new to upwork

[madonnamorgan]

hello. I'm a freelancer and I'm new to upwork, I just need to know how do I know that I was hired for a job and that I should start carrying out the job? what the client should do to make it an official job recognized by upwork?
a client just sent me a message telling me to read a file and see if i'm facing any problems translating it and I replied to him with "No problem I'm ready to start" is this way I'm hired? is this official or should he do something to make it official?

[prestonhunter]

I go here:

Upwork -> My Jobs -> My Jobs

If the contract is listed there, it is an official job that I can work on.

Otherwise, there is no official contract, and no way for the client to pay me.

Please: Do not work for free.