I Tried Freelance Programming for a WEEK on Upwork
As the gig economy continues to grow, more and more people are turning to platforms like Upwork to find freelance work. With a background in programming and a desire to explore new job opportunities, I decided to try my hand at freelance programming for a week on Upwork. Here’s what I learned from my experience.
Day 1: Setting up my profile
The first step in my freelance programming journey was setting up a profile on Upwork. I carefully curated my portfolio, highlighting my relevant experience and skills. I also took the time to write a compelling bio that showcased my passion for programming and my dedication to delivering high-quality work.
Day 2-3: Applying for jobs
With my profile all set up, it was time to start applying for jobs. I quickly realized that competition on Upwork is fierce, with hundreds of other freelancers vying for the same opportunities. I spent hours customizing my proposals and tailoring them to each job posting, hoping to stand out from the crowd.
Day 4-5: Landing my first gig
After several days of applying for various programming projects, I finally received my first job offer. I was thrilled to have landed a gig, but I soon realized that the hard work had just begun. I spent the next couple of days communicating with the client, defining the scope of the project, and setting clear expectations for deliverables and timelines.
Day 6-7: Completing the project
With a tight deadline looming, I dedicated all my time and energy to completing the project. I worked long hours, troubleshooting issues and fine-tuning my code to meet the client’s requirements. Despite the challenges, I was proud of the final product I delivered and hoped that it would lead to positive feedback and future opportunities on Upwork.
Reflection:
My week-long experiment with freelance programming on Upwork was both exhilarating and demanding. I relished the freedom and flexibility that came with being my own boss, but I also grappled with the pressures of securing and delivering on projects within tight timelines. While I enjoyed the diversity of projects and the opportunity to work with clients from around the world, I also realized the importance of managing my time effectively and balancing work with self-care.
In conclusion, my experience on Upwork was eye-opening and has provided me with valuable insights into the world of freelance programming. As I continue to explore new opportunities in the gig economy, I will carry the lessons learned from this experience with me and strive to improve and grow as a freelance programmer.
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Dont waste your time on Upwork.
Wash your head buddy
Shafted? Most the world works harder jobs for less. Some people just need to live in poverty for a year
the trick is to create a job on the over side and pays yourself and give yourself 5 stars and a good review and bam you have more people going for you
why do i need to pay 10 dollars or other to get job
I'm an Upwork professional and getting this for your first week is exceptional. With no reviews/protfolio you're essentially an unskilled nobody in the eyes of clients, no matter what your education says.
You just gotta put in the time, do the cheap dirty work for a bit, avoid the problem clients and build up a decent set of reviews. Then once you're up there you can start competing for better rates, and eventually set your own rate and start demanding really high fees.
One thing is for sure, don’t bother trying to use up work without paying. You get no where.
EDIT
my comment was reflecting my experience during the pandemic. For 2 months I tried to get a gig and got nothing. This year I’ve done far better making $500 over 3 months. Which still sucks but far better than during lock downs.
I think we are going into a global recession as jobs are coming up very slowly
It’s a bullshit site just like fiverr is. Mostly packed with people from india offering cheap Labour, cheaper than what a road sweeper makes an hour in UK or America.
So all those other youtubers pushing a paid program to teach you how to get jobs on sites like upwork are basically running a scam. Good to know thanks.
Hello Kenny, yeah Upwork isn't worth it because of the 20% cut. I've also been to other freelancing websites and they aren't great either because of other that outbid you which is ridiculous.. Freelancing in my opinion is to help to solve problems by creating solutions and get paid. Bidding is just a big no; It demoralizes us freelancers. I have 4 years experience in HTML and CSS. I am just struggling to find my dream job to make amazing websites… You're video also taught me quite a bit too, thanks.
The reason Upwork is becoming a less popular site for freelancers is that Indians will do the for $10 per hour. So basically clients want cheap labour.
Really upsetting…Like if UpWork is that bad, then…like there is no hope for freelancing?
Could you suggest a better alternative?
You can either cast a net and hope to catch a fish in a pool with thousands of other fishermen, or you invest in your own pool and attract the fish to jump in. Choose the latter.
Guys, one big advantage he had is that he's famous on YouTube.
Don't expect your results to be similar to his.
The client knew that he's not a beginner.
It's so hard for a beginner to make money on Upwork.
Leave Upwork and find something else.
I think you should convert rates for corporate jobs vs. Upwork. Upwork is 20%, and while that's high, I'm certain your regular job is getting 70 -80% from your work. In the past, I did some contract IT work where I was paid $20hr and the client accidently showed me the contract they had with my company and they were charged $268hr. Needless to say I received an increase of $30hr after talking with my company. I bet after 10 gig you could have charged $100hr
Upwork sucks, bottom line… end of discussion. It’s exploitative to freelancers. Been on the platform for 3 years. Clients will burn you repeatedly in any way they can to get the cheapest price. Or just outright not pay you at all. Sure Upwork will pay you for your time if the client doesn’t, but if you get sharked into working overtime on a project a client could just decide to not pay for the overtime and Upwork will leave you shit out of luck. I’ve had more success locally, and even through using indeed contract work. Social media helps a lot as well. Find your own clients and you will make stronger client freelancer relationships that last longer, and you won’t have a greedy corporation breathing down your neck and taking 20% of your money. NEVER USE UPWORK
Bro the $10 guy having no respect for your time is gross. I've hired devs on upwork for over a year and would have added $100 for the 2 hours of wasting your time from my own stupidity. So frustrating to see ppl like that exist
I tried Upwork and couldn't get any project. If you don't have a good rating, nobody is going to look at your applications.
Dude QUIT DOING THIS SHIT! People spend years and thousands of dollars to educate themselves in computer science and software development to actually get paid fairly for their skills, these damn freelance sites only serve 1 purpose and that's screwing hard working people and devaluing their skills. It shouldn't even be legal.