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]

You have no experience here, no job, and you don't "believe" the rules. In all sincerity, what are you doing here? Everyone who uses Upwork, has to follow the rules. You will be in trouble soon enough, and probably blame Upwork, for that, too.

Your deflections don't work on me.

Like it or not, you are responsible for everything that happens on the platform. Freelancing is not for everyone.

[#3]

I’ve been on Upwork (formerly oDesk) since 2004, with over 5500 hours of work and a rating of approximately 4.9. However, I’m currently having difficulty finding jobs. Ten years ago, it was easy to find work, but now my profile isn’t even being reviewed, despite spending money on connects. It seems like Upwork’s focus has shifted to generating profit from connects and contracts between clients and freelancers.

[#4]

Upwork removed the quality and security of the platform when they removed all category and skills tests, and the skill categories and platform limits, and decided to let literally anyone and everyone pretend to be a professional freelancer. This was followed by the scammers because it's so incredibly easy to get money here.

Upwork never cared about freelancers, but they weren't foolish enough to destroy the quality, reputation, and future of the platform for a cash grab, but then they never could make even a thin dime, ever. Poor mangement, mismanagement, sh*t decisions... it's a long list. 

Many freelancers are struggling here, and many excellent highly-skilled freelancers have gone, with more leaving daily. Once Upwork destabilized the platform, and turned it into a haven for scammer clients and scammer freelancers, the future was set.

All frelancers need to remind themselves of the definition and establish multiple sources of income. It is dangerous to have all of the income from one source, no matter how good, because the freelancer is in charge of their business, but not the third party platform. Anything can happen in the blink of an eye, and the freelancers control nothing with a platform.

[#5]

Hi. I am new on upwork and was so excited to come across information tailored for new freelancers. But unfortunately when I followed the links, exploring learning paths to be specific, they need you to pay for the workshops. I came here looking for some kind of partime work, freelancing. I have not earned any money to sponsor myself for workshops. I was a bit disappointed. 

[#6]

It is not necessary to pay for going through most of the Upwork resources. There are many ads now, and ways to spend. Do not pay for a thing, until you read and understand the Terms of Service, all of the rules, and how to write a contract for hourly or fixed price jobs.

I will check the links again. I discovered the link to the Red Flags on Scams seems to have disappeared, along with the article. I'll find out what happened to that post. A quick check of the links lead to articles and videos on using Upwork, and don't require payment. If you start randomly clicking on Upwork links, you will end up at for-pay information/marketing.

[#7]

Thank you for this insight

[#8]

Good day! I am finding it so hard to create Upwork email in order to get verified on LinkedIn and display the badge.

[#9]

Freelancers are not Upwork employees, so you cannot get an Upwork email address.

[#10]

Read and learn from Sophie's post.

This is not how you work on a platform. Your profile is mostly empty and confusing. You list data entry (typing) as your skill, with a fluent level in English and other languages. Yet, in your profile, you have "academic work." Something does not fit here. Both things do not exist simultaneously. You need to go back to the top pinned post, and read it, and learn, before you lose your money and your account.

Before you worry about getting verified, which has nothing to do with Upwork, learn the rules and use them, or be prepared to lose everything, and do not blame it on Upwork.

[#11]

To all freelancers looking for help,

I have always had freelancers come to me for assistance. 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 should 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 it is 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 are 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 a 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 that before you ask questions and seek help, you need to help yourself first.

From Prashant P: "And have a relevant profile picture of your face. Not some desk, 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.

[#12]

I'm not sure why you copied and pasted the entire top post, but if you do that, you need to indicate that is is from someone else by using quptation marks, italics, or by saying, "This person wrote..."

[#13]

Hello, can you help me change my resume already attached in upwork, for one that I have updated. Where is that option? thank you, I await your response

[#14]

If your resume is on your profile, then simply change it, or remove it. There is nothing you add to your profile that can't be changed. If you mean the information you sent with a proposal, then there is no option, and you need to go over the work before submission.

[#15]

Hi, Can you please review my profile and suggest improvements so that I can attract clients more professionally? I have recently joined upwork and I have great skills with good experience as well. 
Here is my profile link

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01b900239231b5b787

[#16]

You need to go back to the top pinned post, read it, and follow every link. Your profile can be improved, which will help you get your first job, and show scammers you are a professional.

Be very careful with what you advertise and work on here. It is not allowed to do any academic school work. In other words, you can do acemic level research for a journal, but you can't for someone's thesis or dissertation. I do not see how you will work in those fields without violating the rules. You are not allowed to even do research on a thesis or dissertation. Do you really want people to cheat and get credit for work they didn't do? And what will they do with those half-skills? All you need to know is academic work for school work is forbidden, and if you leave it as your main skill, you will find only trouble. If you can write at dissertation level, then you should be able to write just about anything. Find legitimate jobs for your skills title, and avoid all of the headaches, and potentially losing your account. Focus on research or your other skills to avoid the problem.

The first sentence is all clients see in a search of your profile, so make it a powerful statement on why you should be chosen with your education, skills, and experience. :stop_sign: A Place where you will get Free of Plagiarism and Free of AI Content :stop_sign: can be improved.

Form the long lists into small paragraphs. I would also change at least some of the covers for your portfolio items, because they all look the same. With a little work, you can have a professional profile.

[#17]

This is a very straight-to-the-point preview of how freelancing on UPWORK is. Thanks, Ma.

[#18]

Nice profile and work experience. 

[#19]

Dear Jeanne:

I have updated the wording as per your suggestions, kindly review my profile and let me know any further changes required in the profile.

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01c3a326b44359a607

Regards 

[#20]

Faraz, I have given you extensive asistance. You are either not listening, or deciding my opinion and advice are not worth following. If you are not going to take my advice, this is pointless. 

The first sentence is all clients see, as you know and have been told repeatedly, in a search. Instead of creating a powerful statement of how your skills, experience, and education combine to give you excellent skills that will help the client, you have a question.

Seriously, why do you keep asking for advice from me, when you don't follow it?

The body of the profile needs to be consistent in your abilities and how you can meet the client's needs. It should be put into brief paragrahs, usually three or four. Currently, it's just a long list.

Since you are not content with the advice you have recieved, I suggest you stop asking for advice, and spend time in the Academy, and outside Upwork, learning about freelancing, and vetting the client and the job. Asking for advice from multiple sources hasn't seemed to help you, so you should spend time learning about freelancing, so you can decide what you should do for yourself.

[#21]

I created my upwork freelancer account long back. But started freelancing from April seriously. Completed 4 jobs, 2 five star reviews and 1k+ earned. But Why I dont have JSS and any badge yet?
https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019ae10b2e7278b72e

[#22]

Hi Mriganka,

I checked your account and I am pleased to inform you that you already have a JSS now on your profile.

- Pradeep

[#23]

Hi, Can you please review my profile and suggest improvements so that I can attract clients more professionally?

Here is my profile link for Data Analyst 

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~0103492aacc01e1df7?s=1110580752008335360

Thank you in advance i am looking forward your extensive support to optimize my profile 

[#24]

The first step is to go back to the top post, read it, and follow every link.

The first sentence is all clients see in a search. Your first sentence is a run-on question. Tell the client what you can do for them with your education, skills, and experience. This is your one chance to grab the client's attention and get them to read more.

 Remove things like "My profile." The client can tell.

with Notable Clients with 5 :star::star::star::star::star:

This is the type of thing people put into their profile to impress, and it does not. You are saying these things, not a client. Form the sentences into paragraphs. Add more to your portfolio. Also, change the backgroun color in your photo to a plain, neutral color, and have a photo from the shoulders up.

[#25]

This is inspiring. 

[#26]

This 👍great