When it comes to applying for jobs online, your UpWork profile is your first impression. Just like a resume, a strong UpWork profile showcases your skills, experience, and accomplishments. But unlike a resume, an UpWork profile also allows you to give potential clients a taste of your personality and work style.
Creating an UpWork profile is free and only takes a few minutes. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to www.UpWork.com and click Sign up in the upper-right corner of the page.
- Enter your email address and create a password, then click Continue.
- On the next page, enter your first and last name, then click Continue.
- On the following page, you’ll be asked to fill out your profile information. Be sure to complete all fields marked with a red asterisk (*), as these are required in order to create an account.
- When you’re done, click Save & Continue at the bottom of the page.
- You will be taken to your Dashboard, where you can begin creating your profile by clicking the Edit Profile button on the right side of the screen.
Your profile is divided into six sections:
- Overview
- Skills & Endorsements
- Employment History & Feedback
- Education & Certification
- Writing Samples
- Portfolio
The Overview and Skills & Endorsements sections are where you’ll really sell yourself to potential clients. These are the first things they’ll see when they visit your profile, so it’s important to make a good impression.
In the Overview section, you can write a summary of who you are and what you do.
This is similar to an objective or summary statement on a resume. Be sure to focus on your most relevant skills and experience here.
The Skills & Endorsements section is where you can list your specific skills and add endorsements from other users attesting to your expertise.
To add skills:
1. Click Add Skill on the right side of the Skills & Endorsements section.
2. Start typing in the name of the skill you wish to add; UpWork will suggest relevant skills as you type.
3. Select the skill from the list that appears.
4. If prompted, select how confident you are in that skill on a scale of 1-5.
5. Click Save.
To add endorsements:
1) Scroll down to the Skills & Endorsements section of your profile.
2) Find the skill you want to endorse and hover over it.
3) Click Add Endorsement.
4) In the popup box that appears, select how confident you are in that skill on a scale of 1-5.
5) Click Save.
Employment History & Feedback
In this section, you can add previous jobs and projects as well as client feedback.
To add employment history:
1) Scroll down to the Employment History & Feedback section of your profile.
2) Click Add Employment History on the right side of the page.
3) In the popup box that appears, enter information about your previous job or project.
4) When you’re finished, click Save Entry.
To add client feedback:
1) Scroll down to the Employment History & Feedback section of your profile.
2) Find the job or project for which you want to add feedback and click Add Feedback next to it.
3a) If you have an UpWork contract ID for that job or project: Enter the contract ID in the popup box that appears and click Verify Contract ID.
(OR)
3b) If you don’t have an UpWork contract ID: Select I don’t have one next to “Can’t find contract?” in the popup box that appears and then follow the instructions provided.
(THEN)
4a) If prompted: Verify that you’re providing feedback for the Correct Client.
Select Yes if so; otherwise, select No (you will be able to return later).
(OR)
4b) If not prompted about the Correct Client? : Select Leave Feedback for Client at the top right of the next page that appears (after verifying the client).
5a) If prompted about Star Rating: Indicate level of satisfaction with work performed by selecting Stars from 1 (lowest satisfaction/poor work quality) – 5 (highest satisfaction/excellent work quality). Then click Submit Rating at the bottom left of the next page that appears (after selecting stars).
5b) If not prompted about Star Rating:: Indicate the level of satisfaction by writing a comment in the text box provided then click Submit at the bottom left corner next page that appears (after writing the comment).
Education & Certification
“Section lets include details about education/degrees received as well professional certifications achieved.”
Writing Samples
“This optional section allows showcase writing ability by linking samples of previously published work.”
“If don’t have any published writing samples can upload a Word document file instead.”
Portfolio
“This final optional showcase previous work completed.”
“If don’t have any files can link the website URL instead.”
To save changes made in each section click Update Profile button at the bottom right corner screen.”
