How to Land Your First Job on Upwork: Top Tips from a Seasoned Freelancer

In an article originally published on the Ukrainian site AIN.UA, Liubomyr K.—one of the top freelancers on Upwork, with a portfolio that includes over 50 successfully completed projects and over 2,000 hours worked—shared a few tips for newbies to help them kickstart their business and land their first contract.

1. Eliminate all distractions

There’s no room for laziness or inactivity when it comes to freelancing. Today it’s hard for people to concentrate on work and keep away from social networks, Internet surfing, and other distractions. That’s why overcoming laziness and distractions alone could boost your productivity by about 50 percent.

2. Be patient

You’re full of determination and drive, but your proposals aren’t getting a response. Don’t think of it as something bad; be patient. You may need a day to get your first response or three weeks; you never know. Based on personal experience, the probability of getting a response is around five percent on average. I got my first contract within a week, the second within two weeks. And only then it became much easier. Now it takes me only a few days to get a contract.

If the client isn’t responsive, then perhaps you’re doing something wrong. With the next few tips, let’s see how you can improve things.

3. Make your profile shine

When creating your Upwork profile, take time to describe your skills, situations in which you may be useful to the client, and your relevant experience, if any. Be concise and avoid long and pointless wording, otherwise the client might get bored reading it.

Ideally, write 3-4 paragraphs in the Overview section of your Upwork profile and try to stick to around 1,000 characters.

4. Test your knowledge

Upwork has a plethora of tests, many of which are relevant to your specialty. Take as many relevant tests as possible to confirm the level of your skills. So far, I’ve taken eight tests and am going to take another 2-3 in the near future.

While not all clients may consider skills test results, for some clients, such evaluations really matter.

5. Make sure your portfolio isn’t empty

Creating a portfolio won’t be a problem for seasoned professionals, but it may be one for people who are new to both freelancing and IT in general. Don’t have enough work for a portfolio? Start a blog, work on your own website, or contribute to forums to show clients that you’re a thought leader in topics that interest you. With time, you’ll be able to replace sample projects in your portfolio with actual ones, but to start, it’s better than nothing.

If you do have a lot of work to show, don’t show it altogether. Instead, select 4-5 of your best samples. The point is to demonstrate that you’re capable of doing the work and show the client the quality of your code, design, or whatever you specialize in.

6. Try to avoid looking unprofessional

Choose a decent photo for your profile. Don’t use a photo from your family reunion with you and all your relatives, or a photo from a recent beach trip with you in a swimsuit. Use a plain and professional photo. Make sure your face is clearly visible and you’re smiling.

7. Carefully read the job description

…And be sure to read all of it. You’ll need to read it thoroughly to:

• Understand whether the job is of interest to you.
• Make sure the project is a good fit with your skills and experience.
• Prepare your proposal properly—it’s the first communication between you and the client in which you try to sell your services.

8. Prepare your proposal wisely

The proposal you submit is one of the three most important things a client will look closely at when deciding whether to hire you or not. The other two are your profile and reputation on Upwork. If you don’t have a reputation yet, the other two must be strong.

Avoid using templates—always write unique content. It should be obvious that your proposal is written specifically for them and addresses details they mentioned in their work description. And remember, your proposal has to be short and to the point. I usually make mine around 300 characters.

9. Don’t set your rate too low

Approaches like “will work for feedback” are against the rules on Upwork and won’t reflect well on you. Know your value and be confident during negotiations. If the client asks for a discount the first time they hire you, consider it. You can offer to complete a paid test task or offer a discount of 20 percent, for example. But it should be more of an exception or a compromise.

10. Don’t give up

Keep in mind that all your efforts will pay off in spades. So be optimistic and feel that your skills are needed and important. Don’t give up halfway and you’ll make it. And when you’re in new and uncertain scenarios, keep calm; you can do it. Good luck!

This story was submitted by freelancer Liubomyr K. and does not constitute the views or opinions of Upwork.

 

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