Being able to land your first gig on Upwork can be a struggle. Personally, it took me four months to land my first job because I didn’t know how to attract clients or stand out from seasoned freelancers with tons of great reviews.

I’ve grown to be one of the top-earning freelancers on Upwork, with over $670,000 earned across 123 jobs with numerous five-star reviews. My success started when I won that first job.

If you are struggling to get your first job on Upwork but want know what it takes to be a successful freelancer, continue reading my ultimate Upwork guide to help you land your first gig!

Disclaimer

I am not a financial advisor. You are responsible for your own financial decisions. This content is for educational and informational purposes only. Please only invest what you’re willing to lose, and be sure to do your own research beyond reading one article on the internet.

The post may contain referral links and I earn a small commission if you choose to use them at no additional cost to you. In some cases, I have locked in exclusive deals for you.

Learn Freelance Skills That Are In-Demand

Tons of skills can be valuable on Upwork. However, each skill holds a different earning potential and demand. For example, I make $125/hour on SQL (Structured Query Language) DBA and SQL Development projects. This niche is a skill set that pays well over six figures. However, if your skill set is in data entry, your pay is limited because it’s not considered a high-paying skill.

If you want to know the earning potential of a skill set or find what is in-demand, conduct a search on the Upwork platform. As I always tell my Patreons, doing this can help you find the earning potential of your desired skill.

By studying the profile of freelancers who have the highest earnings, job success scores, and great reviews, you can learn which jobs will make you money and what skills won’t be worth the effort. The skill you choose should have a combination of demand, high earnings, and skill enjoyment. This trio will dramatically increase your earning potential while allowing you to work in a field you care about.

You’ll need to put in the work every day to become successful in your chosen field. Tons of freelancers earn well over six figures a year. If that’s your goal or ambition, then you can get there with consistent hard work.

Provide Examples of Your Work

Clients want to know that they can trust you to deliver the services they need. When a client views your profile, or clicks on your job proposal, they are searching for examples or reasons why you would be the best fit for their project. If you can’t provide proof that you can meet the expectations they need, they’ll skip your profile for someone who will.

To stand out from the competition, make sure to provide examples of your work in the profile overview, portfolio section of your profile, and cover letter. Write everything in a way that offers a solution to your client’s issues instead of focusing on your years of experience. Focus on the client, not yourself.

If you are completely new to your skill and don’t have previous work experience, then you will need to be creative and find ways to gain experience. If this means that you’ll need to find sample projects online and complete them, then do it. I wouldn’t hire a freelancer who couldn’t provide examples of their work, and Upwork clients won’t either if they’re looking for a great return on investment.

Be Client-Centric Through Your Profile Language 

In your profile, portfolio, and cover letters, focus on being client-centric. Instead of focusing on yourself, focus on what you can do for your clients. While profiles follow a typical pattern of resumes, such as showcasing accomplishments, years of experience, or educational backgrounds, they’re not focusing on providing value to potential customers.

Your Upwork Profile is more than a resume. It’s a mechanism for you to connect with clients before you even speak to them. Become client-centric by providing value from the start through your profile, portfolio, and cover letters.

Hire a Freelancer To Experience Client Perspective

If you want to know what your clients want or need, hire a freelancer to help you with a project. This could be anything from a significant website re-design to a small copywriting task.

Once you’ve hired a freelancer to complete your task, you’ll immediately be placed in the client’s perspective. I can tell you from experience that it makes a massive difference when you understand what the client sees from their perspective.

Be Active On The Upwork Platform

The more time that you put into something, the more you get out of it. When you’re a new freelancer, you won’t be getting many job invites from clients right away. It would be best if you were consistently active in your job search process, especially since new jobs are posted on Upwork constantly, with a considerable amount of them getting filled quickly.

The more you search for jobs that fit your skillset, the better chance you will obtain your first job. When you choose not to search for jobs because it’s too time-consuming or you are frustrated by not getting interviews, you’re letting opportunities pass right by you onto someone else who’s more active and persistent.

According to Upwork, “By regularly submitting proposals and being active on the site, you increase your chances of being included on Upwork search results.” This means that you can increase your chances of showing up in search results simply from being active on Upwork.

When you are procrastinating, someone else in the world is choosing to put in the hard work. They know that hard work and consistency will result in their first job on Upwork. Don’t let them outwork you. Put the time in and be active so that you will have so many job invites and long-term clients that you will never need to search for jobs in the future.

Find the Best Jobs and Submit Eye-Catching Cover Letters

As a new freelancer on Upwork, the main thing that you’re missing is client reviews and feedback. Experienced freelancers have tons of reviews and feedback to help gain client confidence. Since you don’t have that yet, you must be creative.

You also need to feel comfortable using advanced search and writing eye-catching cover letters. New freelancers waste so many Upwork connects because they focus on the wrong jobs.

Nail the Introduction Call

Getting an interview is only half the battle. The way you portray yourself and speak during the introduction call is even more critical. While many freelancers focus on getting interviews with clients, they don’t think about what they are going to say when they get on a call with a client.

The introduction call is your chance to lock in the client. Be professional, get yourself ready, dress appropriately, and have a positive attitude. If you get on a call and look or sound disinterested, then the client will be disinterested in you. Be positive, be engaging, smile while telling the client how you will solve their problems and make their life better.

Be Selective In Your Job Search

The most successful freelancers on Upwork are also the most selective. Just because someone offers you your first job doesn’t mean you should accept it right away. As important as it is to get your first job on Upwork, the job’s outcome is more important.

You want to set yourself up for long-term success and build your reputation. Starting with a 5-star review and great feedback is critical to building client confidence in you.

Find Your First Upwork Job With Patience and Determination

Your skillset and talent will only take you so far in the freelancing world. You could be the most talented person in your skill area, but if you lack motivation and a strong work ethic, you will always be held back from achieving your full potential.

Your consistency, work ethic, and resilience are so critical to land your first Upwork job. While most freelancers give up right away and think that freelancing or the Upwork platform is not for them, if they would have been patient and worked hard consistently, this may have had a completely different outcome.

We are in the age of remote work. With Upwork consistently leading as the most prominent freelance platform, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to take control of your life, salary, and job flexibility. Apply the tips you’ve learned today to become successful on the Upwork platform and book your first job.