How to succeed at UPwork

UpWork training summary

by Lubomir Kosenko, Kiev 30/12/2015

Most important components of your Upwork success: cover letter - profile - reputation

Reputation

In the beginning to get positive review is VERY important.

Choose clients: if he gave bad reviews in the past, it’s not a good client (for beginner)

Give 5 start feedback, ask for 5 stars

Cover letter

short (<300 symbols)

include:

● I read your post,

● I know what is required,

● you want this…. (write in your words his job description),

● I like to work with … (such technologies, industries)

● ask a question (small detail that might be important, i.e. “Does it have a mobile view?

Haven’t found it in the attachment”)

Don’t write “experience over 5 years”. Experience is not years, but your skills and knowledge.

Communication

Fixed price - via upwork messenger

Hourly - skype (faster reply)

Hourly job let you earn more money and build reputation & experience

Better time to apply 8 pm to 2 am (Kiev time), day-evening in US, Canada and Australia

Job success score

+ impact: long repeatable contracts, positive feedback

- impact: didn’t meet the deadline, bad feedback, incomplete job

Profile

include 10 key skills + additional

add smiling photo

Profile overview

<1000 symbols

simple language

Add “how can i be helpful (in which cases)”

You also can add - I always ready to support you (after the project), ready to sign NDA etc

Full profile ( University, Experience), min. 4 works at portfolio

3-4 relevant completed Tests.

Get results that are from Top30 to TOP 10.

Add video - a short presentation about yourself:

- what you do

- what you like

- what you know

= show yourself as a real person

Renew profile every 4 month

Payment

Wired transfer - withdraw at least $1k, commision is $30

Skrill - difficult to get money from it

Payoneer - good, but high commissions

- if withdraw, use Aval bank, choose withdraw “without conversion”, Mastercard currency

rate

- payoneer calculator for UA http://payoneer-ua.liberwing.com/