Freelancers submitting their applications to work on Upwork for the first time may find it challenging. They spruce up their profile and add all the essential information, only to learn that the platform rejected their application.
Have you submitted a profile that Upwork recently rejected? In this article, you’ll learn ten tips that will help your application get accepted on the platform.
1. Delete Duplicate Profiles
You may have created a profile in the past that got rejected. If so, delete all copies. Once you’ve done so, reapply to the site.
2. Get a Professional Email
When freelancers sign up for Upwork, they don’t consider that they are starting their own business, instead of completing one-off jobs for an employer. Upwork prefers professional people who have an excellent work ethic and take their freelancing work seriously. Consider getting a business email address instead of a personal one from companies like Yahoo!, Gmail, or Hotmail.
Some sites provide business emails for only a few dollars each month.
3. Complete your Profile Using Authentic Personal Data
Upwork has to verify that your account is authentic. When your profile contains fake information and personal data, the platform may reject you. Here are some things to keep in mind when finishing your profile.
- Always use your actual name
- Submit actual photos, not fake ones. Each photo should have a simple background that focuses on your face.
- Use your real email address, home address, and phone number.
- Use a catchy headline that summarizes your experience
- Write an overview that focuses on your client’s needs, first.
- Attach certifications, employment history, and other pertinent experience
Turn off the television and your cellphone during the process, so you can finish your profile 100 percent without distractions. Complete answers to every question. When you completely finish the process, Upwork’s support team will ask to verify your information.
4. List Every Skill On Your Profile
When applying for the platform, Upwork weighs supply versus demand on the site. The platform may reject your profile claiming there aren’t enough opportunities for your combination of skills and the work categories you’ve selected.
To prevent this from happening, tell Upwork as much information as possible about your skills and capabilities. This step proves you’re open to different work on the platform. It enables them to judge you against a larger pool of applicants.
5. Don’t Undersell Your Skills
Just because you don’t have a lot of freelancing experience doesn’t mean that you have no experience. If you had a prior job with an employer in your field, select intermediate or expert, even if you’re just starting out as a freelancer. You may select a higher level of experience if you have volunteered with organizations or done projects for others.
6. Treat your Profile as a Resume
Many recruiters will instantly reject a resume if they spot a single typo. Take your profile on Upwork just as seriously Carefully proofread your profile to see if there are any spelling or grammatical mistakes. Spend a few moments making sure proper nouns (like companies, organizations, etc;) are capitalized.
If you aren’t the greatest editor, you can use tools like ProWritingAid, Grammarly, or the spellchecker in a word processing program.
7. Join the Platform through an Upwork Client or an Agency
You can join the platform through Upwork’s Bring Your Own Talent (BYOT) Program if you have a client that wants to hire you. The platform allows clients to hire freelancers that aren’t members of the site. Once you sign up, the client will send you a contract. Upwork will assign you to the company’s team after you sign it. Find out how to complete the process on this page.
You can also join the platform through agencies. These freelancer teams already have a presence on Upwork. The platform will activate your profile immediately when you accept the invitation to join an agency.
8. Create a Specialized Profile
Another key step you can take to get our profile accepted is to research skills that clients need. After you find your target area, get the required training. After you master it, you can create a specialized profile for the freelance field you want to enter. Specialized profiles improve your chances of getting accepted by Upwork. The platform will also pair you with clients looking for your specific skill. Learn how to create a specialized profile on this page.
9. Appeal Your Rejection
Was your profile rejected? You can appeal your case to Upwork’s customer support, who will give you suggestions to improve it. Once you make changes, resubmit it. To learn how to reapply for Upwork, visit this page.
10. My Profile Was Still Rejected. Now What?
If all else fails and Upwork doesn’t accept your profile, you can still seek a successful freelancing career by getting clients outside the platform. You can cold-call customers or send out query letters to local companies for jobs.
Are you a freelancer just starting out in the business? You can read Freelance Mojo for more tips to help you succeed on Upwork and other platforms.