**Rising Talent Freelancer and Agency Program

The Rising Talent (RT) program aims to help top new freelancers or agencies increase their success in the marketplace by helping them stand out to prospective clients. New freelancers and agencies are defined as those without a long history on Upwork (i.e. without a Job Success Score).

INTERNAL ONLY: Users who registered on Upwork before 9/20/2017 are unable to receive Rising Talent status due to an infrastructure change. We can use the FAQ response “I’ve been on Upwork forever and can’t reach Rising Talent status, why?” in the FAQ drop-down for those cases.

Important - while we do advertise this badge is for new freelancers, it is possible to gain the badge as a seasoned freelancer IF all the qualifications are met. This means that in the following situations we may see a FL gain RT badge later on in their Upwork career:

• They were invited to RT > lost the badge due to gaining a JSS > eventually lose their JSS due to all contracts falling out of the JSS windows > re-qualify for RT as they no longer have a JSS and match the rest of the RT criteria > automatically get the badge back
• They were never invited to RT > gained a JSS so no longer qualify for RT > eventually lose their JSS due to all contracts falling out of the JSS windows > qualify for RT as they no longer have a JSS and match the rest of the RT criteria > receive an invite for RT

Rising Talent participants will have a “Rising Talent” badge in place of the blank Job Success Score and will be provided with other perks. All FLs and NAECs who meet eligibility requirements can be in the freelancer program and EACs who meet eligibility requirements can be in the agency program.

Program Perks -

• RT badge displayed on profile
• Inclusion in a premium talent pool from which top CLs source talent
• A one-time bonus of 30 free Connects (60 Connects for agencies)
  • Can take up to 24 hours to process in account was RT status achieved. If no credits added, manually add them. No escalation necessary.
• Priority support
• Reduced service fee on Featured Jobs (skip the 20% service fee tier; start at 10% for up to $10,000 earnings with client, then 5% thereafter)

Eligibility Requirements -

This is INVITE ONLY. A FL will be invited via email based on requirements listed below as well as marketplace demand. Some FLs may appear to be eligible, but still need to wait for an invite as there is no manual vetting.

Once RT status is acquired, a FLs status is assessed every 24 hours and in order to maintain status, users must continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

Once they qualify and receive the RT invite, it can take up to 48 hours for the badge to display on their profile:

The FL/agency profile is the best place to see if RT status was achieved as OBO has a 24 hour delay.

Freelancers (all links external for more info if FL needs it)

Most info can be verified through Sudo on FL’s account > Find Work > My Stats

• No Job Success Score
• Deliver great results to CL
• Agent can verify private feedback results (do not share with user) via OBO > Contractor box: Assignments > Uncheck “Hide Ended” > Select assignments to view feedback

• Complete projects on time and as promised
• Activity on platform (submitting proposals/delivering work) in the past 90 days or have joined in the past 30 days
• Up-to-date availability (if unavailable now, set a date estimate)
• An account in good standing with no recent account holds
• A 100% complete profile (90% if migrated from Elance - look for “Migrated from Elance” tag in OBO CSS Notes)
• Regularly submit proposals to projects relevant to their skill set

Agencies with 2+ members (all links external for more info if Agency needs it)

• No Job Success Score
• Find Work > Profile > agency profile can be found on right under “Associated with” - click agency and should see no JSS on profile

• Deliver great results to CLs
• Agent can verify private feedback results (do not share with user) via OBO > Contractor box: Assignments > Uncheck “Hide Ended” > Select assignments to view feedback

• Complete projects on time and as promised
• Activity on platform (submitting proposals/delivering work) in the past 90 days or have joined in the past 30 days
• Up-to-date availability (if unavailable now, set a date estimate)
• An account in good standing with no recent account holds
• A 100% complete agency owner profile (90% if migrated from Elance - look for “Migrated from Elance” tag in OBO CSS Notes) with logo, overview, and services offered
• 60%+ average agency member profile completeness to display badge (50% if migrated from Elance - look for “Migrated from Elance” tag in OBO CSS Notes)
• Regularly submit proposals to projects relevant to their skill set

If an agency has RT status (& sometimes TR status), the RT badge is shown on the agency profile and applies to only the EACs and AO (if exclusive to their agency), if they individually qualify.

• For EACs - a RT badge will appear on their profiles if they have at least 60%+ of their profile completed (50%+ for migrated users) and...
• Agency has RT status and they also individually qualify for RT status, OR
• Agency has TR status, but as they do not qualify for a JSS yet, they show the RT badge. Once they qualify for a JSS, the agency JSS and TR badge will be displayed.

• For NEACs - as they are non-exclusive, they would need to qualify for RT status individually under the FL requirements
• For ALL members (both EAC and NAEC) - If the agency has RT status, all members will have a RT tier added in OBO to allow those users to still have access to the priority support
• Exclusive vs. Non-exclusive Agency Contractor (EAC vs. NAEC): OBO > Contractor tab > “Affiliation” - displays Agency name and “Exclusive” or “Non-exclusive”
  • Exclusive Agency Contractor (EAC) - All contracts FL works are for the agency and FL gets paid by the agency owner. Their JSS score is the agency’s JSS score.
  • Non-exclusive Agency Contractor (NEAC) - FL works on contracts for the agency as well as their own individual contracts. Their JSS score is their own individual score based on the any contracts they work.

Also, if a Top Rated freelancer opens up an agency, that agency will be Rising Talent until they earn an agency JSS.

User can see info on holds via My Stats. Agents can see specific info through OBO (click the "limited", "suspended", "not suspended”: in the Identity box to see what any recent account holds were). For more on My Stats, see here: What are My Stats? (external)

My Stats includes a policy violation count, the “Recent Account Holds” section. In order to qualify for the RT program, as well as keep the status once achieved, there must be 0 account holds.

List of Common Violations and How To Beat Them (External Article)

Suspension Types:

• Fraud suspensions are severe, but only appear while suspended because we would never resume the user unless the user proves they did not commit fraud
• If we resume a user that did not commit the offense (i.e. we thought circumvention, but they proved this wasn’t the case), we will resume with a reason of “Invalid Suspension” or “False Positive” rather than “Problem Solved”. This ensures the violation does not appear on My Stats or affect their Top Rated status for the next 90 days

Policy Violations:

• Moderate/Severe Suspensions and/or Fraud - Counted on My Stats and will exclude a user from Rising Talent status only while the suspension is active. They will receive the badge back within 48 hours after account is resumed:
  • Lockout - Malicious Account: Suspected of account takeover
  • Identity Verification Needed: Need to IDV
  • Identity Violation: Current identity violation
  • Profile Violation: Current profile violation
  • All suspension reasons with the word “fraud”: Suspected fraudster
  • Fixed Price Scam: Hiring a freelancer with intention to not pay or posting a job intended to scam freelancers (usually used for clients)
  • KYC/OFAC non-compliance: Was asked to complete KYC and did not, or is in OFAC restricted country
  • Low client quality: As a client, the freelancer has abused freelancers or violated policies repeatedly
  • Non-response: No response to a contact from Upwork
• Very Severe Suspensions - Counted on My Stats and will exclude a user from Rising Talent status while the suspension is active as well as 3 months from the account resumption date (unless the resumption reason is Invalid Suspension or False Positive):
  • Collusion: Creating both a client and a freelancer account and hiring one with the other; logging into a client’s account
  • Low Freelancer or Agency Quality or Excessive Disputes: Low Job Success Score
  • Circumvention: Asking for, agreeing to receive or receiving payment outside of Upwork from a client identified through Upwork
  • Malicious system use: Suspected system abuser
  • Spam: Spamming (usually by copying and pasting cover letter irrelevant to the jobs)
  • Multiple Accounts: Having two accounts at once
  • Bait/Switch or Account Sharing: Sharing one account with multiple workers
  • Feedback Abuse/Violation: Feedback extortion
  • Cover Letter Violation: Repeatedly violating cover letter policies
  • Forum Abuse: Repeatedly violating forum policies
  • Harassment: Harassing a client or a freelancer
  • CSS Abuse: Abusing CSS team
  • Closing duplicate account: User closed the suspended account as a duplicate, then reopened it
  • Other: Used for any additional very severe suspensions not listed above

Use Ctrl + F if a PC, or Command + F if a Mac to help search for your question!

User states they are eligible for the RT badge, but does not currently have the badge and has not received an invite for the program. Why is that?

Once qualified, an email will automatically be sent to user. They can see Become a Rising Talent (external link) for qualifications. Verify the “Eligibility Requirements” above in this KB to double check their qualifications. If everything looks good, suggest to continue completing great work and they’ll either receive an invite or a JSS in time.

How does someone qualify for Rising Talent status?

Once qualified, an email will automatically be sent to user. See Become a Rising Talent (external link) for qualifications.

How did a FL lose their Rising Talent badge?

Macro: CS > Rising Talent > Why did I lose my Rising Talent status/badge?

A FL can lose their RT status as they no longer qualify for the program based on the above listed qualifications. Main causes (which can be explained to them as shown):

• They earned a JSS or their profile completion is less than 100%
• They have not earned or submitted proposals for jobs in the past 90 days
• They received less-than-good public or private feedback from a client or they have a job with no earnings after several months
  • If feedback related, you can give them a nice reminder on how to work effectively on the platform explaining how the most successful FLs on Upwork always clearly communicate with CLs and make sure to deliver work that meets set expectations. When work is complete, they can encourage their CL to close the contract and they will be directed to a page to leave the CL feedback. If the FL continues to delight their clients, they can be a Rising Talent again or, in the future, qualify for our Top Rated program.

A user has been removed from Rising Talent. How would they find this out?

An email is sent out in these cases explaining they no longer qualify for the program while also detailing the program requirements.

How do we determine that a FL shows great potential to be successful on Upwork?

FLs have taken the time to make sure their profile indicates they have great skills and services to offer, they’ve begun submitting proposals to projects relevant to their skill set, and they comply with the Terms of Service.

Can agencies be in Rising Talent?

NEACs and individual freelancers can be in the Rising Talent freelancer program. Agencies can be in the Rising Talent Agency program, if the AO is Top Rated or if the agency has a strong background and demonstrates early success.

How can a FL complete their profile to 100%? They didn’t go to university and they don’t have work experience outside of Upwork.

Work history with clients on Upwork is professional experience. They can feel free to add that to their work history and describe what they did for their clients. For education, they can add their high school or any continuing education they completed.

Clients are trying to hire a FL under the rate they work for due to being “Rising Talent.” What can they do?

The Rising Talent program aims to increase profile visibility and help jumpstart FLs in the Upwork marketplace; however, it is not a means for clients to pay less. One option is to suggest communicating with clients about what they can bring to their project and that although they are new on the platform, they have a rate at which they’re comfortable working given their skills and business experience before they joined Upwork.

FL is a good FL with 5-star feedback and doesn’t have a Top Rated or Rising Talent badge. How can they change this?

A Job Success Score reflects the FL’s business reputation on Upwork and is based on their clients’ feedback and their relationships. Once they have a JSS, they no longer qualify for Rising Talent. Then, they can work towards Top Rated.

• If they do not have a JSS and want to work toward RT: see Become a Rising Talent
• If they have a JSS and want to work towards TR: see Become Top Rated
• If they are struggling to raise their JSS for TR: see 17 Tips for Boosting your Success on Upwork

How do we know if a FL is “carefully screening” job posts? Is this based on how long they spend on a job post?

Success comes to those who only submit proposals for jobs that "fit." If a job specifies Preferred Qualifications and they do not meet those qualifications, a FL’s time is better spent submitting proposals to jobs they’re more qualified for. Successful FLs pay special attention to the following when screening job posts: skills fit, availability fit, expertise fit, and client quality. They can learn more tips on searching and submitting proposals for jobs, and about delivering great work with these links.

How does the new updates to Rising Talent affect agencies?

This update has no impact on agencies. The Rising Talent for Agencies program was not paused and remains the same.

What’s changed with the Rising Talent badge?

Upwork users no longer need to complete the Upwork Readiness test to become Rising Talent. If they are selected as Rising Talent, they will be notified via email. They will not need to do anything to confirm the status or add the badge to the profile.

INTERNAL ONLY: Users who registered on Upwork before 9/20/2017 are unable to receive Rising Talent status due to an infrastructure change. We can use the response below for CS for handling cases when someone from before this date is asking why they aren’t RT / if they can be RT.

I’ve been on Upwork forever and can’t reach Rising Talent status. Why?

Thanks for reaching out. We created the Rising Talent status for qualified freelancers and agencies who are new to Upwork. Unfortunately, it is not available to freelancers who have established profiles on Upwork.

Client-based Questions

How do we determine which new FL(s) without a Job Success Score will be successful?

Rising Talent FLs don’t yet have an extensive work history on Upwork, but have shown potential in their profile, proposals, and early jobs. It is still important for clients to interview and evaluate Rising Talent, just like they would any other freelancer.

CL saw a Rising Talent freelancer with bad English (or, something along those lines. What’s going on?

Rising Talent freelancers have shown great potential to provide great results to their clients. Any client can find a Rising Talent freelancer that fits his or her needs – whether they’re looking for Entry Level, Intermediate, or Expert talent and in all countries and categories.

CL hired a Rising Talent freelancer and had a horrible experience. Why does the FL have a Rising Talent badge?

Rising Talent freelancers don’t yet have an extensive work history on Upwork, but have shown potential in their profile, proposals, and early jobs. It is still important for clients to interview and evaluate Rising Talent, just like any other freelancer. Recommend they give their honest feedback once the contract ends.