People Say that First Job Is Always the Hardest

Let’s be honest — getting your first job on Upwork can feel like trying to open a locked door without the right key. You sign up, send a few proposals, and… silence. But don’t worry — every successful freelancer you admire started there too, so no worries.

The real truth is, the first job isn’t about luck. You might hear many or read about it stating that it is about luck, well let me tell you it’s about strategy, presentation, and consistency that you dedicate towards your work.

In this complete 2025 guide, you’ll learn the step-by-step process to land your first Upwork client, build your reputation, and set yourself up for long-term success as a freelancer.

Step 1: Set Up a Winning Upwork Profile

After you have created an account, before you apply for any job, your profile must sell your skills instantly at first glance. Think of it as your online resume and portfolio combined — it’s the first thing clients see, and first impressions matter – “First Impression is the Last Impression”, right?. So let me introduce you to some easy steps to set up a winning profile in Upwork.

A. Choose a Specific Niche

Upwork is filled with freelancers — the generalists struggle, but specialists win. For example, if you have a heart disease, would you prefer the general physician who has all the information about everything or the specialist who has the required info about the human heart and  has undergone training for it several times? Obviously the specialist. So, I would say Instead of saying “I do everything,” focus on a specific niche like:

“WordPress Landing Page Developer”

“Social Media Manager for Beauty Brands”

“Content Writer for SaaS Companies”

This helps clients immediately see that you’re the right fit for their project and will filter you out from the others, all-rounders etc.

B. Use a Professional Profile Photo

A clear, smiling headshot builds trust. No group photos, Avoid selfies or blurry backgrounds, it makes your profile poor and unprofessional. Your photo should say: “I’m approachable, reliable, and ready to work.”

C. Write a Powerful Headline

Your headline should show what you do, how you will be of help to them and what value you bring forward to them. Keep it short and catchy, just like this one.

Example:

“Email Marketing Expert | Helping Businesses Boost Conversions with High-Performing Campaigns”

D. Craft a Strong Overview (Bio)

Your bio is where you convince clients you can solve their problem right there.
Structure it this way:

a. Introduction: Who you are & what you do or how you can be of great help to them.

b. Value Proposition: How your skills help clients. For authenticity you can do different courses and show your certificates so that the client gets convinced that you are the right one to take over.

c. Proof: Mention experience or projects. If you are a beginner, no prior projects you have worked on, no worries. Just be the real you. Many have started this way and you can too by keeping the consistency and following up on jobs regularly or follow step 2.

d. Call to Action: Invite them to contact you. Check the below example for reference.

Example:

I’m a certified digital marketer with 3+ years of experience helping small businesses grow their online sales. I’ve created email campaigns that boosted conversions by 40% for startups in the eCommerce and SaaS space.

Let’s discuss how I can help your brand get real results!

Step 2: Build a Portfolio — Even Without Clients

You might think: “I haven’t worked with any prior projects or clients yet — what do I show?”
That’s okay. Here’s the secret: you can create a portfolio from self-initiated projects too.

A. Create Samples Yourself

If you’re a writer — write some blog samples.
If you’re a designer — create a few mock logos.
If you’re a developer — build small demo websites.

Clients care about proof of skill, not whether you were paid for it. Interesting right?

B. Use Free Portfolio Platforms

Host your works on the following platforms:

a. Behance (for design related)

b. GitHub (for coding related)

c. Google Docs / Medium (for writing samples)

Then link them to your Upwork portfolio. This will enhance your portfolio and will yield better results for you.

C. Add Results & Context

Every portfolio item should at least answer the following questions to be clear, this helps the clients to filter out the best portfolios and take them onboard.

a. What was the goal?

b. What tools did you use?

c. What result did you achieve?

Example:

“Designed a landing page using Figma for a startup — increased conversions by 35%.”

Step 3: Write Proposals That Actually Get Read

Your proposal is like your “first message” to a potential client — and 90% of freelancers fail here by sounding robotic. Some even do not read the requirements and just jump to draft their proposals. You can get ideas from below lines but try your own, take these lines just as a format or reference.

Here’s a structure that works:

A. Start With a Personalized Hook

Mention something specific from their job post:

“Hi Sarah, I noticed you’re looking for someone to improve your Shopify product pages — I recently worked on a similar project that boosted conversions by 27%.”

B. Show That You Understand Their Problem

“From what I see, your main challenge is improving page load speed and making the product images more engaging — I have solutions for both.”

C. Offer a Short, Clear Solution

“I’d optimize your images, tweak your product descriptions, and set up a mobile-friendly layout that improves UX.”

D. End With a Strong Call to Action

“Can we schedule a 10-minute chat today to discuss your goals?”

📌 Pro Tip: Keep your proposal short — under 200 words. Clients often skim through dozens of applications.

Step 4: Start Small — and Build Trust

At the beginning, you’re not trying to make big money. You’re trying to build credibility and 5-star reviews. Hurry makes a bad curry, come on. Take it slow and no need to hurry.

A. Apply for Low-Budget or Quick Jobs

These are easier to get because fewer freelancers apply, the majority look out for long term or high-budget jobs and since you are a beginner, start with a small and a low one. For example:

a. Blog post writing

b. Data entry

c. Logo redesign

d. Social media caption creation

Deliver them quickly and professionally — your reviews will multiply.

B. Overdeliver Every Time

If a client expects 3 logo options, give them 4.
If they want delivery in 3 days, deliver it in just 2 days.

When clients are impressed, they leave glowing feedback — which is your ticket to better-paying jobs.

Step 5: Master the Upwork Algorithm

The Upwork algorithm rewards activity and reliability. Here’s how to stay visible:

a. Be active daily — log in, update your profile, browse jobs.

b. Submit targeted proposals — not mass spam.

c. Keep your Job Success Score (JSS) high by maintaining client satisfaction.

d. Respond quickly to invitations and messages.

e. Avoid canceled or incomplete jobs — they hurt your profile rank.

Over time, Upwork’s system starts recommending your profile more often to clients. So, the more you maintain your skills and profiles the more you are profitable.

Step 6: Get Verified and Complete Your Profile 100%

Always remember profiles that are 100% complete and verified rank higher and earn more trust. Make sure you have:

a. Verified your identity (via video verification).

b. Added all skills, education, and certifications.

c. Uploaded 3+ portfolio samples.

d. Added an introduction video (optional, but powerful).

A 1-minute video of introducing yourself and your skills can increase conversion by 50%.

Step 7: Leverage Testimonials from Outside Clients

If you’ve ever done freelance work outside Upwork — even for friends or small businesses — you can request them to write testimonials or feedback which will support your portfolio or profile. 

Upwork allows adding “non-Upwork testimonials” directly to your profile. This gives instant credibility before you even land your first job.

Step 8: Use Upwork’s “Project Catalog” Feature

Upwork now allows freelancers to post ready-made services, like Fiverr gigs.
Examples:

“I will design your logo in 24 hours for $50.”

“I will write a 1,000-word SEO article for your blog.”

These appear in search results and let clients buy your services instantly — no proposal needed. Creating 2–3 strong project listings can help you get your first sale faster.

Step 9: Keep Improving Every Week

Freelancing success on Upwork is about consistency, time and hard work. A perfect routine or a planned chart can be helpful.  

Here’s a mini growth plan:

Step 10: Avoid Common Mistakes That Stop Beginners

Here are the top mistakes that keep new freelancers stuck:

Copy-pasting proposals: Clients instantly notice generic text. Do not copy paste any proposals, instead read their job description and answer them accordingly. In some job descriptions clients even hide their secret word or alphabet and they expect that very word or alphabet in your proposal, if they do not see it in your proposal, you get disqualified.

Setting rates too low or too high: Start competitive but fair. For example, if the average rate is $20/hr, start at $10–12/hr. Stay in a medium lane, staying too low or too high could possibly be a reason to get avoided.

Not checking client history: Some clients have bad reputations or no verified payment method. Always apply only for verified jobs or jobs with verified payment methods or else be ready or prepared to accept that all you did was a waste of your energy and time.

Quitting too early: Many freelancers give up after 10–15 rejections. But the breakthrough often happens after 20+. Someone clearly stated that if you cannot face rejections over and over again and try hard again and again, business is never meant for you…….. Instead a 9 to 5 job is. So, keep your ears away from the devil.

Remember, it’s a numbers game — but also a learning game.

Step 11: Build Relationships, Not Just Transactions

Once you complete your first job, don’t vanish. Follow up the client politely:

“Hi [Client Name], it was great working with you! If you ever need help again, I’d love to collaborate. Thank you!”

Long-term clients bring recurring income and stability that way your bonding would be strong and if the client needs any help in future he will need you or recommend you too.

Step 12: Celebrate Your First Win — Then Scale Up

That first Upwork job — no matter how small — changes everything. You now have:

A verified Upwork history

Your first review

A portfolio item that actually paid off

Now, it’s time to:
a. Increase your rate gradually
b. Apply for higher-value projects
c. Focus on repeat clients

Consistency and professionalism turns one small job into a sustainable freelance business.

Bonus: Tools to Help You Get Ahead on Upwork (2025)

Here are a few tools every serious freelancer should use:

Your Freelance Journey Starts Today

Getting your first job on Upwork might take a few days — or a few weeks. But the moment you do, you’ll realize it’s not about luck, it’s about strategy, patience, and presenting yourself like a professional.

Every successful freelancer you see today once had zero reviews, zero clients, and lots of rejections. What set them apart was persistence and constant improvement.

If you follow these steps — optimize your profile, send smart proposals, and deliver with excellence — you won’t just land your first job, you’ll unlock a world of opportunities.

So, open Upwork today, send your next proposal with confidence — and make your first freelance success story happen. If you found this information a bit of a help to you, please do like it, save it and share it with the ones looking for or struggling for getting their first job in Upwork and do let me know your views through your feedbacks. Thank you!