Is it possible to get a job here without being fluent in English?

[nbernardes]

Hi! My name is Nathalia and I'm a Brazilian designer with experience in the graphic design area. I'm new here in UpWork and I'm looking for my first opportunity in this plataform, but it is being difficult to me because I'm not fluent in english.

I currently work for a large company in my country, but due to the political crisis and consequently monetary inflation my salary here don't worth a lot, so I would like to look for opportunities as a freelancer earning on dollars in my free time. Does you think is it possible to get some jobs here just reading and badly writining in english?

My complete portfolio in Portuguese: **Edited for Community Guidelines**

Thanks!

[egaruth]

Hi Nathalia,

I would like to clarify that Upwork is operated in English, therefore setting a (self-assessed) English proficiency is required as part of the basic freelancer account setup process. All we ask is that you be truthful when assessing your language abilities. Setting inappropriate expectations may make it difficult to satisfy your clients and could adversely impact your reputation. 

[nbernardes]

Hi Nikola,

Thanks for the clarification, I know that. As you can see in my profile, my level in English is described as "basic" and I have no reason to falsify this...

I'm asking if my difficulty in English could hinder me here when trying to get a job despite having a lot of experience in the area and being able to communicate through writing. For example, does anyone know cases of people who get opportunities here without being fluent in English? That's my question, because I don't know if I'm wasting time or if there's really any chance.

Thanks.

[prestonhunter]

As a client I have hired many visual artists and designers. 

I often have no idea if they speak English. I don't care.

[sullivanliz · Accepted solution]

Did you write these posts and your profile? If so, your English is a lot better than lots of other people who post here! I'd say your level is well above 'basic' and you should give yourself some credit 🙂

[nbernardes]

Thank you people! 🙂 I'll keep trying, you guys cheered me up!

Thanks!

[aocumen]

Hi Nathalia, 

You may want to check these resources to help you improve your success on Upwork.

• Getting Started as a Freelancer
• Getting Started on Upwork
• 9 Tips to Help You Create a Freelancer Profile That Stands Out
• How to Create a Proposal That Wins Jobs

I hope this helps! Good luck and don't hesitate to reach out here in the Community if you have other questions!

[nbernardes]

Hi, Avery. I've already followed many of the recommended steps, but I still haven't gotten the first opportunity. I'm in doubt if it was due to my difficulty in English or just the chance hasn't come up yet. Anyway, thanks for the help.

[aocumen]

I want to think it's the latter because I think your English is excellent! (I'm not a native English speaker too). 

If I may add, you may want to remove these in your overview - "My name is Nathalia Bernardes.." and "I'm new to UpWork, and I'm not fluent in English, but I'm looking for opportunities to try out this platform and start an international freelance career."

When clients search for freelancers, they only see the first two sentences of a freelancer's overview in their search results. Make sure that you're able to capture your potential client's attention by working on the first few lines of your overview. 

I would recommend removing the second line I identified. While you may be new to Upwork or new to being an independent professional, you are not new to the industry. You are equipped with skills and experiences you had outside Upwork, so make sure to highlight those instead of mentioning that you are new and your English is not perfect. 

I hope you land projects soon!

[nbernardes]

Very helpful your feedback, Avery. I had no idea about that. 

I just made those changes you suggested. Hope I get some opportunity to start. 🙂

Thanks!! 

[roberty1y]

These days it's quite normal to send out 50 proposals or more in a row before you get your first job. That's where the problem lies - the demand for jobs greatly exceeds the supply. The more jobs you've completed, the easier it gets to find more. Your level of English has nothing to do with it. It's good enough for you to communicate easily with clients. You should class your English as "conversational" on your profile.

[nbernardes]

Wow! I thought this would be easier if you have a good portfolio. Well, I'll keep trying then. Thanks!! 😉