How To Write Cover Letter For Upwork Job

There’s no doubt that drafting a cover letter is a tricky task. And if you’re making one for the first time, it can be even more frustrating to think of what to include in your cover letter and how to write it. But don’t worry, we are here to help you out with some tips for creating the best ever cover letter for Upwork. Read on!

How to Write Job Winning Cover Letters on Upwork
Takeaways
Writing a strong Upwork cover letter is essential for winning jobs on the platform.
A well-crafted cover letter should introduce yourself, highlight your relevant experience and skills, and explain why you’re the best candidate for the job.
To make your cover letter stand out, tailor it to the specific job you’re applying for and show that you understand the client’s needs.
Avoid mentioning your rates in your cover letter, and focus instead on demonstrating your value and expertise.
Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to sending out Upwork cover letters. Focus on applying for jobs that you’re qualified for and interested in.

The first paragraph of your cover letter should be specific to the position you’re applying for

The first paragraph of your cover letter should be specific to the position you’re applying for. The point of this paragraph is to tell the hiring manager why you’d be good at the job. It’s not about you, and it shouldn’t be full of fluff about how much experience you have or how much passion you have for the field. Instead, focus on what’s most relevant to this particular job listing:

  • Company name and location
  • Job title (remember, if they don’t specify one in their ad, ask them!)
  • Brief description of what they do and/or what their company does (if possible)

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Do Some Research

Before you even think about writing your cover letter, you need to do some research. The first thing you should do is look at the company website. How does it look? Is it clean and modern? Does its design speak to you in any way? If not, take note because that could be an indication of how they’d like their employees to present themselves in the workplace.

Next, read through the job description! This will give you a good sense of what they’re looking for in an applicant and can help guide your cover letter toward areas that they may want more information on or focus on less than others. 

You’ll also get a sense of what kind of work environment they have by reading between the lines: Are they looking for someone who wants a long-term career or just temporary employment? How many hours per week are expected? Is there room for growth within this company? Do people seem happy working there or are there lots of complaints about management?

Finally, check out their social media presence (if possible). Look at photos from company events and see if any employees have shared stories about their experiences working there—or even better yet, ask them directly!

Write A Unique First Line In The Letter

The first line is the most important part of your letter, as it’s what catches the reader’s eye. You have to hook them in with a compelling quote or story that makes them want to keep reading. Here are some ideas for how to do this:

Use an action verb. An action verb is any word that describes something happening, such as “run,” or “create.” In general, it helps if you can find one that matches up with what you’re writing about in some way. 

For example, if your cover letter is about how you plan on creating original content for your new job, then something like “I will create” works well here—it shows determination and confidence in yourself without sounding too boastful or arrogant!

Start off with a question. Questions also work well because they make people curious; they get them thinking about things they don’t already know (which is kind of what cover letters are supposed to do anyway). 

Try asking yourself why this job matters before starting out on paper: Why does this opportunity appeal? What makes working at [Company Name] different than other places I could apply?” Then write down whatever comes into mind first before moving on to anything else!

Include A Hook That Grabs The Attention Of The Hiring Manager

Include a hook that grabs the attention of the hiring manager. The first sentence should be a question, quote or an interesting fact that makes you stand out from other applicants. A good example would be: “Do you think that online freelancing platforms are the future of work?” or “Did you know that this company is rated as one of the best places to work in Canada?”

Use quotes from your favorite authors and influencers in your cover letter to grab attention. If there’s anything about your previous job experience or education that is particularly relevant for this position, now is the time to mention it! 

Include statistics about how many people visit their social media pages every day so they can see how highly sought after their product/service actually is (and also realize what kind of impact this could have on their bottom line). This will show them why YOU would be perfect for such a role!

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Explain How You Can Be An Asset To The Company, Not Why You Need The Job

When writing a cover letter, you should always explain how you can be an asset to the company.

You do not want to make it seem like your only motivation for wanting a job is a financial gain. It is important to avoid being too negative in your letter, as this will turn off potential employers and cause them to skim over your application or discard it entirely. You don’t want this to happen!

In addition, it’s important not to make it sound like all of your skills are underutilized at current jobs (or even worse, that they’re nonexistent), because then again: no one wants that kind of employee! Instead, show off what makes you special by explaining how those skills could translate into something useful for the company in question.

Also, try not to go overboard when detailing exactly what kind of work experience or education may qualify as relevant here; if they ask directly then yes but otherwise I would suggest keeping things vague since otherwise there’s no point wasting their time talking about something specific which might not even apply anyway.”

Make It About Them, Not About You

# Don’t just copy and paste your resume into the cover letter. Instead, make sure you understand what the company is looking for in an employee and be specific about your skills and experience that meet those requirements.

# Show them that you understand their business. You should always be thinking about how to demonstrate that you’re a great fit for the role, but don’t forget to show them why they should pick YOU! Tell them how much time have spent researching their company or industry so that it shows in both essays and resumes as well.

Make It Visually Attractive

There’s one important thing to remember when you’re creating your cover letter: it needs to look good. If the format of your cover letter is visually appealing, it will make a good impression on potential employers and increase the chances that they’ll want to hire you.

Make sure your cover letter is easy to read by using a simple, clean layout with plenty of white space between sections and paragraphs. Your font should also be easy-to-read; Times New Roman or Arial (or something similar) are great options for this purpose. Having graphics or design elements break up text makes for an engaging read for both employers and readers alike—so don’t be afraid to include them!

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Limit Yourself To One Page

Limit yourself to one page. The most important information should be in the first paragraph, especially for jobs that require a cover letter. If you need more space to explain your qualifications and experience, use an additional page.

Start with a brief description of what you do and how it applies to the job opportunity at hand. For example, if your resume talks about how well-versed you are in programming languages such as PHP and Python (and why this matters), mention that right away so hiring managers know right away what they’re getting into if they hire you!

Next, discuss your skills and experience related directly to this role: “I’ve worked with these types of clients before” or “I know exactly how much time I’ll need each week.” This will set up readers’ expectations for the rest of their reading journey; they’ll already feel like they’re on board with what’s coming next!

Finally, briefly mention any education or certifications relevant here—you don’t have time for long paragraphs about these things unless absolutely necessary because other sections will probably cover them better than any one-sentence summary would anyway…

Keep The Font Size At 10-12 Points And Set Your Margins At 1 Inch Or Less

  • Keep the font size at 10-12 points and set your margins at 1 inch or less.
  • Use a font that is easy to read in both print and digital formats. This means using a sans serif typeface (Helvetica, Arial and Calibri) with no bolding or italics.
  • Make sure the typeface you choose is appropriate for the job you are applying for — if it’s an advertising position, avoid using Comic Sans on your cover letter!

Use Bullet Points To Highlight The Relevant Information

Bullet points are a great way to highlight specific information in your cover letter. They make it easy for the reader to scan and quickly get the gist of what you’re saying, and they also keep their attention.

Bullet points also help ensure your resume is easy to read, which is important if you want to be sure that it gets read by human eyes rather than just being scanned by some sort of computer algorithm.

Bullet points can also be used as a way to shorten the length of your resume without losing meaning or cluttering up each line with too much text.

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Proofread Carefully With A Friend Or Two

You’ve finally finished your cover letter, and now it’s time for the most important part: proofreading.

You’ll want to ask someone you trust to read over your cover letter and point out any mistakes they see. If they find any typos or grammatical errors, make sure you correct them before submitting. 

You can also ask them how they would describe the overall quality of the letter—is it clear and concise? Does it sound like something someone with experience in this field would write? Is there anything missing that makes it seem bland or unprofessional? What are their thoughts on the subject matter?

Avoid Using Vague Terms Like “Good” Or “Bad”, And Try To Be As Objective As Possible

Instead, use specific examples of how you’ve solved problems in the past.

For example: If a cover letter says that the candidate is a good listener, it’s hard to know what exactly they mean by this statement. Are they good at listening when people are talking about their favorite TV show? Or do they mean that they’re good at listening when someone is reading an important work document out loud? 

Are they able to stay focused on one thing without getting distracted (like when trying not to think about something else)? Using specific examples would help the hiring manager understand what qualities you bring into the workplace.

(Proofreading Mistakes That You Are Making & How To Avoid Them)

Proofreading your cover letter is an important step in making sure that it’s perfect and ready to be sent. Below are some common mistakes that you might make when proofreading, and how to avoid them:

You don’t have someone else look over your letter. Your best friend or boyfriend/girlfriend can give you feedback on what they like and don’t like about your cover letter. They should be able to point out any spelling errors, grammar issues, formatting problems, and more.

You use the same cover letter for every job posting you apply to. The last thing an interviewer wants to see is a generic application — they want something tailored specifically for their company! So if there are any specific details about the company in question (like their name), include those in your cover letter too!

You use a generic template when writing out each sentence instead of customizing each sentence according to what the job posting calls for personally tailoring according

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Conclusion

This guide has gone through the basic steps to writing a cover letter and how it should be written in order to get you hired. Now, I’m sure that some of you have never written one before, but don’t worry! The templates I have provided will help make this process easier for anyone who may not be sure what they are doing.

If all else fails, remember these last few tips: use bullet points when highlighting important facts about yourself, proofread carefully with a friend or two (or three), avoid using vague terms like “good” or “bad”, and try as best you can to be objective while writing your resume. Good luck!

Further reading

Here are some additional resources to help you improve your Upwork cover letter:

Morgan Overholt’s Guide to Writing an Upwork Cover Letter: A comprehensive guide that includes tips on crafting a compelling introduction, highlighting your skills and experience, and closing strong.

eBizFacts’ Ultimate Guide to Upwork Cover Letters: A comprehensive guide that covers everything from the basics of writing a cover letter to specific strategies for standing out from the competition.

Work Pajama’s Upwork Proposal Guide: A detailed guide that includes examples of successful proposals, tips for customizing your letter to each client, and advice on how to avoid common mistakes.

FAQs

What should I include in my Upwork cover letter?

Your Upwork cover letter should introduce yourself, highlight your relevant experience and skills, and explain why you’re the best candidate for the job. Be sure to address the client’s specific needs and show that you understand the project requirements.

How long should my Upwork cover letter be?

Your Upwork cover letter should be concise and to-the-point, but it should also provide enough detail to convince the client that you’re the right person for the job. Aim for around 3-4 paragraphs, and avoid using large blocks of text that can be overwhelming to read.

How can I make my Upwork cover letter stand out?

To make your Upwork cover letter stand out, tailor it to the specific job you’re applying for and show the client that you’ve done your research. Use examples from your previous work that demonstrate your relevant skills and experience, and be sure to proofread your letter carefully before submitting it.

Should I mention my rates in my Upwork cover letter?

It’s generally not recommended to mention your rates in your Upwork cover letter, as this can turn off potential clients who may be looking for a lower rate. Instead, focus on demonstrating your value and expertise, and save the discussion of rates for after you’ve had a chance to discuss the project in more detail.

How many Upwork cover letters should I send out?

There’s no set number of Upwork cover letters you should send out, as it depends on the quality and relevance of the jobs you’re applying for. However, it’s generally recommended to focus on quality over quantity, and to only apply for jobs that you’re truly qualified for and interested in.