Global collaboration in pooling resources is a relatively new concept. Today, businesses and organisations have the option of outsourcing talent for their projects. Connectivity, especially digital communication and the internet, has made it possible for businesses to gain access to an even bigger global network of professionals. This has been a beneficial phenomenon for skilled freelancers willing to sell their skills to a global market. There are many avenues accessible online for connecting the prospective employers and freelancers, and among these is Upwork.
Introducing Upwork
Upwork, formerly known as oDesk, is one of the veteran freelancing websites in the world of freelancing. It has been in existence for a long term. It has recently brought together two of the bigger freelance websites; Elance and oDesk to become one company under the name Upwork. Like many other freelancing websites, Upwork has an interface of connecting clients with freelancers. Clients sign up to the website and are able to post their projects, while freelancers bid to get these projects. The bidding model is a familiar concept for freelancers. Freelancers are paid after completion of these projects through a variety of means available for them to choose from.
Initial Process
Freelancers at Upwork have the benefit of building up their portfolios by working with different clients on different projects. A freelancer, during the initial sign up process is required to come up with a good portfolio that clearly indicates their experiences, expertise and the skills they possess. For instance, there are categories for different kinds of skills like content writing and IT fields like web development, software development and mobile app development, and the freelancer is expected to state their expertise comprehensively. Upwork predominantly features a model of building trust between the clients and freelancers by encouraging freelancers to have a sufficiently loaded profile, as well as the average rating and feedback from previously completed projects.
Benefits of Working at Upwork
- Availability of Projects – Freelancers at Upwork are guaranteed to always find something to do. With the merger of two big freelancing websites, this convenience of finding projects has become even more prevalent. The bidding process is also fair and a freelancer has a good chance of getting paid in reasonable terms.
- Flexibility – There are a variety of options available at Upwork in terms of communication between the client and the freelancers. The modes of payment are also quite adequate and this is always a welcome opportunity for freelancers. Freelancers also have avenues of communicating with the staff at Upwork in case of any challenges, and conflicts are usually resolved in a timely fashion.
- Growth – Freelancers looking to polish their skills have a good chance of working with different clients at Upwork and in the process adding up experience and value to their portfolios. Working with global clients is also adequate exposure to different modes of organisational operations in the global market.
Challenges at Upwork
As is always the case, the great benefits come with the equally great competition. One of the challenges that freelancers face at Upwork is the possibility of working with clients who may have unrealistic expectations. Like any other type of work, the experience of working with different clients differs a lot and sometimes it is possible to have to work with clients who have a very high expectation and who may not be willing to be flexible or make reasonable compromises. This can be a hurdle to freelancers as it becomes a challenge when working on a project.
Concluding Remarks
Upwork has more than 4 million clients looking for freelancers through their platform, so if you are a freelancer you have good chance of selling your skills at avenues like Upwork. In addition, there is a wide range of tasks you can do so there is an opportunity for all types of professionals. The challenges are there but with the right attitude and professionalism, Upwork is a very viable option for budding freelancers. Learn more about Upwork through their Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook pages.
Recommended Project Management Software
If you’re interested in learning more about top rated project management software, the editors at Project-Management.com actively recommend the following:
1 monday.com
monday.com Work OS is the project management software that helps you and your team plan, execute, and track projects and workflows in one collaborative space. Manage everything from simple to complex projects more efficiently with the help of visual boards, 200+ ready-made templates, clever no-code automations, and easy integrations. In addition, custom dashboards simplify reporting, so you can evaluate your progress and make data-driven decisions.
2 ClickUp
ClickUp is one of the highest-rated project management tools today. Use Docs, Reminders, Goals, Calendars, Chat, scheduling, assigned comments, custom views, & more with this all-in-one project management tool.
Used by 800,000+ teams in companies like Airbnb, Google, and Uber, it brings all of your projects into a single app! Built for teams of all sizes and industries, Our fully customizable & proprietary features make it a must-have for anyone wanting to keep project management in one place.
3 Wrike
Tackle complex projects with Wrike’s award-winning project management software. Break projects into simple steps, assign tasks to team members, and visualize progress with Gantt charts, Kanban boards, and calendars. Manage resource allocation and forecasting with software that’s easy to launch. Automation and AI features strip away time-consuming admin tasks so you can do the best work of your life. Streamline your practices, align your team, and ensure you hit deadlines and stay on budget.
