Corporate stress is real. Statistics from the website of Spill reveal a shocking truth: around 120,000 deaths each year – yes, each year! – in the United States are caused by work-related stress. Furthermore, 17 million sick days yearly are lost because of work-related stress, anxiety, and depression.
Due to this, 42 percent of employees have quit their jobs to find new ones, blaming it on the stresses at work, a Forbes story shows. But you cannot just leave your job on a whim. What will happen to your family? To your future?
So, thought leaders have found a compromise. In the 1970s, the concept of remote work or “telecommuting” came about, or being able to earn like a regular office worker but working from home. It is interesting to know that the work-from-home setup actually started decades ago since it seems its popularity is only flourishing now. You’ll need a job listing platform to find a viable job. For remote work, the top choice isn’t Indeed. While there may be remote job opportunities on Indeed, your best bet is to head to platforms like Upwork. According to Upwork reviews, is this the ideal option?
Established in 2013 and presently headquartered in Campbell, California, Upwork has helped hundreds of thousands of clients find freelancers to perform their assigned tasks. However, Upwork has been overtaken by its competitors, primarily because of its policy changes and updates. For instance, if you could apply an unlimited number of times on Upwork before, now you need a certain number of credits to qualify to apply on Upwork.
Thus, freelancers are asking: is Upwork still a viable option today, or has it lost its luster? Let’s embark on an evaluation journey in this review.
Spotlight on Upwork
Upwork is a job listing platform, but it won’t invite you to an interview where you need to dress up in smart casual attire and travel to the office building where it will take place. Rather, it is a marketplace for freelancers in fields such as web design and development, marketing, writing, computer coding, graphic design, and so much more. Clients and freelancers can sign up for their accounts to find workers and find work, respectively. Then, get paid, of course.
The Way Upwork Works
Upwork is incredibly easy to use. Whether you need to find value for yourself or extra income for your family, you can log in to your Upwork account, like your Facebook account, and then find jobs, whether project-basis, part-time, or full-time.
The platform has features, such as messaging features, where your potential client, the independent contractors, can set up interviews and tests with you, should these be necessary.
The tool is for all, unlike other specialized freelance job listing platforms, such as 99designs for designers and websites exclusively for remote entertainment workers.
However, today, Upwork has already changed drastically. Several users report that they are receiving fewer and fewer responses from employees day by day. There is also a required credit amount or Connects before you can apply. In other words, these credits are not for free and must be purchased to apply to more jobs. You are only given a limited number of credits per day, and you’ll have to wait until the credit fills out again.
Upwork’s Primary Features
Upwork functions on the following main features:
Job Matching and Email Job Alerts
Upwork uses an algorithm to match freelancers looking for jobs with work that aligns with their skills and experiences. You can either filter your search to find jobs that match your skills or toggle on the Job Alerts feature so you get notifications in your email about which jobs are right for you.
Profiles and Proposals
Take this as your resume, or like your Facebook profile that zooms in on work experiences and is viewed by possible employers. Thus, you must create an enticing profile on Upwork. There are tabs where you can showcase your skills, previous work, and even your certifications. This
way, you will never need to repeat yourself when applying for each job manually.
Connects
Otherwise known as the credits to be eligible to apply, Upwork’s Connects feature is perhaps the most controversial feature of all. It was not present before since freelancers can apply unlimited times. Now, each job requires a specific amount of Connects to accept your application. Some jobs have less, and some have more. The platform won’t let your application go through when your Connects runs out. You’ll have to wait until your Connects replenish, just like when your video game character waits for the health bar to be whole again.
Guaranteed Payments
While you and your employer, once you get hired, can agree on a payment method that works for the two of you, your employer may also decide to pay you directly via the Upwork platform. Generally known as the Escrow service, you are given a “bank” on the website to withdraw your earnings to your real bank account.
Reports and Tracking
Upwork will never leave you hanging and gaping. Freelancers can track their earnings, work history, client feedback, and timesheets. This way, you get more control of your work. You also can provide evidence if the employer questions you before compensation time.
Customer Support
That being said, Upwork is a legitimate platform with a reliable support team that can answer your questions. Do you have questions about payments or navigating the platform? You can chat with the human support team, submit a ticket, or participate in the Community forum.
Promising features, right? Upwork is also known for its systematic messaging features, learning resources, and skills tests to ensure employers hire the right workers.
What Are The Downsides?
Despite the beauty of its features, Upwork isn’t a perfect job-hunting platform for freelancers. Here’s why:
- If you’re looking for a platform where you can apply for jobs today and get hired within the week you applied, then Upwork isn’t for you. Unlike before, there has been lots of waiting time on Upwork before a potential client responds. The reasons could be the requirement for a certain number of Connects and the competition. A job can literally have hundreds of applicants.
- Upwork is also not the perfect platform for you if you want to maximize the earnings you’ll get from clients. Like seriously? Not at its very point, but this is since Upwork earns a share wherever you earn, so you don’t get the full amount the client pays if both of you decide to process payments within the website. It’s like working in an agency. The solution is to agree that you get paid elsewhere, though PayPal also has exorbitant fees.
- Unfortunately, scams have made their way onto the platform, which is a blunder in Upwork’s security policies.
The Verdict: Is Upwork For You?
While those cons are true, even if you ask those who have been looking for jobs on Upwork for so long, the benefits and perks overshadow them. Upwork is still Upwork. It’s like choosing a Louis Vuitton bag over one you can find on public markets. To think Upwork has lost its luster really depends on the job situation you are finding yourself in.
