Get hired on Upwork quickly

[vispan]

Over the years I've been using Upwork to build my profile and more importantly my career. During that time Upwork has gone through different changes and one of them which sucks is paying for connects starting at 16... Crazy stuff.

But very similar to sales, Upwork has become a numbers game. I want to say it's how awesome your proposal is but let's be real... There are so many people applying for the same job that makes it really hard to stand out.

One way that how I make sure I get hired is by doing this -

1.Keep my cover letter short but not too short. You want to be able to address how you'll be able to address your potential client's issue without drowning them with a crap load of testimonials, and a 5000-word essay on why you're the best. Get to the point and maybe send 1 - 2 docs unless requested for more.

2.Use Loom. I've used Loom to create short videos as my proposal and I've been hired several times if not given an interview by the very least. Video is a way to differentiate between the thousands of boring cover letters being sent out.

3.Have an updated profile and if you're new make sure your profile looks freaking legit. This gives a good first impression.

Happy to give more tips and how I've managed to grow my career using Upwork.

[426ba430]

Pranam Vishal,

Thank you for these tips that upwork academy consistently provides. I have found them to be very helpful and see no difference in their quality. below is my observation regarding your 3 suggestion.

1. Cover letters may work effectively for traditional employers who are part of established companies. However, it's unfortunate that approximately 90% of clients on platforms like Upwork are freelancers themselves, often utilizing AI to create job postings. This can lead to the merging of different job requirements into a single post. As an analyst, I am adept at identifying and navigating these complexities.

2. Loom becomes relevant when a client initiates contact with you. Regrettably, many job offers go unnoticed due to various factors.

3. Profiles play a significant role in generating interest, particularly for male users. However, it appears that female users can often secure hires simply through their profile pictures.

[vispan]

I am shocked by the point 3. Does it really happens that female users can often secure hires simply through their profile pictures.

[2297e2bc]

WHY is that shocking?

For 1000's years - SEX SELLS! (male or female) remember the "Fireman Calendars?

[the-right-writer]

So does the perception that males are superior to females, so clients don't hire, even with the same background. I would like to see some stats showing women just need to look sexy, and the

freelancer jobs will roll in.

[the-right-writer]

No, it is not.

Look at all the women who are not making any money at all.

When guys contact you from your photo, they are not clients, and they don't want freelancer work.

If anyone is responding to the weird people who contact them occasionally, they are not doing freelancer work.

Most clients are looking for the best deal to get a job done. Clients like to see a photo, just to put a face to the name. They are not perusing the searches looking for hot babes.

[the-right-writer]

Where did the chatbots find the stat that 90% of clients are freelancers? That is not correct. I'll look for numbers from Upwork, but I know it is probably the reverse. I don't know what you mean about different requirements in a single post. Most jobs have multiple requirements. You don't need to be an analyst; you need to know about vetting. Agreed that the chatbots, euphemistically called "AI" are a terrible idea for job descriptions or job proposals.

How does Loom prevent job offers from going unnoticed? If the client doesn't want to look through your profile, even if boosted, they won't, and they will never see the video. Clients do not want or need a video in the proposal.

I have a good idea how the chatbot got to number 3. Remember, it is like a web scraper, and has no way to determine if all that stuff it's stealing is correct, incorrect, offensive, or relevant. The program responded to the prompts given.

Whoever wrote that stuff, is unaware of how the world works. This is not a porn site, this is a jobs platform. While some men don't use their brains but their loins to run their business, it doesn't work for long. If we want to have a discussion of how sex, sexual identity, gender, statistics, disparity, bias, and discrimination affect the world around us, we are going to need a lot more bandwidth.

It would help those who don't know much about the chatbots if you revealed your prompt for #3. While it might be true that some might want to meet the freelancer and not have a job completed, it's rare, if at all. Clients come here to get work done. I like the "appears" part. Appears to whom? I have been a freelancer for a long time, with my own experiences and those of many others. If the picture got jobs, the pictures would be very different.

A sexy-looking pic might be enough to get someone to look at a profile, but they are not going to throw away money and not get the job done, just to... what - look at the female? Chat with her? There are many ways to chat with women, and this is not one of them.

If you post, you should stand behind the words. I want to see empirical data proving your statements, and the citations for sources.

Men who want to believe women get freelancing jobs from their photos, need to spend more time on their business, and find a healthy outlet for their perceptions.

[426ba430]

I was anxiously waiting for your speech, and here you are once again. I am invincible. BTW i am still waiting for your precious reviews about my profile 😂

[the-right-writer]

It's good you recognize you need guidance on how to use the platform, and how to set up a profile. You need to use skills you have for the list. From your first sentence being wasted, to the basic spelling and grammar errors that detract from your professionalism, to the long, long lists that should be put into writing, to the paragraph with nothing but keywords, which hurts your profile, you are in need of using the Academy and using all of the Upwork resources. I hope you do. 

[williamtcooper]

Actually keep the cover letter to 75 words and don't attach documents and Loom; it's too much.

Have in-demand skills that few freelancer have to get hired.

[vispan]

Thank you for your suggestions. 🙂

[bui]

hmmm interesting cover letter to 75words? then how are we going to show our portfolios etc? 

[williamtcooper]

The Portfolio belongs in your Upwork profile.

[the-right-writer]

The proposal being short, but not too short, is more important than most people realize. There is no magic number. Every proposal should be written specifically for the project, and include relevant information.

I disagree with sending a video with the proposal. Send a couple of relevant, excellent pieces of work. Client have to wade through too much stuff as it is. Have a video before you are hired to vet the client and the job, but don't burden the client with a video in an application.

Number 3 seems to be lost on too many. Or, they believe saying they are "100%" of something means anything. People lie all the time in their profile, thinking clients are stupid and will believe anything. It's a great clue for the scammers, that the freelancer will be happy to go outside Upwork. Even if you are currently at the top of the search engine with zillions of dollars earned and 100% JSS, and "number 1 in search" you won't stay in that position. I have seen profiles where the freelancer has "100% On Upwork" or some such nonsense, only to have a 69% JSS. If people do not have a professional profile, and learn how to write them without greetings, names, skills all over, and the practice of keyword stuffing, to the point of entire paragraphs, it is an open invitation to the scammers.