they know it is almost a certainty they will be hired. Any other time, you are throwing money and connects down the drain with no hope of a return.
Sep 19, 2023 01:06:03 AM by Sara B
So if I don't have skills I will never start work??
It's like when your CV is new: no one wants you. So how could you start? You never start.
Or
Someone has to trust in you. Like in the normal life.
Sep 19, 2023 10:44:20 AM by William T C
Hi Sara,
Skills can be obtained in many ways such as volunteer in person to practice, read articles, watch YouTube videos, take Coursera courses, get a local job, etc. that allow you to develop more and deeper Skills.
Sep 19, 2023 01:12:24 PM by Jeanne H
So if I don't have skills I will never start work??
Freelancers must bring marketable skills or they will fail. This is reality.
Would you hire someone with no skills? Or someone who had never done the job before and had no education in the field? Being new is not the same as being unskilled.
I saw in your profile that you manage and advertise for Instagram accounts. That is a skill, although one in a crowded field. Perhaps you can build on that.
The "normal life" is having marketable skills for freelancers. It is a fact no matter where you go. Not all freelancers spend money and efforts on platforms. The real world demands real skills in freelancing.
No one has to trust you; you have to prove yourself. The only time it isn't true is if you are employed. Then the employer has to worry about training you. There are still libraries, and there is always the Internet. Stick with useful and legitimate courses and training. YouTube is a nightmare of lots of people who think they know "the way" to learn or be an Upwork success.
Decide what area you want to focus on, and tailor your learning from there. It's up to you.
Sep 19, 2023 11:17:41 AM by Jennifer R
Thank you for your efforts! This post has a lot of information that should be useful for both new Upwork freelancers and experiences ones.