Tips for Getting Started on Upwork

[#1]

Getting started on Upwork can be challenging. Here are some top tips that can help you succeed.

Complete Your Profile

First, it can be very helpful to complete your profile 100%. It’s important to understand that there are certain sections that must be completed in order to reach 100%. You can even technically exceed 100% completion. The more fields you complete on your profile, the better your chances of winning work. Also, your profile must be 100% complete in order to qualify for badges such as Rising Talent and Top Rated. Check out this help article for more information on the numerous ways you can reach 100% or more completion. I also recommend this article about why a great title and overview can make a difference.

Set Your Profile Visibility

Second, we recommend updating your profile visibility. Once you’ve crafted the perfect profile, you’ll want clients to be able to see it. When setting your profile visibility, you have three options: Public, Only Upwork Users, or Private.  If you set your profile to private, it will be excluded from the Upwork marketplace and search engines. This means clients won’t see you when they search for freelancers. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to set your profile visibility to Public or Only Upwork Users.

Submit Proposals

Third, submit proposals! This may seem like an obvious step, but it’s one that often doesn’t receive enough attention from new freelancers. By regularly submitting proposals for projects that fit your skills, you not only increase your chances of winning work, but you also prevent your profile from being automatically set to private, which can happen if you are inactive from the platform. As you submit more proposals, you will also learn what does and doesn’t get the attention of clients. Also, remember, that you may have to submit more than 5 proposals before you win your first project. Persistence is key. To help improve the quality of your proposals, I invite you to read about how to create a proposal that wins jobs and take in this proven advice from freelancers on Upwork. Also, check out this great article about How To Get More Jobs on Upwork in 2022!

[#2]

Hi Ozan,

Welcome to Upwork! I'm happy to hear it's going well!

The Rising Talent status is assigned automatically when a freelancer meets the requirements listed here. This process is working as designed and we can't specify a reason why a freelancer isn't eligible for receiving the Rising Talent badge. Once you qualify, you should receive a notification letting you know.

Regarding the service fees, as a freelancer, you’re charged a sliding fee based on your lifetime billings with each non-Enterprise client. This includes all contracts you’ve ever had with that client, not all clients combined. Service fees are the same whether the contracts are hourly or fixed-price. You can check this help article for more information.

I've pulled a few resources that may be helpful to you. Check out these articles to help you create a profile that stands out and improve your profile title and overview. For some great tips on writing proposals that win jobs, check out this article. You can also visit our Resource Center and sign up for upcoming events and webinars to learn more about how you can boost your success on Upwork.

Thank you.

[#3]

https://www.upwork.com/o/profiles/users/~01f4e68fbf8a38d940/

[#4]

Hi Mike! 

Can you please review my profile and give me some feedback on what should remove/edit? I would really appreciate your feedback since this will help me further grow on Upwork 🙂 

Best, 

Yassine B 

[#5]

Hi Yassine,

Thank you for your message. Congratulations on a successful first few projects! Your profile is off to a good start, but I do have a few suggestions:

• The beginning of your profile overview displays in prospective client search results and it’s your first 200-character pitch. So, your first sentence should include clear, relevant information about your primary skill sets and expertise.
• Be clear on your expertise and mention specialized software or tools. 
• Other examples of information you can include are past accomplishments and projects, preferred working style, and your business’ values (e.g. I believe in strong communications or thorough upfront planning), industries or lines of businesses you have worked in before, and the types of clients you have worked with before (start-ups, solo entrepreneurs, large businesses, etc.). 

To give a clear impression you’re the person the client wants to talk to, here are some additional tips for writing a great Overview.

I hope this helps!

[#6]

Hi Mike,

Can you check my profile and recommend me the changes. Your valuable suggestion would be appreciated.

[#7]

Hi Anzal,

Your profile is off to a good start. It might help to organize it with paragraphs: for example, have your introduction paragraph, a separate paragraph for skills, and one for experience. In this way, you might emphasize certain areas, but use caution with adding lists of skills with few to no related work examples because clients may question the sincerity of your skills list.

[#8]

Hi Mike, Can you check my profile and recommend changes if any to win contracts? Thank you for your time and consideration.

[#9]

Dear Mike,

Thanks for the sincere interest to help new freelancers like me.
Can you please have a review about my profile and help me with any thing lacking?
Am still struggling to get my first job.

Kind wishes,

[#10]

Hi Therese,

Thank you for your message! I reviewed your profile and have some suggestions:

• The beginning of your profile overview displays in prospective client search results and it’s your first 200-character pitch. So, your first sentence should include clear, relevant information about your primary skill sets and expertise.

• Your profile overview is short compared to the average. Upwork’s research shows clients see it as a positive signal if the profile is well written and comprehensive. Therefore, consider crafting your overview as a pitch to prospective clients. 

  • Help clients understand your abilities better by listing information about your skills and experience in an original and creative way. 
  • Focus on how you can help clients achieve their goals. For example, expand on who you are, the services you offer, and what you’re most passionate about. 
  • Be clear on your expertise and mention specialized software or tools. 
  • If appropriate, let your personality shine through (include some excitement), and show your qualities and praise the work you do, instead of focusing on yourself.
  • Other examples of information you can include are past accomplishments and projects, preferred working style, and your business’ values (e.g. I believe in strong communications or thorough upfront planning), industries or lines of businesses you have worked in before, and the types of clients you have worked with before (start-ups, solo entrepreneurs, large businesses, etc.). 

• Your written English skills are strong and you are easy to understand. However, I did see a few minor errors. If you'd like to add extra polish, you might want to consider using Grammarly. I use this myself and really like it because it's free and it offers a Chrome add-on so it works in webmail, messages, proposals, and more.

To give a clear impression you’re the person the client wants to talk to, here are some additional tips for writing a great Overview.

I hope this helps!

[#11]

Dear Mike,

Thanks for the useful tips.
This will help.I will take into consideration all the points you have enumerated and redraft my profile. Thanks again.

Kind regards,

[#12]

hi

[#13]

New to Upwork, I'm struggling to get hired. I joined Upwork by the end of March (the 28th). So far, I applied for twelve job post.

About 7 to 8 were closed due to the lacking of response from the client.

About the other proposals, I did not get the job.

I would like a piece of advice to attract clients and get jobs. I have read a lot of Upwork's articles, maybe I am missing something.

[#14]

Sir can you review my profile? Why I can't find job?

thanks by

Shaheen

[#15]

Hi Mr,

Thank you for your message. The beginning of your profile overview displays in prospective client search results and it’s your first 200-character pitch. So, your first sentence should include clear, relevant information about your primary skill sets and expertise. To give a clear impression you’re the person the client wants to talk to, here are some additional tips for writing a great Overview. 

I also recommend these articles:

• Sample Profiles and Best Practices
• Mistakes Independent Talent Make When Setting Their Rates—and Ideas to Fix Them

[#16]

Hi Mike, Sorry for that! Can you check my profile? As I am new to this platform so I am confused about my profile. I want to know what is the fault of my profile. I am confused. Thanks for your kindness. 

Regards,

----Mizan

[#17]

Hi Mizan,

Thank you for your message. I reviewed your profile and have some suggestions:

• The beginning of your profile overview displays in prospective client search results and it’s your first 200-character pitch. So, your first sentence should include clear, relevant information about your primary skill sets and expertise.
• Your profile says you have a team. If you are winning projects for a team rather than for yourself, please create an agency.

I also suggest you check out these articles:

• 9 Tips to Help You Create a Freelancer Profile That Stands Out
•  Tips from Freelancers: Best Practices for Success
• How to Write Proposals: Proven Advice From Freelancers on Upwork

I hope this helps!

[#18]

Good evening sir. Thank you very much for the work you are doing helping new freelancer like us.

New to Upwork, I'm struggling to get hired. I joined Upwork by the end of March (the 28th). So far, I applied for twelve job post.

About 7 to 8 were closed due to the lacking of response from the client.

About the other proposals, I did not get the job.

I would like a piece of advice to attract clients and get jobs. I have read a lot of Upwork's articles, maybe I am missing something. If you can go throughout my profile and help me anyhow, it will be very kind.

[#19]

Hi Eliel,

Thanks for your message! Upwork is very competitive and it can take many proposals to win your first project. I think your profile is off to a good start. I suggest considering removing your age as this may be received negatively by some clients. You may also wish to reconsider mentioning learning from YouTube.

[#20]

Thanks a lot, sir. I will take all you have said into account and keep applying to jobs that fit my skills.

[#21]

Hi,
I am new in Upwork,i am native Persian(dari,farsi) speaker and i know Pashto and English fluently ,but for everyone that i am sending proposal for translation are something eles about the language that i know they dont accept me because i am new in upwork and dont have any experiences .what should i do that they accept me ,and my connect become finish because no one accept me.
Regard;
Hamed Ghaznawy

[#22]

Hi Hamed,

Thanks for your message. I reviewed your profile and have some suggestions:

• There is a spacing issue in your title between "typist" and "proofreading". As you are advertising proofreading services, I suggest you ensure to extensively review your own profile.  You might want to consider using Grammarly. I use this myself and really like it because it's free and it offers a Chrome add-on so it works in webmail, messages, proposals, and more.
• Your profile Overview is also somewhat short. Here are some suggestions for building it out further:
  • Focus on how you can help clients achieve their goals. For example, expand on who you are, the services you offer, and what you’re most passionate about. 
  • Be clear on your expertise and mention specialized software or tools. 
  • If appropriate, let your personality shine through (include some excitement), and show your qualities and praise the work you do, instead of focusing on yourself.
  • Other examples of information you can include are past accomplishments and projects, preferred working style, and your business’ values (e.g. I believe in strong communications or thorough upfront planning), industries or lines of businesses you have worked in before, and the types of clients you have worked with before (start-ups, solo entrepreneurs, large businesses, etc.).

I hope this helps!

[#23]

Hi, Mike
Can you please review my profile too and provide feedback, it would help me to make my profile even more good. Waiting for your feedback. Thanks.

[#24]

Hi Shafquat,

Your profile is off to a great start. I do have some suggestions for information you could add in order to expand on your experience and offerings:

• Focus on how you can help clients achieve their goals. For example, expand on who you are, the services you offer, and what you’re most passionate about. 
• Be clear on your expertise and mention specialized software or tools. 
• If appropriate, let your personality shine through (include some excitement), and show your qualities and praise the work you do, instead of focusing on yourself.
• Other examples of information you can include are past accomplishments and projects, preferred working style, and your business’ values (e.g. I believe in strong communications or thorough upfront planning), industries or lines of businesses you have worked in before, and the types of clients you have worked with before (start-ups, solo entrepreneurs, large businesses, etc.). 

[#25]

 HI Mike,

Can you check my profile and recommend changes if any to win contracts.

[#26]

Hi Sohaib,

Thank you for your message. I reviewed your profile and see that it is largely just a list. While bulleted lists can help to organize an Overview, using only a list makes your profile overview difficult to quickly scan and understand what your primary services and experiences are. It might help to organize it with paragraphs: for example, have your introduction paragraph, a separate paragraph for skills, and one for experience. Focus on how you can help clients achieve their goals. For example, expand on who you are, the services you offer, and what you’re most passionate about. Use caution with adding lists of skills with few to no related work examples because clients may question the sincerity of your skills list.

I hope this helps!