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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. 

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.

 

 

2,080 REPLIES 2,080
Jeanne's avatar
Jeanne H Community Member

Only Upwork can pin comments. However, Upwork did pin this post, which is why you will see a "pin" mark on the topics, just like Events update.

Dolly's avatar
Dolly e Community Member

Thank you so much for sharing these important links, I'm new here and felt lost, but I will keep looking and stay up-to-date

I wish one of the admins pin that post because it's really helpful for new freelancers:) 

Nasir's avatar
Nasir S Community Member

Job 

Hassan Malik's avatar
Hassan Malik H Community Member

can you help me i am new here

Jeanne's avatar
Jeanne H Community Member

Please go back to the top pinned post. Read the post and visit every single link. Do not look at jobs or accept a job invitation until you have learned how to use the platform and how to use fixed price and hourly tracking. You will need a professional profile, skills title, and all the things that are required of freelancers.

Miriam's avatar
Miriam O Community Member

This is the most coherent publication I have seen in a long time... unfortunately you're still going to get a ton of messages asking for help...😂 

Susan's avatar
Susan S Community Member

And patience! Have patience! It takes a while to get started, even after going through all the information available.

 

Prashant's avatar
Prashant P Community Member

And have relevant profile picture of you face.  Not some desks, or Mickey mouse, or full face covering.  

Jeanne's avatar
Jeanne H Community Member

Or your cat or iguana.

Mohammad's avatar
Mohammad K Community Member

How can i get the upwork tick???

Radia's avatar
Radia L Community Member

You'll get it after they verify your ID, which they will do after you get some jobs. Verifying everyone immediately is not efficient from where they stand.

Akubue's avatar
Akubue N Community Member

Hello, Radial L.

I just had a difficult day trying to verify my ID and as i snapped the National Identification Slip issued  officially and validly to Nigerians, it was marked "X" and the process discontinued. I was given 11-14-2023 as the expiration date for the verification 

 

Prior to this, I had read digest on how Nigerians lament on the difficulties they face concerning this issue. WHAT IS UPWORK DOING TO HEED AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEM?

 

If i have defaulted in the process or requirements let me be prompted and guided rather than cutting me off abruptly. I was  patient the whole while tolerating the delays and loading errors, time and data expenses, so why not give me a helping hand and guide in the process,and to all those who have long tabled their complaints on this issue.

 

I am, and try to be law abiding and did follow the rules. Where did I err? At one time some days ago, the oval visual verification screen appeared without my knowing what it was all about. Upwork makes alot of page loading hitches. I suggest also that they be patient to guide members and newbies in particular who have not been there before. 

Kyla's avatar
Kyla F Community Member

When I was trying to verify my identity, the page simply didn't load correctly. They kept telling me (through bot chat) that I just needed to try a different device. Maybe I'm weird, but I didn't have multiple devices to try verification on. They ended up putting a hold on my account even thougnt they knew I was working through page loading errors (I had sent them screen shots.). I did eventually get it to go through thankfully, but it was a painful process!

Elvis's avatar
Elvis G Community Member

Hello Prashant,
Kindly help me out with my profile since I haven't landed any job yet after wasting lots of connects.

Jeanne's avatar
Jeanne H Community Member

Use the post at the top to learn about freelancing and how to avoid scams. Learn about vetting clients and how to write an excellent profile and proposals.

Mehwish's avatar
Mehwish S Community Member

Thanks 

Seifesilasse's avatar
Seifesilasse H Community Member

How can Iget The Upwork tick Ms.?

Lala's avatar
Lala R Community Member

You'll get it after they verify your ID, which they will do after you get some jobs. Verifying everyone immediately is not efficient from where they stand.

Ashi's avatar
Ashi K Community Member

Ok

Samer's avatar
Samer B Community Member

Great Post!

Gift's avatar
Gift O Community Member

Hi, after some time away from upwork after the pandemic, due to my full-time employment, I have wholeheartedly decided to get my upwork freelancing career back on track. I have updated my profile including my profile catelog, overview, as well as added recent portfolio projects.

Although I've begun applying for new jobs, it would be great to maybe get a referral to any copywriting or content writing jobs, probably one you're too occupied to execute. 

Jeanne's avatar
Jeanne H Community Member

I do not know what you mean by a job referral. All you need to do is go through the job feed.

 

The only time I recommend another freelancer for a project is when I personally know them very well as far as skills. And even then, the freelancer is on their own to apply.

Bettye's avatar
Bettye U Community Member

"The only time I recommend another freelancer for a project is when I personally know them very well as far as skills."

---------

That is precisely what I said to the requests made to me from strangers asking me to recommend them once Upwork implemented referrals...

OLUCHUKWU's avatar
OLUCHUKWU N Community Member

There's a job  referral option on upwork, one can access the features when you are invited to submit a proposal.

Imran's avatar
Imran L Community Member

hello my name is imran i am anew freelancer please chek my potforio and give feed back