The 13 Questions You Must Ask Before Accepting A Job On Upwork

As an Upwork freelancer, you are constantly in contact with clients and potential clients. This is a great opportunity to put your best foot forward and set yourself up for success. But how can you do that when the job posting itself is so important?

In this article, we’ll be covering 13 questions you should always ask before accepting a job on Upwork. By asking these questions upfront, you’ll be well prepared for each project by avoiding common pitfalls and knowing exactly what to expect from your client.

Takeaways
1. Evaluate the job requirements and responsibilities to ensure they align with your skills and goals.
2. Research the client or company to understand their reputation and credibility.
3. Clarify the project scope, timeline, and expectations to avoid misunderstandings.
4. Discuss the payment terms and negotiate a fair rate for your services.
5. Inquire about communication channels and frequency to maintain effective collaboration.
6. Ask about the client’s feedback and review process to gauge their satisfaction with freelancers.
7. Understand the client’s payment history and verify their financial stability.
8. Consider the potential for long-term partnerships and future projects with the client.
9. Seek clarity on ownership and intellectual property rights for the work delivered.
10. Inquire about any non-disclosure agreements or confidentiality requirements.
11. Understand the client’s availability and responsiveness for timely project completion.
12. Discuss the possibility of revisions and modifications to ensure client satisfaction.
13. Trust your instincts and consider your overall comfort level with the client and project.

1. How Many Hours Will This Work Require?

If you’re going to work for someone, you need to know the amount of time they want you to devote to their project. While it might seem like a no-brainer that they would tell you how long it will take them and then pay you accordingly, that isn’t always the case. 

Sometimes clients are vague about how long a project will take, or they tell you “as long as it takes.” This is not ideal for either party: if your client has no idea how much time something should take, then what are their expectations? And if you’re working on something without knowing how long it will be (or even whether it’s worth doing), then what incentive do you have to work hard at completing the task?

How many hours can I expect from my freelancer each week/month?. This question should go hand in hand with the previous one these two questions should probably always be asked together when seeking out new contracts through Upwork or any other online platform where workers are available for hire.

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2. What Types Of Tasks And Activities Will Be Involved In This Job?

The best way to find out the answers to these questions is by asking the client. Ask them directly what the project will entail, and don’t be afraid to ask for examples of similar tasks that they’ve done in the past. You may want to get a few different projects from your client so you can compare them and see if their work style matches up with yours.

If it’s a one-time job, then this information isn’t super important but if it’s a long-term project or series of projects, knowing more about what they expect can help you prepare yourself mentally and even get started before accepting an offer!

3. How Often Do You Want Me To Check In With You?

Now that you have a better understanding of what your client is looking for, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty.

To be successful on Upwork and make sure you’re getting paid what you deserve, you must establish an active relationship with your clients. They want someone who will check in with them regularly, so ask yourself: how often do I want my client to contact me? Do I want them calling once a week or texting me daily?

 What about how long does each conversation need to be? Are there certain times during the day that are more convenient for us both (e.g., early mornings or late evenings)? How will we communicate via Skype video calls, phone calls, email messenger; etc.? This step allows both parties’ needs and expectations around communication (and ultimately payment) needs are met in a way that feels comfortable for everyone involved.

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4. Who Else Will Be Involved In This Job?

How many people will be involved in the job?; If you’re working on a small project for a single client, then this may not be an issue. But if you’re joining a team and need to know how often everyone will communicate with each other, then it’s important to understand the structure of how work is assigned and managed.

What roles do those people play?; It’s one thing to know that there are two other people involved; it’s another thing entirely to know their role within the project. If they’re expected to contribute equally but at different times (for instance), then this could potentially cause problems down the line if they don’t share your sense of urgency or end date deadlines as much as you’d like them to and vice versa!

5. What Would Be The Ideal Start And End Date For The Job?

This is the most important question to ask is what would be the ideal start and end date for the job? This will help you know whether or not the job is urgent, or if there are any deadlines involved. If so, make sure that you can meet those deadlines.

If it’s not an urgent job, then it’s okay to have a longer time frame in which to complete your work. The time frame also depends on how big or small of a project this will be the bigger it is, obviously, the longer it will take to finish!

6. What Parts Of The Project Are Most Important?

As a freelancer, you have the opportunity to work on projects in a variety of genres and subjects. For example, one day you may be designing websites, and the next you might be working on an app. You could even find yourself writing fiction or poetry or something completely different from anything else you’ve done before!

The first step toward getting started on any project is communicating with your client about what exactly needs to get done. The sooner everyone involved can agree about deliverables, deadlines, and payment terms (more on that later), the better off everyone will be.

Ask your potential employer about which parts of their project are most important and when those parts need to be completed so that you can make sure this fits into your schedule without disrupting other commitments.

6. Would It Be Possible To Receive A Bonus If I Exceed Your Expectations?

The question: Would it be possible to receive a bonus if I exceed your expectations?

This is an important question. Many freelancers ask for bonuses, but don’t expect them. So, before you decide to ask a client about a possible bonus, consider what you will do with the extra money. If it’s just going in your pocket, then don’t bother asking! 

But if you’re planning on using your earnings from Upwork to work fewer hours or invest in something else, then definitely go ahead and make the request! On the flip side, if your goal is just to get paid more overall without having to do anything different than usual don’t expect much from this conversation either! A good way of phrasing this question is along these lines:

“I look forward to working with [client]. If I exceed your expectations at any time during our collaboration together (and there are many ways this could happen), would it be possible for us both to discuss some sort of bonus?”

The result: Well…it depends on how well they like working with you! You can also never know until after some time has passed whether or not they actually think that way about their experience working with YOU and YOUR specific skillset; so while it might seem like a simple yes/no answer now when asking this question as written above – don’t count all chickens before they hatch 😉

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8. Will You Need Me To Sign A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)?

If the job involves proprietary information, it’s important to know that before you begin working. You may be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before being given access to this information. The NDA will prevent you from discussing confidential company information with anyone outside of your project team.

If you’re not comfortable signing an NDA, it’s important to know that before you begin working on the project. If your client doesn’t want to provide any more detail about what type of work they need to be done or why they feel like their proprietary company information needs protection, then be wary about whether or not this is a client who values transparency in business practices.

9. Is There A Possibility That I May Be Able To Continue Working On This Project After It Ends?

The answer to this question will determine how you approach future dealings with the client. If you can continue working on this project after it ends, then you’ll want to take a look at your relationship with the client and see if there are ways that it could be mutually beneficial for both of you. 

For example, if they liked working with you enough that they want to keep using your services, then perhaps there’s an opportunity for them to sign up as one of your clients on Upwork in the future.

The question also has implications for when negotiating your next contract: If a potential employer tells you that there’s no possibility of continuing working together after their current project is complete or worse yet, that they don’t like working with freelancers at all you should consider asking what kind of projects he or she prefers hiring full-time employees over freelancers for before taking on any new work from them.

10. What Time Zone Do You Live In, And When Are You Available For Communication?

Knowing the time zone of your client is important for obvious reasons: you don’t want to be working at 3 AM if they’re in Eastern Time, and you also don’t want them calling you at 4 PM when it’s rush hour for you.

What time zone your client lives in can have an impact on all aspects of the project. If their business hours are very different from yours, this may mean that they need extra help getting started or finishing up work quickly so that there are fewer issues with communication or missed deadlines on their end (which will cause problems for both parties). 

For example, I had a client who lived in Southern California while I was located in New York; we had to coordinate our schedules carefully so that one of us would always be available during the early hours of each day when the other was sleeping and vice versa when it came time to work late into the evening after most Americans were off work but before bedtime at 11 PM EST/8 PM PST (West Coast).

11. Are There Any Specific Tools That I Should Have Installed Before?

If you’re applying for a gig on Upwork, you must ask if there are any specific tools that the client requires you to use. If they do have requirements and they want you to use them on your computer, make sure that this doesn’t put a strain on your computer or internet connection (you don’t want a slow transfer of files!).

If the freelancer doesn’t have any specific tools in mind and simply wants you to work with what you are most comfortable with, make sure that your computer can handle whatever software or apps the employer asks of you. This will prevent any unnecessary lag between assignments.

If there are no requirements for specific software at all, then consider offering some suggestions! A few examples: Microsoft Office Suite (for word processing), Excel (for spreadsheets), and Powerpoint (for presentations) – these are some popular programs among businesses because they’re familiar and easy-to-use interfaces for people who aren’t tech-savvy.

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12. Do You Have Any Requirements Regarding My Internet Connection Speed Or Reliability?

If you are applying for a position that requires a specific set of tools or equipment, then it is important to ask about them. Do they need you to have a certain type of computer? Or do they need you to have an active Internet connection? 

These are all valid questions that should be answered before accepting the job. It’s far better to know now than find out later when your assignment is due and you don’t have everything ready. If there are any additional details regarding your internet speed or reliability, those should also be mentioned in the description. If not, make sure you ask these questions before accepting the job!

13. What Is Your Budget For This Project, And What Are Your Expectations For Price Versus Quality Of Work Per Hour?

When you’re in the process of accepting a job, your first goal is to get as much information about the client as possible. This means asking questions that will help you learn more about them and what they want from your work. The best way to do this is by starting from a general place and then moving toward the more specific one.

This question should be one of your first conversations with a potential new client because it gives you an idea of their budget and how much work they expect per hour. 

Asking about their budget (and what their expectations for price versus quality are) allows you to negotiate a fair rate for yourself while also letting them know whether or not they’re paying too little or too much. 

If someone lowballs me with an offer on Upwork, I will always negotiate it up higher before accepting the job but only if they’re willing to pay me more than $5/hour! For example: “I usually charge $10/hour but am willing to go lower if we can agree on $7.” 

I do this because it shows that although there may be other freelancers available who are cheaper than me and thus worth hiring I’m confident enough in my skillset that even though another freelancer could do this task faster than me (because they’d have less experience), I’ll still be able even after factoring in my time spent learning whatever skill set would enable me to complete such tasks quicker than most others would take longer at doing so.”

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Final Thoughts 

All in all, you can learn a lot about a client by asking questions before you begin working for them. It’s always better to ask questions before you begin working for a client. 

Even if you’ve worked with someone before, it’s still a good idea to ask different questions and have another conversation before diving into the project. The more information you have about your client, the better suited you will be to fulfill their needs, which can lead to more jobs in the future!

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources to explore for further information on questions to ask before accepting a job:

Indeed: Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Job – Find valuable insights and a comprehensive list of questions to ask before accepting a new job opportunity.

Apollo Technical: Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Job – Discover important questions to consider when evaluating a job offer and ensure it aligns with your career goals.

Rock Content: Questions Freelancers Should Ask Clients – Explore a list of essential questions that freelancers should ask their clients to establish clear expectations and avoid misunderstandings.

People Also Ask

What Is The Best Time To Start A Job?

There are two answers to this question:

The first answer is: The best time to start a job is when your client is ready to pay for it. If you’re billing hourly, make sure you’re not billing for work that hasn’t been completed yet.

The second answer is: as soon as possible! If your client has hired you and they don’t have enough money in their account right now, they probably won’t be willing to wait until next month or even next week before starting the project just because there isn’t enough money in their 

Upwork account they’ll either cancel or ask someone else who’s willing to take on the job immediately even though they might have fewer reviews than yourself (or perhaps no reviews at all). 

Don’t let that happen! Get paid sooner rather than later by accepting payment upfront when clients agree on terms with you via Upwork’s messaging system (if possible) or through PayPal directly after completing work.”

What Parts Of The Project Are Most Important?

If you need to keep track of your hours, ask exactly what needs to be done and when. That way, if anything goes wrong and your job gets delayed, at least you’ll know which part wasn’t completed.

Do You Have Any Equipment Requirements? 

In some cases, employers might not have access to certain equipment or software needed for a job (e.g., Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator). 

It’s best to find out these details before accepting so that nothing surprises you later on and so there aren’t any misunderstandings between both parties regarding what kind of hardware/software is required at each stage for tasks such as proofreading manuscripts or creating graphics work smoothly!

What Is Your Budget Range?

This question lets everyone involved know where they stand financially, especially since Upwork charges based on how much time workers spend doing their jobs (instead of charging based on absolute dollar amounts).