I Spent 30 Days Freelancing on Upwork

Summary

In this video, the creator reflects on their freelance programming experience on Upwork over 30 days. Initially skeptical, they struggled with low pay and job application costs. However, after several successful projects and positive reviews, they secured higher rates, eventually earning $503.84 for 19 hours of work. The creator acknowledges the grind of Upwork and suggests it as a supplementary tool for freelancers rather than a primary income source, emphasizing the platform's mixed reception and the importance of personal experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker tried freelancing on Upwork for 30 days and had a better outcome than expected.
• 📉 The first week was challenging, with initial low earnings and spending on job applications.
• 🌟 Receiving a five-star review after the first job helped in securing more work.
• 🎵 Worked on a simple music streaming app, earning $82.50 after the first week.
• 💰 The speaker initially felt Upwork wasn't worth the time due to low pay and application costs.
• 🔄 After the first week, a late proposal reply led to a better-paying project aligning with Apple's review guidelines.
• 📈 The speaker's earnings increased with each successful project and positive review.
• 🤝 A client appreciated the speaker's work and offered a higher rate after a negotiation.
• 💼 The speaker realized the value of quality work and direct client negotiations on Upwork.
• 🔢 Over 30 days, the speaker worked 19 hours and earned $503.80 before Upwork's fees, averaging $26 per hour.
• 🤔 The speaker concluded that Upwork is 'meh' - not the best but not the worst option for freelance developers.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial experience like on Upwork?

The speaker's first week on Upwork was rough, with multiple hours spent applying for jobs and a cost of $10 for the first interview that didn't go well.

How much did the speaker earn from their first job on Upwork, and what was the nature of the job?

The speaker earned $10 from their first job, which involved programming, and received a $5 tip after completion.

What impact did the five-star review from the first job have on the speaker's Upwork experience?

The five-star review helped the speaker land their first real gig, which was a more substantial project for $15.

How much did the speaker make after completing the music streaming app project, and what was the total for the first week?

The speaker made $82.50 after completing the music streaming app project, and the total earnings for the first week were $97.50.

What was the speaker's initial opinion of Upwork after their first week?

After the first week, the speaker was determined that Upwork wasn't worth their time due to the costs and low earnings from the first hourly contract.

What changed the speaker's perspective on Upwork after their first week?

The speaker received a late reply on a proposal for a job offer that led to a contract with better pay, which changed their perspective on Upwork.

What was the hourly rate for the second contract the speaker accepted on Upwork, and what was the project about?

The second contract had an hourly rate of $19, with the project focusing on getting a mobile app compliant with Apple's review guidelines.

How much did the speaker earn from the second contract, and what was their total earnings after two weeks on Upwork?

The speaker earned $164.67 from the second contract, and their total earnings after two weeks were not specified in the script.

What was the pivotal moment in the speaker's Upwork journey, and how did it change their perspective?

The pivotal moment was when a client offered them a contract at $50 per hour after successful completion of a project, which made the speaker realize the potential for higher earnings on the platform.

How much did the speaker earn from the contract with the higher rate of $50 per hour, and what was the total earnings for the 30-day period?

The speaker earned $241.67 from the contract at $50 per hour, and their total earnings for the 30-day period were $503.80 before Upwork's cuts, or $400 after.

What was the speaker's final opinion on Upwork after their 30-day experience?

The speaker's final opinion was that Upwork is a grind and not the best option for freelance developers in the United States, but it's not the worst either; they described it as 'meh'.

What advice does the speaker give to those considering using Upwork?

The speaker advises to sign up for Upwork and try it out to see if it can be a good source of income, but to also consider it as a supplement rather than the primary source of freelance work.