Upwork tips? Having trouble getting work on the platform

Tips & Tricks
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I apologize if this is off-topic for this forum.

I have been building almost daily on Repit for months, and now I am trying to get some work on Upwork. I have what I think is a nice looking portfolio of projects, but I can’t get any bites when I bid on jobs. In part, I imagine I am caught in the Catch-22 of “can’t get work because I don’t have any history/reviews, and I can’t get history/reviews because I can’t get any work”.

I anyone here has hung out a shingle on Upwork with success, I’d appreciate any tips! I’ve probably applied to 30 jobs at this point (all of which I have to pay for!) and not had a single reply back, let alone get hired.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts,
Dennis

2 Likes
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Hey Dennis, totally get what you mean, starting out on Upwork is the hardest part. What worked for us at Hashlogics was:

  • Niching down to one type of job instead of bidding on everything

  • Opening proposals with a specific question/observation about the client’s project (so they know you actually read it)

  • Taking on a few smaller jobs just to build reviews and trust

Here’s our profile if you want to take a look for ideas: https://upwork.com/ag/hlogics/

It feels slow at first, but once you get a couple of reviews, things start rolling. Keep at it!

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Thanks so much for the useful and encouraging feedback, much appreciated!

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You have an impressive profile by the way, I’d probably hire you guys. :wink:

1 Like
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just came across this chat today. @studio60 did you end up getting traction at upwork?

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Yeah, I must admit, it’s not a pleasant truth to say, but places like Upwork are filled with more scams than legitimate individuals seeking to secure and start gig jobs.

People mistakenly believe that Upwork is akin to platforms like Uber or Grubhub for DevOps. In reality, it’s more like a forum where you can waste your time, gain minimal traction, socialize, seek low-risk assistance, and gather ideas for marketing yourself to actual companies.

In that sense, it may have some value, as there might be hidden gems among the users. However, you must exercise extreme caution, as it’s plagued with AI scams and bots similar to Twitter (now X), Y, or Z (I can’t recall the exact name).

I don’t want to be criticized or booed for expressing my opinion. I’m simply sharing my personal experience.