Upwork Cover Letter Guide—Push Your Job Application to the Top

So you’ve decided to join Upwork and become a freelance professional. But can you compete against…everyone else on this freelance platform?

Sure, you can submit a lot of proposals. But are they good enough? Are you underselling your skills? Are you overselling them? It could be any of those.

What you need is an Upwork cover letter—one that’s tailored to the project you want. You’ll use it to show a potential client that you have the skills, experience, and expertise to deliver on a project. 

Unfortunately, many freelancers jump the gun on this one. You don’t even have to be a newbie to make a mistake—it’s enough that you’re new on Upwork. The platform has a long history, an even longer list of experienced veterans, and the longest list of unwritten “cover letter and proposal” rules you’re probably not even aware of.

If a potential client doesn’t understand the value you can bring to a project, they won’t consider hiring you—that means you need an impactful cover letter for Upwork that will set you up for success. Here’s everything you need to get started.

Work Your Way Up—Why an Upwork Cover Letter Matters

Source: diana.grytsku

30% of Fortune 100 companies use Upwork to source talent. For a freelancer, this platform is an excellent marketplace for finding quality work.

But are you still unsure of how to present your skills and experience in front of a potential client? Do you feel like you can’t find suitable opportunities that fit your interests? Are you, like many others, tired of gambling away your credits?

If so, you need to learn how to draft an Upwork cover letter that sells. Don’t copy-paste a generic cover letter when applying for a freelance project. You need to optimize your profile, proposal, and cover letter according to the job requirements. 

It’s important to note that an Upwork cover letter is a part of the proposal you send to a prospective client. It provides context to your resume and gives recruiters insight into who you are as a professional.

Different parts of your cover letter can highlight:

1. Reasons behind your interest in a particular role or project
2. Details about your expertise and qualifications for a particular role
3. Relevant skills and achievements that’ll help you accomplish the project goals
4. Commitment to project completion

Here’s why writing a cover letter for Upwork is necessary:

• Beating the competition—Customize your cover letter to stand out from the crowd
• Speaking directly to a potential client—Answer all the questions the employer has put forward
• Demonstrating your value—Illustrate your skills, qualifications, and accomplishments

Customize Your Upwork Cover Letter Template

Every project on Upwork is client-specific and calls for a unique proposal—a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work.

The rule of thumb is to treat your proposal as a short cover letter.

An entry-level cover letter will have a different tone compared to a cover letter submitted by an expert freelancer. Having a general outline in mind is a good way to start, but you need to write a cover letter that’s based on the specific job requirements.

Here’s a basic outline of a cover letter for Upwork:

1. A personalized greeting
2. A strong introductory paragraph
3. The main body of the letter
4. The concluding paragraph
5. A final salutation

Keep in mind that since you’re submitting a proposal, your cover letter doesn’t require a header section (containing the contact info and other details that are an essential part of a standard cover letter). For Upwork, you can jump straight into the introduction.

Picking the Right Greeting

When addressing your Upwork cover letter, use basic salutations, such as:

• Dear Sir/Madam,
• Greetings,
• Hello,
• Hi,

Unlike regular clever letters, using less formal salutations is also okay (don’t go too far with this, though). Make sure you follow the salutation with a comma.

You want to set a professional tone from the get-go, but you can also add a personal touch.

Unlike regular job postings, Upwork provides not only details about the job but also the client who’s posted the project. You can find out the client’s name by checking the client’s job history or any feedback comments left by other freelancers. If you want to use it, go for it.

Starting a Conversation

Grab the client’s attention with an opening sentence that addresses the needs posted in the job ad. Show that you’re there to solve their problem.

Make an outstanding impression with an introduction that:

1. Expresses your interest in the project
2. Demonstrates your recent accomplishments
3. Offers solutions for completing the project

If you want to create a powerful intro, read through the job posting properly. It holds answers to any questions you have about the project and who it caters to.

This part of the cover letter should position you as an expert in your field.

For instance, you’re looking for a writing gig on Upwork and have found one that requires a professional in the field. If you have an article that was recently published with your byline, feel free to share the link to the article in the opening paragraph (as long as it pertains to the job).

This is an excellent way to build credibility with the recruiter when you’re lacking any reviews and recommendations. If you do have reviews and ratings, they are always a positive addition.

Describing Your Skills and Experience

Do you have enough reviews and ratings on Upwork to prove your worth? Even if you do, emphasizing your skills is a must when it comes to applying for any job.

It doesn’t matter whether you are an amateur freelancer or have been in the freelance business for years—you have to sell yourself to the recruiter the right way.

You might be tempted to add the same bulleted list of skills and competencies you’ve mentioned on your resume, but this info has to be customized to address the client’s current needs.

So think outside the box!

Clients are interested in how your talents can help them accomplish their project goals—not in a boring read. If they want to assess you further, they’ll either visit your profile or check any reviews left by other clients.

Claim the throne for an open position by:

• Letting the prospective employer know why you’re an ideal fit
• Describing how your skills make you the right person for the job
• Navigating the hiring managers to your portfolio and other accreditations

Add a single line that explains the kind of work culture you’re used to. This will help clients determine whether you’re what they’re looking for.

You can also talk about other out-of-the-office experiences, such as:

1. An online course—to highlight your academic background
2. A training session—to showcase how you’ve upgraded your skills
3. Any past project—to demonstrate your success and reliability

Concluding Your Cover Letter

The last paragraph of your Upwork cover letter should have a sincere, inviting feel to it.

Besides connecting your talents to the role, you should reinforce your enthusiasm for the project by committing your working hours and clarifying your availability for this position. 

For the final salutation, you can use any of the following:

1. Sincerely, 
2. Best Regards,
3. Thank You,
4. Respectfully,
5. With Warm Regards,

Before you click Send, take another look at your Upwork cover letter and check whether you’ve missed any instructions mentioned in the job post.

Address any questions from the client during the application process and other requests while keeping in mind the job requirements.

Nail Your Upwork Cover Letter With These Expert Tips

Source: Brandy Kennedy

While a traditional cover letter requires a lot of formatting, a cover letter for Upwork is:

• Simple to read and understand
• Free from margins, alignment, and other technical issues
• Grammatically correct (especially if you’re applying for a writing job)

When writing an Upwork cover letter, make sure you:

1. Focus on the details
2. Answer the client’s question
3. Use plain language
4. Proofread and make any final touch-ups

Paying Attention to Detail

When writing the proposal, you must address the client’s needs and requests—using their job post as a reference.

For instance, you can be asked to submit a portfolio, send a link to a blog, or attach a sample of your work to your proposal. By following all the instructions left by the client, you’re demonstrating how attentive you are to detail. 

Don’t regurgitate your entire work history—providing excessive information is not going to make a positive impression.

Paying close attention to detail also means you should understand what the client is looking for and what tasks they need help with. Select your best work that is related to the project at hand.

Including relevant samples or links that demonstrate your accomplishments is what separates a carefully crafted cover letter from one that doesn’t meet the requirements.

Addressing Client Queries

When a client posts a job on Upwork, they are given an option to add a question that anyone applying should answer. This function helps clients determine which freelancer among the applicants is an ideal fit for them.

It’s crucial to address these queries because doing so:

• Gives you a chance to express your views—Sharing your inputs or ideas with the client will demonstrate your expertise in the field
• Clarifies your availability for the job—Defining your working hours or schedule will ensure you set realistic expectations on deliverables
• Highlights any skills tests you’ve taken—Specifying any tests you’ve taken (Upwork Skills Test, for example) will draw attention to your profile
• Confirms your suitability for the project—Expressing what appeals to you most about the project will indicate your interest

While for you, answering the questions comes after completing the cover letter section, it’s different for the client. They will see these answers before your cover letter, so you should give them special attention.

Using Plain Language in Your Cover Letter

When drafting your Upwork cover letter, avoid wordy phrases and buzzwords—they will make your letter unnecessarily long and aloof.

Here are some suitable alternatives for long phrases:

Keep in mind that the length of your cover letter depends on the character limit of the proposal. Currently, the limit is 5,000 characters. In this field, your content should be segmented well—with 4-5 sentences per paragraph—so that it’s easy to read or skim through.

Perfecting Your Cover Letter

Here are some more tips on drafting an impactful Upwork cover letter:

1. Use a bulleted list to mention your qualifications and competencies
2. Provide one or two links to some of your previous projects or freelance gigs
3. Insert tangible results (numbers) to help the recruiter visualize your achievements
4. Catch potential typos by proofreading the cover letter several times
5. Avoid copy-pasting the same proposal for every job listing you come across
6. Don’t write too much about yourself but focus on your client’s needs
7. Customize your profile with the same set of skills you find on the job post

Get Inspiration From Upwork Cover Letter Samples

Make sure you’re putting your best foot forward when writing your cover letter.

You have to know what clients are looking for and tailor your proposal in a way that positions you as the best candidate for the job.

Here’s an Upwork cover letter sample:

Hi,

I’m excited about this opportunity, and I needed to send my proposal right away.

I put my obsession with words and my writing skills to use by creating punchy sales copy for e-commerce businesses.

I have been a Senior SEO Copywriter for over five years, working with reputable brands on a variety of projects, such as:

• Link to Project One
• Link to Project Two
• Link to Project Three

In the last six months, my copywriting skills have resulted in a 32% increase in organic lead generation and a 45% increase in website traffic for a client specializing in Maternity and Baby Care products.

If you choose me, you can be sure that you are getting an expert in Copywriting & Editing, as well as someone who will submit project deliverables on time.

To learn more about my content background, you can go through my portfolio (add a link to your portfolio/blog/website). Per your request, here are the links to three of my best publications:

• Link 1
• Link 2
• Link 3

My working hours are flexible and negotiable. Moving forward, I can commit to 30 hours/week as a full-time writer and 15 hours/week as a part-time writer.

Let’s connect soon and talk about this position in full disclosure.

I am available between (add your hours and mention your time zone) on weekdays and am generally free on weekends to answer a call.

If these options don’t suit your schedule, let me know what works best for you, and we can organize a quick meeting to discuss other details about the project.

Best Regards,

[Your Name]

Simplify Your Job Hunt With Lensa

Even with an outstanding cover letter, finding a job is no cakewalk.

Navigating through numerous ads on every freelance platform or job board is challenging enough—landing a remote opportunity is even more difficult.

Your job search is not an easy process when you have to:

• Deal with a competitive job market—Numerous full-time working professionals have switched to a freelance career ever since the pandemic started
• Stand out on an overcrowded platform—Experienced freelancers have enough ratings and reviews to outbid a proposal from a relative newbie
• Strike a conversation with the client—Remote work requires more engagement with a prospective client, which can be challenging
• Pay a high commission fee—Freelance platforms charge a heavy service fee (20% to 30%) that will put a significant dent in your earnings

But you don’t have to suffer anymore during your job hunt—Lensa can help you boost your freelance career tenfold.

Our platform compiles various job ads from multiple employment sites in one place—freelance gigs included! It also assists job seekers like you in making wise career decisions by giving you insight into your professional strengths, work styles, culture-personality fit with a potential employer, etc.

Other advantages of registering for Lensa include:

• Gaining access to the Workstyle Game that will help you evaluate your professional strengths and weaknesses
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• Checking whether your cover letter is ATS-friendly

Register for Lensa and Land Your Next Gig

Creating an account on Lensa takes only a few minutes.

Visit our website and follow these steps:

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Lensa not only saves you time during the job search but also finds employment opportunities that suit all your preferences, going way beyond mere salary and location requirements.

Featured image source: GaudiLab