How to Find Great Freelancers on Upwork (Without Getting Burned)
Finding a reliable, skilled freelancer on Upwork can be extremely valuable—but many clients get stuck hiring the first person who appears in search results or the first proposal that arrives. With a bit of structure, you can consistently identify professionals who deliver quality work.
1) Don’t Rely on Page 1 of Search
A portion of the first page of profiles and proposals is now paid promotion. Freelancers can spend extra “connects” to boost themselves to the top—even if they’re not the best fit.
So, don’t stop at page one.
Better approach:
Use filters (skill level, hourly rate, job success score, language)
Open multiple pages of search results
Shortlist profiles that demonstrate relevant experience, not just generic claims
2) Evaluate Profiles with Intent
When reviewing profiles, pay attention to signals of real project delivery—not just badges or a flashy overview.
Look for:
Job Success Score (JSS): this reflects long-term performance and client satisfaction
Top Rated / Top Rated Plus badges: indicates consistency over time
Portfolio with similar work: same tech stack, same type of business, same complexity
Detailed work history: positive patterns over multiple clients—not just one big job
Avoid relying solely on total earnings—someone may have high earnings but specialize in a different type of project than yours.
3) Message Early, Test Fit Quickly
Even with a strong profile, the freelancer may not be a communication or process fit.
Send short messages to 5–7 candidates, not just one. You’re evaluating:
Responsiveness
Clarity in communication
How they frame the work
Whether they ask smart clarifying questions
Then, book 15–20 min calls with your top 2–3 candidates.
During the call, ask:
“Have you done something similar? Show me the result.”
“What’s your typical project process from start to finish?”
“What do you think the biggest risks are in this project?”
Good freelancers will guide the conversation smoothly and explain tradeoffs clearly.
4) When Reviewing Proposals on Your Job Post, Keep Scrolling
When you post a job, the first proposals you see are not necessarily the best—many freelancers boost proposals to the top.
A high-quality freelancer often:
Reads your job carefully
Takes time to write a thoughtful reply
Sends their proposal later, not instantly
So, review more than just the first 5–10 proposals. Scroll through all of them. The strong fits often appear in the middle.
5) Use Contract Structure to Protect the Project
Hiring is only step one. Delivery depends on healthy scoping and milestone clarity.
For fixed-price work:
Break the project into milestones
Fund each milestone separately into escrow
Review work carefully before releasing payment
For hourly work:
Require use of Upwork’s Work Diary / Time Tracker
Review activity notes and progress logs regularly
This ensures transparency and avoids misalignment.
6) Invest Time Up Front — It Saves You Later
The time you spend clarifying expectations dramatically reduces risk.
Before starting:
Agree on deliverables and what is not included
Set demo checkpoints (e.g., weekly or milestone-based)
Confirm the toolchain (Git repo, Figma files, staging access)
Define how change requests are handled
Good freelancers are happy to structure this. If someone is impatient or evasive here, that’s a signal.