Thus far this year, I’ve hired four freelancers via Upwork. Here are a few lessons I’ve learned:
1. It’s Cheap, but Don’t Be Cheap Yourself
The beauty of Upwork is the competitive prices: What I would pay a freelancer here in Washington $2,500 for instead costs $1,000.
But beware of those whose English is less than fluent. You’ll be communicating about technical issues via writing, so it’s important that nuances are understood.
Indeed, the best hires I’ve made tend to be among the most expensive. As always, you get what you pay for.
2. Grill Applicants
Evaluating candidates is tricky. My method: I write up a detailed list of my specifications for the project, then ask each freelancer to respond to each point with a question or comment. If someone can’t follow instructions while they’re “interviewing,” then it’s unlikely they’ll be easy to work with after you hire them.
If they can, then I recommend asking a follow-up question or two. Engage each applicant in a dialogue to see how quickly and thoroughly they respond. See if you’ll be working with multiple people, or just one.
These back-and-forths are how you interview people when you can’t meet them or chat on the phone.
3. Beware of the Fees
Upwork charges you a 3% fee. So if you hire someone for $500, Upwork charges you $515. Upwork doesn’t make this as clear as they should — and they also charge freelancers a percentage. (What a lucrative business model.)
4. Treat Reviews Seriously
The reviews you leave for freelancers is as important as the reviews they leave for you.
When I first used the site several years ago, the person I hired missed the (repeatedly extended) deadline and delivered a product that didn’t work. Her work was shoddy and her promises to fix it were hollow.
I ended up filing a dispute, which I won. But we both left negative feedback for each other, and since then, other freelancers have asked me about this review.
The bottom line: To make the most out of Upwork, you need to be specific and patient. If you’re hands-on, the site can be a goldmine. I look forward to making additional hires.
