Suffering from Imposter syndrome - New to upwork, Feeling intimidated.

[d_muse_lena]

I feel really intimidated right now, even as I write this I am not sure of what i should say. 

I have worked in customer services solidly for the last 4 years. Right now i am with my current employer and i am looking to transition from a w2 to a 1099 or just a remote postition i can do from home. I am  My issue is that now matter how I edit my profile i feel like it is not enough. I dont qualify for anything here and I shouldnt be here and I am an imposter.

Any sugestions and advice would be much apreciated. Please fel free to take a gander at my profile and critique that as well as imsure I can improve somewhere.

[muhammadqasim_7]

I have checked your profile and it looks soo good honestly. I am new on here too so i can not say much about how this place works but i will tell you how i got the projects. You just have to keep bidding on those projects that have fewer numbers of proposals and apply on projects that you are sure you can do. Just keep applying and you will find a client. Also, bid for projects that say that they are looking for fresh workers.  

Other than that one thing that I found was that your bio is very extensive. Try to write a short one so that its easy for the client to read and does not takes up a lot of time.

[maemargaretm]

Hi Lena,

I took a look at your profile. Here's a suggestion, instead of using adjectives such as passionate, bubbly or confident, consider using the niche or industry that you have previously worked in. Example, "Real Estate Customer Service Representative",  "Accounting VA" or "Accounting Assistant". You need to use relevant keywords in order for you to appear in searches. Also, there's no need to feel intimidated. Everybody here was once a newbie too.  Best of luck in your job hunting. 🙂

[jadepearl]

Hello Elena! I would highly suggest applying for the ones that says "EXPERT" and not on entry levels or intermediate. At least with EXPERT level, they won't really care what your rate is. They look for experience.  Your rate is $25 after all. I would suggest adding all of your bestest best certificate trainings and past employment certificates to be added in your profile. 

In the past I would look for online job hirings in google and then I would just bring them over to upwork and make my boss sign up for upwork. Upwork will be charging only 10% instead of the usual 20% for your first $500 earnings. This is how me and my friends build up our profile in Upwork.

UPWORK IS THE VERY BEST FOR ME. THE SUPPORT IS AMAZING AND IT'S ALL VERY MUCH WORTH THE HARD WORK. PAYMENTS ARE THE MOST SECURED TOO AND THEY ALWAYS PROTECT WHAT YOU WORK HARD FOR.

GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS!!!

[florydev · Accepted solution]

There is signifcant difference between feeling like an imposter and actually being one.  A good sign is an imposter knows that they are, I think you are just afraid you might be.

So, my suggestion is take a step back, think about what you do, think about a client who needs that, and answer yourself honestly can you provide that value to a client.  If you have done that in the past then you already know you can.  Think about situations were you helped a client beyond their expectations and realize the whole purpose in what you are doing here is to repeat that experience, as often as you can, and hopefully to your financially betterment.

I am horrible with profiles, I don't like yours, I don't like mine, I don't like anyone's.  I can say you need to take another crack at yours, you have a lot of half thoughts and run on sentences.  

But beyond that, your profile is about you and what you want to present about yourself.  You need it to be unique and engaging and I don't think yours is.  It is kind of canned and comes off more as a cover letter.

You really have to think about the information you want on there, the signals you are giving off, and what you want the client to do with it.  As an example you have: I have 6 years of experience as a customer service specialist.  What use is saying 6 years?  Is that good, is it bad?  Why are you letting the client decide that?

If it were me, I might say: I am a insanely dedicated customer service specialist that will make your clients so happy you will start to wonder what happened to them.

But don't say that unless that's your personality and you want the kind of clients that personality attracts.   Write the profile that is you.

[d_muse_lena]

Seeing your response opens my eyes a little more. I can now see the problems with my delivery! I am so used to writing coverletters, and sendning out resumes. Over time its become a second habit and routine. personality is important, so I will be spending my day tomorrow fixing my profile.

Thank you Mark. 

[florydev]

You are most definitely welcome.

It's a different approach for sure, you are not looking for a job, you are looking for someone to do business with.

Just between you and I, I struggle with confidence as well I am have just gotten really good at faking otherwise.