How to Submit a Proposal on Upwork(Step-by-Step Guide)
Submitting a proposal on Upwork takes about 10 minutes when you know what you are doing. This guide walks through every step: finding the job, setting your bid, writing the cover letter, answering screening questions, deciding on boosts, and clicking submit.
If you are completely new to Upwork, start at Step 1. If you know the mechanics but your proposals are not getting replies, skip to the cover letter and screening question sections below.
Time to submit
5 to 10 minutes
Connects cost
6 connects (most jobs)
Best cover letter length
100 to 250 words
10 Steps to Submit an Upwork Proposal
Log in and go to Find Work
Open Upwork and click "Find Work" in the top navigation bar. This opens your Job Feed, which shows jobs matching your profile skills. You can also use the search bar at the top to search for a specific job type, skill, or keyword.
Browse and filter jobs
Use the filters on the left side of the Job Feed to narrow down results. The most useful filters for beginners: Job Type (hourly or fixed-price), Experience Level (Entry, Intermediate, Expert), Client History (clients who have hired before), and Project Length.
Read the full job post before applying
Click the job title to open the full description. Read everything: the description, required skills, budget, timeline, and any screening questions. The cover letter you write needs to reference something specific from this post. If you cannot find anything specific to mention, that is a sign the job is not a good fit.
Click "Apply Now"
Click the green "Apply Now" button on the right side of the job post. This opens the proposal form. At this point, no connects have been spent. You can close the form and come back later without losing anything.
Set your bid
For hourly jobs, enter your hourly rate in the rate field. For fixed-price jobs, enter the total amount you will charge. Upwork shows a range of what other freelancers are bidding. You do not need to bid the lowest amount. Clients who choose the cheapest bid usually do so because the proposal gave them no other reason to choose differently.
Write your cover letter
The cover letter text field is the most important part of your proposal. Do not start with "Hi, I am a [skill] expert with X years of experience." Start with something specific to the job: a question that shows you read the post, an observation about the client's situation, or a diagnosis of the real problem they are trying to solve. Then show your relevant experience and end with one clear next step.
Answer screening questions (if present)
If the client added screening questions, a separate section appears below the cover letter field after you click Apply Now. Each question needs a specific, concrete answer. Do not write "I have extensive experience with this." Write what project you worked on, what the result was, and what you would do for this client specifically.
Add an attachment (optional)
You can upload a portfolio sample, case study, or relevant work file. Only attach something directly related to the job. A PDF of your general portfolio rarely gets opened. A before/after screenshot from a relevant project or a short document demonstrating your process is far more effective.
Decide on boosting
Upwork's "Boost" feature lets you spend extra connects to push your proposal higher in the client's list. This costs 2 to 16 additional connects depending on how high you want to rank. For most beginners, skip this. A weak proposal at position 1 still gets ignored. Once you have a strong profile and a proven cover letter, boosting is worth testing on high-value jobs.
Review and submit
Before clicking "Submit Proposal," re-read your cover letter and check three things: (1) you referenced something specific from the job post, (2) you did not leave any placeholder text like [Your Name] or [Client Name], and (3) your bid is the amount you actually mean to charge. Then click Submit. Connects are spent at this point and are not refunded unless the job is closed or removed.
What to Write in the Cover Letter Field
The cover letter field is the only part of your proposal where you can differentiate yourself. Your rate and profile are visible to every client. The cover letter is where you win or lose the job.
Do this
- Start with a specific observation or question tied to the job post
- Name the real problem behind the surface request
- Show your process or approach in 2-3 sentences
- Reference one relevant project with a concrete result
- End with one clear next step (a question, a trial task offer, or a simple CTA)
Avoid this
- Open with "Hi, I am a [skill] with X years of experience"
- List every skill or tool you know
- Copy the same cover letter to multiple jobs
- Use phrases like "passionate," "hardworking," or "detail-oriented" without evidence
- Write more than 300 words unless the job complexity justifies it
Need real examples? See 10 Upwork proposal examples with annotated breakdowns or Upwork cover letter examples by niche.
How to Answer Upwork Screening Questions
Screening questions appear below the cover letter field when the client has added them. Most freelancers treat them as a checkbox. Clients use them to filter out everyone who does.
Be specific, not general
If the question asks "Have you worked with Shopify before?", do not answer "Yes, I have extensive Shopify experience." Answer with the project: what the store sold, what you built or fixed, and what the outcome was. Two sentences is enough.
Answer what the question is actually asking
Read the question twice. Clients sometimes phrase questions in a way that asks for an outcome, not a credential. "What would your first week on this project look like?" is asking for a plan, not a list of your skills.
Keep answers short but complete
Two to four sentences per question is the target. Long answers signal that you cannot communicate concisely. One-word or one-line answers signal that you did not take the question seriously.
For a full guide with example answers, read how to answer Upwork screening questions.
How Many Connects Does Submitting a Proposal Cost?
Connects are Upwork's bidding currency. You spend them when you submit a proposal. The cost depends on the job type and whether you boost.
| Situation | Connects |
|---|---|
| Standard job post | 6 connects |
| Premium or featured job post | Up to 16 connects |
| Boosted proposal (minimum) | 2 extra connects |
| Boosted proposal (maximum) | 16 extra connects |
| New account (free starter) | 80 free connects |
| Free plan monthly replenishment | 10 connects/month |
| Freelancer Plus ($20/mo) | 80 connects/month |
Connects are only spent when you click "Submit Proposal." Opening the apply form, writing your cover letter, and closing the tab without submitting costs nothing. If a job is closed or removed after you submit, Upwork refunds your connects within 24 to 48 hours.
Should You Boost Your Upwork Proposal?
Boosting moves your proposal higher in the client's proposal list, above non-boosted submissions. It costs extra connects on top of the standard submission fee.
When boosting is worth it
You have more than 10 completed jobs on Upwork, a strong JSS (90%+), a portfolio with relevant work, and a cover letter you know converts. The job is high-budget and you have reason to believe your proposal is strong enough to win if more clients see it.
When to skip boosting
You are new to Upwork, have fewer than 5 completed jobs, or are not confident in your cover letter. Boosting puts a weak proposal in front of more eyes. It does not fix the proposal. Spend the connects on submitting more jobs with better cover letters instead.
The short version: boosting is a distribution tool, not a quality tool. It only returns value when the underlying proposal is already strong.
5 Common Upwork Proposal Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
Mistake
Sending the same cover letter to every job
Fix
Write at least one sentence that could only apply to this specific job post. Reference the tech stack, the budget, the timeline, or a detail from the description.
Mistake
Bidding without reading the full post
Fix
Read every line including any attached files. Clients can tell within two sentences whether you read their post.
Mistake
Treating screening questions as optional
Fix
Clients add screening questions to filter out lazy applicants. One-line answers confirm you are one of them. Write 2-3 sentences minimum per question.
Mistake
Submitting immediately without reviewing
Fix
Re-read your cover letter once before submitting. Placeholder text, typos, or a mismatched bid lose jobs that your skills would have won.
Mistake
Boosting proposals before having a strong profile
Fix
Boosting puts a weak proposal in front of more eyes, which does not help. Build your profile first: get 3 to 5 completed jobs, earn strong reviews, then consider boosting.
For a deeper look at why proposals stop getting replies, read the full breakdown.
Write Your Cover Letter While You Follow These Steps
Paste the job post into the tool below. It generates 3 personalised cover letter variants using the QDIPC framework in under 60 seconds. No account. No extension. Bring your own API key.
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Related Reading
How to write an Upwork proposal
The 5-part QDIPC framework that top earners use on every bid.
Upwork proposal examples
10 real proposals with breakdowns of exactly what made each one work.
Upwork cover letter examples
Cover letter samples across 5 niches, each with annotated breakdowns.
How to write an Upwork cover letter
Step-by-step guide with niche examples for dev, data entry, VA, and more.
How to answer screening questions
Turn screening questions from a hurdle into a competitive advantage.
Proposal length guide
Short, medium, or detailed: the exact guide for each job type.