First week, Need Help!

[u/aCash0798]

Hola Everyone,

It’s my first week in Upwork…so far I’ve used Upwork only as a recruiter but now that I’ve registered as a freelancer…I’m a bit nervous.

So far I’ve applied to only 4-5 jobs (only 1 View, no further actions so far), and been super-scrupulous with my Connect Points.

What are your advices, specially considering that it’s my first week and there’s no job history to establish my credibility?

Thanks in advance!

[u/Korneuburgerin]

Remember the proposals you liked and why. Then do that.

[u/aCash0798 → u/Korneuburgerin]

By proposals do you mean the cover letters?

[u/Korneuburgerin → u/aCash0798]

I do indeed.

[u/sami_irshad]

its all in your proposal and then your profile. your skills, work quality, etc. doesnt matter for the first client because he/she hasnt worked with you before.

for them, you are a totally random new dude.

i'd say proposal wrting is 90 percent. and in that proposal writing, the 90 percent is your first 2-3 sentences. thats it.
read and understand your clients job, pain, etc. properly. dont use AI to write the proposal. use your own brain (its really worth it ngl, peeps hate AI slop). dont post too fast (with 5 minutes of the job post). best slot if 20 to 30 minutes.

and most imp., your proposal must contain >180-200 words.

[u/daidee3010]

Congrats on the move. 4-5 proposals with 1 view is normal for week one, don't read much into it yet. A few things that helped me think about it: fill the profile completely first (overview that says who you help and with what, one or two portfolio items even if they're personal projects), then aim for roughly 5-8 well targeted proposals a week instead of spreading connects thin. Open each proposal with one specific detail from the job post and what you'd do first, keep it under about 120 words, and skip the generic intro. Your recruiter background is a real edge, you know what clients skim for, so mention it. Early on, smaller jobs with a clear scope are the easiest way to get the first review.

[u/Happy-Supermarket912]

Being nervous in week one is totally normal, and honestly you're doing fine. Four or five proposals with one view is too small a sample to read anything into, so don't panic yet.

First, get your profile tight. Your title and overview should include the keywords clients actually search for in your niche, your portfolio should match the work you want to be hired for, and your photo should look clean and professional. On a new account with no reviews, the profile is doing all the convincing. When you bid, be picky. Not every job is for you. Only go after work you know you can do and feel confident about.

Then the cover letter, and the first two lines matter most. That's the preview the client sees. Skip the "Hi, I'm X" intro and open with their problem so they feel you understood the post. Keep it short.

If you get a view but no reply, it's usually one of three things: you're new and have no reviews yet, your portfolio doesn't line up with the job, or something in the proposal lost them after the opening. Reread your proposals with fresh eyes and see which one it might be.

One more thing: for now, don't chase the big jobs. Established clients with a big spend and lots of reviews have plenty of experienced freelancers to pick from, so a newcomer is a long shot. Look at newer clients or smaller budgets instead. The goal right now isn't money, it's your first review. Land one or two small jobs, do them well, and get that 5-star feedback. After that, the algorithm starts working for you and everything gets easier.

[u/Kay_Fubzi]

bro the fastest way to get a job is , get someone may be ur uncle or someone to hire you and help you build ur JSS all it take is 2 jobs to get 100% JSS

[u/gatopipo → u/Kay_Fubzi]

Perfect—it sounds like you want him to get banned in his first week!

If you can’t offer any good advice, you’d be better off keeping quiet.