Upwork is a great platform for people who prefer the convenience of working for remote clients on their own schedule. It offers a wealth of opportunities for individuals that want to start their freelancing career or side hustle. For newbies, adjusting to the platform can be a challenge.

Are you a new professional who’s starting your freelancing career on Upwork? In this article, you’ll learn nine powerful tips that will help you land your first job on Upwork.

1. Create a Professional Profile

When applying for Upwork jobs, consider creating a professional profile that draws customers. Your Upwork profile is a professional resume. It should contain your employment history, completed projects, and a portfolio of your work.

Creating a professional portfolio isn’t an issue for most veterans. It may be a challenge for newer freelancers. If you don’t have enough experience, launch a blog or portfolio website that shows your talents and skills. As you complete projects, you can replace these samples with actual ones.

If you’ve completed a lot of projects, select four or five of your best samples. It proves you are a true professional who’s capable of finishing the work. It also shows the client the quality of work (coding, writing, designing, or other specialties).

Your profile should contain a professional picture that tells clients who you are. It should be a high-quality photograph with great lighting and optimized for Upwork. In this picture, dress professionally to show clients you’re ready for business. Smile to show clients you’re friendly and easy to work with. Your backdrop should be uncluttered. Don’t use recreational pictures from a family reunion, beach vacation, or restaurant.

2. Be Selective About the Jobs You Choose

When applying for jobs, be selective about the job you choose. The first reason to consider your clients is the cost. Upwork requires users to spend connects when applying for work. Each freelancer must use these virtual tokens to submit proposals. Upwork instituted this policy to ensure that freelancers are serious applicants. So, only choose jobs you have the skills to complete.

Upwork automatically provides first-time users with 20 free connects. The tokens allow them to try out the platform. Unfortunately, many newbies spend their connects fast on the site because they don’t have enough experience on the platform. The company allows users to buy more after they run out. Freelancers can also earn them by completing project milestones.

Read the job description carefully. Always examine the customer’s history to decide whether they are a suitable candidate before applying. Additionally, consider a company’s hiring rate. Only consider companies that hire 65 percent of freelancers that apply or above. Some companies only hire freelancers from certain countries.

Upwork will automatically give you additional connects when you become a Rising Talent or Top Rated Freelancer. It allows professionals to upgrade their profile using a Freelancer Plus Membership that has 70 connects per month.

Another reason you should be selective is to avoid jobs that may be more than you can handle. If you don’t complete these projects, it can negatively affect your reputation on Upwork. When you can’t deliver what you promised, the client will be unhappy, and you’ll get a critical review.

3. Create an Engaging Cover Letter to Attract Clients

When you apply for jobs on Upwork, take a few moments to polish your cover letter. It should be short, interesting, and tell clients about your skills and how you can achieve their goals. These letters serve as your introduction to potential customers and why they should hire you for the position.

In the first paragraph, address your clients’ projects and issues. In the second paragraph, speak about your job qualifications and how they will help the client’s project. Some customers may include a “challenge question” in the body that will show the client you’ve read the letter. Your tone should be professional, courteous, and friendly.

Avoid using stock templates for jobs, and write a unique letter, instead. Clients recognize when you’re writing for their job description. Make sure it is brief, preferably 300 characters or fewer.

After submitting your cover letter, be patient. It may take a few days or weeks before you get a response.

4. Read the Client’s Reviews

Some clients may not be the right fit for you, so always research your clients before submitting a proposal to them.

Do your due diligence and read what other freelancers have to say about clients. It can prevent headaches down the road when you work with customers who may not be trustworthy.

After reading the freelancer’s opinions about a specific client, consider the source. Double-check the freelancer’s profile to see if they have an exemplary track record with other customers. Reading reviews also allow you to determine whether a customer would be a suitable match for you.

5. Verify Your Client’s Payment Method

Always verify your client’s payment information before working on projects. If the customer recently joined, it may take a few days for Upwork to approve their payment method, so be patient.

Once Upwork greenlights them, have the client send you the offer. It guarantees that the client hired you for the project. When this occurs, Upwork places the money into escrow. You can request payment as soon as you finish the first milestone of the project.

6. Check the Client’s Location

International clients use Upwork to connect with freelancers. When working on a project, consider the customer’s time zone. Scheduling a call with a customer may be a challenge if a company is located halfway around the world. If you work odd hours, working with these clients can be a good fit for you.

7. Consider a Phone Consultation With Clients

Some customers are hesitant to trust newbies on Upwork. If you need to gain clients’ trust, offer to set up a phone consultation before signing a contract. It will set you apart from other freelancers. This step ensures that you will get all commitments in place before working with them. It also shows you are a credible professional that values transparency and good communication.

8. Avoid Clients Who Seem Problematic

When working for clients, pay attention to red flags that show clients are unethical. Never work with clients that offer to pay you outside of Upwork. It may mean that they won’t pay you for the work you’ve done. Only complete contractual and payment using Upwork’s platform.

9. Don’t Set Your Rates To Low

Don’t offer free work that showcases your skills to clients. Saying that you’ll work for feedback is against Upwork’s rules. Additionally, it doesn’t reflect well on your work. Know your value and be confident during your negotiations. If a client asks for a discount, you can consider it, but it should be more of an exception than a compromise.