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]

Pls help me

Please help me

[#3]

Goodness,

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

[#4]

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.

[#5]

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

[#6]

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.

[#7]

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

[#8]

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

[#9]

Hi

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

Thank you sir 

[#10]

Hi Abdulwadud,

Could you please clarify your questions further?

- Pradeep

[#11]

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.

[#12]

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.

[#13]

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.

[#14]

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.

[#15]

Very encouraging, That is the fact 

[#16]

Dear Jeanne H,

Thanks for your valuable information. It will help me to move further.

Regards 
Mahedee Hasan

[#17]

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.

[#18]

iam do for you  on free 

[#19]

Arif,

Please complete your Profile. Click the Academy on the top of this page for detailed instructions.

[#20]

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.

[#21]

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

[#22]

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.

[#23]

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.

[#24]

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.

[#25]

I--

[#26]

Agreed