I was almost 30 years old in 2006 and had spent way too much of my adult life doing things the “traditional way”. It was drilled into me from a young age by my parents that college and a job with a good company were my keys to becoming successful. I graduated college on time and then worked a respectable, yet low-paying government job for a while. Saddled with college debt and barely making enough to pay my bills, I kept a second job for years to stay afloat. At 25 years old, I was accepted into an out-of-state graduate program in psychology. I was quite happy to be immersed again in school and student life, but it didn’t get me any closer to quantifiable success. At 29, I was working as a research assistant at a prestigious university medical center and was still barely scraping by. My job looked good on paper, but I was broke all the time. My mind was often somewhere else.
Still searching for something better, I auditioned for and was hired as a singer in a nightclub out of state. Less than a week later, I packed up my things and left town once again. I had dreamt of being a singer since I was a little girl and had trained for that for a very long time. However, it turned out that musician life was not as wonderful as I had envisioned. Within a couple of months, I was jobless. My feminist principles had gotten the best of me and didn’t bode well in my favor as a female working in a male-dominated field. Back then, men were treated more favorably and paid better for the same work. I can only hope that at least some progress has been made since then.
So, there I was unemployed, living in the middle of nowhere, out of place and without any sort of support system. I was broke again and couldn’t return to the home I had recently left. I knew that I needed to work to survive, but I was tired of working for other people. I hated having to report to work every day and I despised the financial limitations that were involved with that arrangement. It felt like I was always just working to get by. I wanted to work when I wanted to work and for whom I wanted to work. More importantly, I wanted to make my own rules. For many years, I had felt like I wanted to start my own business but had not had the courage to take the risk. Being that I had nothing and had nothing to lose, it felt like a great time to jump in.
Freelancing through Upwork
Feeling desperate, I started researching legitimate work-from-home opportunities. I know this is a pretty common thing now, but you must keep in mind that this was early 2007. Back then, working remotely was not something many people were doing yet, mainly because nobody had figured out how. There was a lot of garbage to sort through, but I eventually found myself looking at freelancing websites. One of them called Elance (now Upwork) stuck out to me.
Upwork (then known as Elance) was the biggest and most reputable freelancing site back then. It still is today, and it has grown exponentially since I started using it many years ago. Simply put, the Upwork platform allows clients who need work done to post a job along with a description and all other specifics. Freelancers then bid for the project or hourly work. The client then hires the best freelancer for the job. This may be the freelancer with the most experience, the one who just happens to fit the client’s budget, or the one who is exactly what they are looking for.
Unemployed and needing to start earning an income fast, I jumped in. I set up an Upwork account, created my profile, and started applying for work. I was hired for my first job quickly. While my first client experience was not great, my experiences were very positive after that.
I have worked for dozens of clients on Upwork since I started. Best of all, quite a few of the clients I first met there turned into amazing long-term clients. I still have a wonderful client I met on Upwork fifteen years ago!
Upwork Tips and Tricks
There are definitely some things on Upwork that you should watch out for. I recommend always starting work with a new client on Upwork and not outside of it. Many clients will try to get you to work for them directly right away, but that is not a good idea. I have been burned that way before by not getting paid, as have many others. Upwork has measures in place to protect you so that you will get paid if you work through the platform. Please take advantage of this.
When you search for work on Upwork, you will be able to learn a little bit about the client who has posted the job. It is best to choose clients who have verified payment versus those who do not because that means they are more serious about hiring. I also recommend choosing clients who have hired freelancers before on Upwork, because that means they are more likely to do so again. Finally, make sure to look at the client feedback rating. This is where other freelancers have rated the client. You can even read client reviews from other freelancers, which can be extremely helpful!
Upwork Fees
Upwork does charge a modest fee to freelancers who work through the platform. Don’t be too alarmed though, because they are taking the fee from the money that you make from clients. Currently, they charge a simpler fixed percentage service fee of 10% to all freelancers. This fee applies to all structures of freelance work on the platform. While this may seem like a lot, it is worth it to be able to source the work through them. I recommend just bidding 10% above what your rate would be so that it is automatically figured in.
Upwork requires freelancers to use their Connects system to bid on work. They have various plans available, including a basic plan that is free. You also have the option of purchasing a higher-level plan that will charge a monthly membership fee. Additional Connects are available for purchase as well. I feel that Upwork fees are reasonable and worth the expense, especially once you start making money through their platform.
Present Day
When I started freelancing through Upwork, I was unemployed, broke, and desperate. My life has changed a great deal since then, but freelancing still fits my lifestyle today. It has afforded me the ability to always be there for my kids without a second thought if they are sick, have something going on at school, or just need a mental health day. Freelancing allowed me to homeschool one of my kids when that was what she needed at the time. It’s also given me an additional part-time income on top of having a regular remote job with a company when I chose to have one.
Getting Started on Upwork
If you are looking for a legitimate way to make money from home or wherever else you want to be, I highly recommend freelancing. Upwork has been a great option for me for many years and I highly recommend that you check it out.
Get started on Upwork by clicking here.
