Get Your First Job on Upwork (with This ONE Thing)

Are you an aspiring freelancer who’s having a tough time getting that first job on Upwork? Do you keep submitting proposals but getting nothing in return - no responses, no interviews, no jobs?

Well you can relax - because for most beginning freelancers getting that first job on Upwork is quite difficult. I know because I’ve been there. Yep, I was you six years ago - completely starting from scratch (no previous clients, no portfolio, no paid gigs, no testimonials, and no reviews)

But since then…I’ve earned over $800,000 on Upwork ($400,000 of which was earned in just the last two years), have a hundred percent job success score and an “Expert Vetted” badge on my profile.

So how did I get my first clients on Upwork - and more importantly - how can you start experiencing freelancer success too?

It all starts with the right strategy. And this strategy starts with one word (something many other beginning freelancers overlook)... PROOF. But here’s the big question almost every beginning freelancer asks me…

‘Chad, how do I get proof of my skills when I’ve never had a single client?’ My answer? You don’t need a paid freelance gig to demonstrate credible proof of your abilities.

Obtaining proof as a ‘visual’ freelancer…

You see, if you work in any visual freelance skill (photos, videos, writing, graphic design…etc.), not only can you obtain solid proof of your skills without any paying clients, but it’s fairly easy to do it.

For example, when I first started out with zero clients, I included in my upwork proposals examples of videos I’d just edited for fun but which still demonstrated the skills I had.

This simple strategy won me my first jobs and set me on the path to where I am now - $800,000+ in Upwork earnings (you can learn more about this by downloading my free eBook, 8 Steps To Building a Successful Freelance Business (While Supporting a Family)).

Your proof can come in 2 forms…

The first form is the above mentioned visual or physical proof - i.e. actual work samples. And the second is social proof through testimonials and/or Upwork reviews. Now the best way to get Upwork clients is to have both types - but even if you just have one form, you can absolutely get clients (it might just take you a bit longer).

Here’s a few ways to get proof (for those in physical or visual services):

✅ Do one or two small projects for free (off upwork)  - yes, there are plenty of clients happy to get free work in exchange for a positive review. You can then add that review to your upwork portfolio and include in your proposals 

✅ Do a project for a friend, family member, or colleague (through Upwork if possible) - After all, a good review is a good review (and it’s not like anyone will know your relationship with the person)

✅ Create your own project - This might not get you a testimonial/review, but it will be a legitimate demonstration of your skills - and in many cases that will be enough to get you going

But what about obtaining proof if you want to freelance as a consultant?

So most freelancers start out as technicians or creatives, and then at some point they  might want to eventually become a strategic consultant. And as with freelancers providing visual or physical services, the key to winning your first clients as a consultant is obtaining proof of results.. Which is exactly how things played out for me.

You see, during the first few years of my Upwork freelance career working exclusively as a video editor, I saw how my videos were helping the businesses I worked with grow, increase sales, and build a bigger audience.

This got me thinking about adding strategic consulting to my freelance services. And when I decided to take the plunge, even though I hadn’t technically worked as a consultant, I did have proof of my success as a video editor (graphs pulled from YouTube Analytics, Google Analytics and other key performance indicators such as boosting website traffic) which showed how I’d helped their audience grow over time.

I then took this data and created a pdf which I could now include in my Upwork portfolio and as an attachment to proposals I sent out.

Remember, it’s simply about showing the client you know what you’re doing…

Ultimately, the key to a beginning freelancer’s success is to relax, maintain a constructive attitude and to understand landing your first Upwork job isn’t luck or a magic trick. This means understanding the client is taking on risk by hiring you. And the way to reduce that risk in the client’s mind?

Simple; demonstrate you know what you’re doing. So take the time in the beginning to step back and create a portfolio of proof. You might have to dig for it - and you’ll definitely have to work for it. But the rewards to building your own successful freelance career are absolutely worth it.

Believe me, I know.

Ready to land the best Upwork jobs for beginners and start building a 5, 6, or even 7-figure freelance career?

Then if this article has been helpful to you and you’d like more educational freelance business-building content like this, be sure to visit and subscribe to my Freelance Family Man YouTube channel (over 400+ informative and actionable videos with new content weekly), plus…

…you can download my free book, 8 Steps To Building a Successful Freelance Business (While Supporting a Family), right here at freelancefamilyman.com

Good luck and I look forward to helping you achieve success in your freelance business.