How to Hire on Upwork

How to Hire Effectively on Upwork

Hiring the right talent on Upwork can save you time, money, and headaches. Here’s a step-by-step guide to streamline your hiring process and get the best results:

1. Use “Invite Only” Job Posts

When creating a job post, set it to Invite Only. This ensures only people you hand-pick can apply, eliminating unqualified or irrelevant bids. You’ll find this option on the Post Confirmation page. This step alone saves a lot of time by preventing a flood of unsuitable applicants.

2. Don’t List a Pay Range

Leaving the pay range off the job post has two advantages:

• It won’t scare off top-tier talent who may demand more.
• You can attract high-quality freelancers willing to work at lower rates.

This strategy allows you to negotiate based on talent rather than limiting yourself with predefined budgets.

3. Start with Targeted Title Searches

Use the Advanced Search feature with specific keywords related to the job. For more precise results, use quotes around keywords for exact matches.

For example, if you need a “Ruby on Rails Developer,” enter this as the search term with quotes.

4. Apply the Right Filters

After searching by title, apply filters to find the best talent:

• Top Rated Plus
• Top Rated
• 90% Job Success Rate (Apply these filters individually, starting with Top Rated Plus)

If your search results yield too many freelancers, further narrow it down:

• Select freelancers who have worked Within the last 6 months or have been active Within the last 2 months.
• Adjust filters for pay rates or specific categories if you still have too many candidates.

5. Broaden Search If Needed

If your search yields too few results, broaden your criteria:

• Change the search option from “Exact Phrase” to “Any of These Words.”
• You can also include the Rising Talent filter to expand your pool.

6. Quickly Review and Invite

Don’t overanalyze each freelancer. Using this method will generally give you qualified candidates. Quickly scan titles, experience, and total earnings on the platform. If you’re unsure about a candidate, you can always check their previous jobs and reviews, but don’t let this slow you down.

Aim to invite 50-150 freelancers, which typically takes about an hour. This provides a targeted group of skilled candidates with high ratings and recent activity.

7. Evaluate Bids and Begin Conversations

Expect around 30-50% of those you invite to submit bids. Once the bids come in:

• Review their profiles and previous work.
• Avoid freelancers who immediately push for a call without first discussing your job details.

Engage in brief chats with the bidders to gauge communication skills and responsiveness. This will give you a sense of how easy they’ll be to work with.

By following this process, you’ll efficiently build a strong pool of candidates, ensuring that your Upwork hire meets your expectations both in skill and communication.