Choosing the appropriate project

It’s simple to look for projects (and to set up your job feed). It’s also a crucial component of being an active and involved Upwork member. This ensures that you don’t miss out on tasks that you’d be a good fit for.

Choose a skill: To identify projects that match your skills, type a skill (or two) into the search field.

Filters should be used: To locate a more tailored list, use the filters on the left-hand side of the Search Results Page.

Add this job to your job feed: After you’ve selected your search options, save it to your Job Feed so you can keep track of new projects that meet your criteria.

Projects with a fixed fee vs. projects with an hourly rate

There are two sorts of contracts on Upwork. Here’s how they stack up.

Hourly:

Hourly contracts pay you by the hour, making them a good choice when your project demands a lot of flexibility. Customer service and technical support are two examples of initiatives that perform effectively on an hourly basis.

Hourly Payment Protection insures hourly contract payments. Here’s how to do it:

1. On the offer details page, agree on the amount of permissible hours with your client.
2. Download the Upwork Team App and use it to log all of your project time.
3. Fill in the blanks in your time record with descriptions and notes about your job.
4. Communicate any modifications to your approved hours with your customer as soon as possible, and get their consent.

Fixed-Price Contracts:

A fixed sum is paid for a project delivery, or collection of deliverables, under a fixed-price contract. When the job is more clearly defined, this alternative is perfect. Web design and mobile app development are two examples of projects that are well-suited for fixed-price contracts.

Fixed-Price Payment Protection protects fixed-price contracts. Here’s how to do it:

1. Agree with your client on one or more project milestones, describing what you’ll produce, when you’ll deliver it, and for how much.
2. Wait until a milestone is funded and the funds are kept in escrow before beginning any work on the project.
3. Use the Upwork portal to submit your work.
4. Before continuing work, be sure you’ve been paid for a milestone and that the next one is financed.

A contract’s success can be aided by the following suggestions.

• Agree to final payment conditions (hours, deliverables, and expenses) on the contract offers page, regardless of the form of contract you and your client agree upon.
• Verify that your customer has a valid payment method on file.
• Always use the Upwork platform to deliver work.
• You will only be paid through your Upwork account.

Creating a proposal and conducting interviews

Here’s how the process works now that you’re ready to submit proposals to clients:

1. Select a project that interests you and click the “Submit a Proposal” button.
2. Check your Connects balance and the quantity of Connects necessary to submit a proposal.
3. Read on for advice on how to write a winning proposal.
4. Fill in your proposed rate, compose a cover letter, attach any files, and email the proposal.
5. After reviewing proposals, the customer will contact freelancers for interviews.
6. To obtain a better understanding of your abilities, the customer may suggest a compensated “test project.” This is a fantastic method to see how well you and your partner will work together. Before you start, make sure you agree on price conditions. On Upwork, there are no free test projects. This is a violation of our terms and conditions.
7. After you’ve discussed everything, the customer will make you an offer. Examine it, accept it, and go to work.

What exactly are connects?

Tokens called connects are used to submit applications. You won’t need to utilise any Connects if the customer asks you to apply or rehires you. All other apps require anything from one to five Connects, depending on work size and complexity. A Connects budget is included in every Upwork membership plan. The Freelancer Basic plan offers 60 Connects per month for individual freelancers, while the Freelancer Plus plan includes 70 Connects per month (with the ability to purchase more and roll over unused Connects to the following month). The Agency Basic plan includes 60 Connects per month for agencies, while the Agency Plus plan includes 80 Connects per month. At the start of each payment cycle, your monthly Connects budget is refilled.

Some points writing a winning proposal:

With your proposal, you can make a powerful first impression. Introduce yourself, showcase your qualifications and expertise, and explain why the customer should choose you for the job. It’s your chance to demonstrate that you understand the project and are qualified to work on it. Here are some suggestions for writing a fantastic proposal that will wow clients and lead to interviews:

Don’t be vague: Make it succinct and to-the-point. Briefly describe your relevant abilities and expertise to the customer. Showcase clear instances of your experience working on projects for the customer.

Get answers right away: Obtain further information on the project by asking clarifying questions. You’ll demonstrate your comprehension and the value you’ll contribute to the project.

Please provide the following information: Some customers may request that you respond to a specific question or add a certain phrase in your cover letter. This assists them in weeding out unoriginal, “paste-and-paste” offers. Look for and follow these instructions.

Edit, proofread, and deliver: Did you answer all of the client’s inquiries and address all of the criteria? Have you included relevant links to work samples? Before you press “Send,” double-check your grammar and spelling.

Don’t Spam: Sending a general “cut and paste” proposal is considered spam. It reduces your chances of being chosen for the job and might harm your reputation on Upwork. It’s fine to repurpose an old cover letter, but make it relevant to the project you’re pursuing.

Make a pricing suggestion.

Freelancers on Upwork always establish and negotiate their own fees. For each proposal you submit, you may even select a different fixed or hourly pricing. Simply alter the proposal’s default rate before pressing the “Send” button. Some freelancers find it helpful to start with an estimate of how long it will take to complete a fixed-fee contract before deciding on a pricing. Here’s an example of how to go about it:

Divide the work into stages: For example, planning, design, development, review, and testing may all be included in the creation of a website.

Calculate your fee using the following formula: Calculate your fee for each step by calculating how long it will take to finish, including changes.

Add everything up: Add together all of the stages’ anticipated costs (plus a little extra to account for unexpected issues).

Think about reward vs. risk: Consider any additional earnings you’d like to make or any risks you’re willing to face when settling on a final sum.

Send it in and keep going.

Following the submission of your proposal, you may receive news that the customer wishes to schedule an interview (or maybe even engage with you immediately). In other circumstances, you may not receive any response at all. Clients are not obligated to react to all bids, so leave your options open by proposing to other projects as well.

What is the definition of circumvention?

When you accept a client’s payment outside of the Upwork platform within the exclusivity period provided in the Upwork User Agreement, you are circumventing the Upwork User Agreement. If you do so, or if you propose it to a customer, you will be in violation of the User Agreement, and your account will be put on hold. Be wary if a customer wants you to start working without first forming an Upwork contract. Upwork Payment Protection will not safeguard you, and Upwork cannot guarantee that you will be paid.

Remember, if you work on Upwork, you’ll get paid on Upwork.

Finish the interview.

If the customer asks an interview, respond swiftly with your availability and a time that is convenient for both of you. You’ll have a better chance of winning the project if you do this. Prepare to interview outside of the conventional 9-to-5 timeframe if your possible customer is in a different time zone. Interviews can be conducted over the phone or over text using Upwork Messages or Skype. As a result, come up with an approach that works for both of you. Make sure you know how the interview will be done (voice vs. Upwork Messages text, for example) so you can prepare ahead of time.

Here are some pointers to help you get the most out of your interview:

Be adaptable: Each client’s time zones and communication habits differ. Be flexible with the client’s schedule and interview needs.

Complete your homework: To have a meaningful conversation about your client’s business, do some research about them and their project. Prepare a list of project-specific questions before you begin.

Professionalism: In a professional and polite manner, discuss your successes and ask questions about the engagement.

Be honest: Be open and honest if you don’t know the answer to a question (or don’t like the one you’re given). If you mislead a client, it will be an unpleasant experience for everyone.

Finish on a high note: Inquire about a hiring deadline so you know when the customer will make a selection. Don’t forget to thank them for taking the time to examine your idea.

Following the interview:

Please provide the following information: If you said you’d send some more information or a link to a portfolio item during the interview, follow through. It’s simpler to do it immediately following the chat.

Always make a follow-up: Send a brief letter reiterating the agreements reached during the call (if there are any).