1 September 2022

How To Get Your First Job on Upwork

Upwork is a great platform for freelancers of any skill level and any industry. If you want to earn a little extra on the side then Upwork could work for you. It can also help you build up your freelance career whilst you are working full-time.

Good work is rewarded on Upwork and that is not just the work you deliver. It’s also how you deliver yourself to your clients and your communication. As with any project, communication is key. It plays a huge role in winning your first job on Upwork. You need to stand out from the crowd. Also, make sure to respond promptly.

I’ve been on Upwork since 2018, which is when my profile was approved. I recently started making a proper effort with the platform and finally landed my first job. All I can say is I wish I had done things sooner.

How I Got My First Job On Upwork and How You Can Do The Same

My first client on Upwork pointed out to me that my reply to their job proposal wasn’t a generic copy-and-paste reply. I had taken the time to read the proposal and replied appropriately. It also helped that the job proposal was something I’ve already created for an existing client. Make sure to only apply for jobs that you already have skills and experience in. Clients will love that. If you have a similar past job tell the client about it in your proposal. This will score you big points.

I spent hours honing my profile and writing a proposal template. You can use a template but make sure to tailor the first few sentences to something relating to the project and how you can help the client achieve their goals. I make sure the client knows I’ve read the job listing by mentioning something within it. Clients only see the first 2 lines of your proposal so make those few sentences count!

My Top Tips For Landing Your First Job On Upwork

1. Tailor your profile to the type of work you want to get. Take a look at the top earners in your field and see what they include in their titles and profiles. You can do this by using the search bar to find talent. For example, put ‘logo design’ in the search bar and click on the drop-down button and choose Talent.

2. Only apply for jobs that have ‘Payment Verified’. This just weeds out any payment and legitimacy issues.

3. Try to avoid jobs that have a lot of proposals. Try to stick to the 10-15 and below proposal jobs. This is so there is less competition and the client is more likely to see your proposal.

4. Avoid job listings that have sent out invites. This can be to freelancers they’ve already worked with or they are more interested in the people they’ve sent invites to.

5. Check out the client’s previous feedback. You’ll have an idea as to what the person is like to work with and if they give good reviews to their freelancers.

6. Look for and apply to jobs that you already have experience in. Especially ones that you have previous examples of work for. If you see a lot of the same work and you don’t have anything in your portfolio. Create it! Give yourself a little side project and create something for your portfolio to show potential clients. It doesn’t matter if it was a real client or not.

Completing Your First Job

Once you’ve landed your first job make sure you go above and beyond! The review from this job is crucial. You want to make sure you get a good review that can sit on your profile forever more. Just having one review can put you ahead of so many freelancers on Upwork. It shows you’ve taken the time to work hard and are now trustworthy. It’s all about reviews in this day and age. You could be at the top in your industry or have decades of experience. Without the reviews and feedback potential clients will not be able to put their trust in you.

I’ll go into this a little deeper in a future blog post.

Good luck!


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