If you’ve ever felt like you’re digging through a haystack hoping to find the right Upwork job, you’re not alone.
We hear this all the time from freelancers we coach—especially those new to the platform. You log in, check your job feed, and feel overwhelmed by posts that don’t match your skills, experience, or pay expectations. The good news? You don’t have to settle for a cluttered, confusing feed.
In fact, once you understand how Upwork’s job feed actually works—and how to tweak it—you’ll be able to cut through the noise and uncover jobs that are a perfect match.
Let’s break it down.
Why Your Job Feed Matters More Than You Think
Your Upwork job feed is more than just a scrolling list of gigs. It’s the heartbeat of your freelancing activity. The feed is personalized based on how you’ve set up your profile, what jobs you’ve looked at or applied for, and what filters or keywords you use.
That means it can either serve up golden opportunities… or bury you in irrelevant noise.
Filters Are Your Best Friend
Think of Upwork filters as your personal job-hunting assistant. They help narrow the search and eliminate posts that just don’t make sense for you.
Some of the most helpful filters include:
- Category/Subcategory: Focus on what you do best.
- Experience Level: Choose Entry, Intermediate, or Expert depending on your comfort zone.
- Budget: Filter out low-ball offers that won’t pay what you’re worth.
- Client History: Prefer to work with experienced clients? You can set that too.
Pro tip: If you work in multiple categories (like writing and social media), create and save separate filtered searches for each. That way, you’re not mixing apples and oranges in your results.
Keyword Power: Be Specific to Be Successful
This one’s simple but powerful: use keywords that actually reflect the kind of work you want.
For example, searching “writing” is going to pull up thousands of posts. But if you search for “email newsletter copywriting” or “SEO blog posts for health,” you’ll start seeing much more relevant opportunities.
Take a moment to think like a client. What words would they use when posting a job? Those are the keywords you want to test and save.
But make sure you don’t get limited by using “in words” that were only used in your last company. Try industry wide alternatives
Save Your Searches—Seriously
Once you find a combo of filters and keywords that delivers solid results, save it. Upwork allows you to save searches and even opt in for notifications when new jobs are posted that match.
This can save you so much time and energy—and help you be first in line to apply for high-quality listings.
Daily Routine = Steady Results
If you want consistent job opportunities, consistency in your search strategy is key.
Here’s a simple 10-minute daily plan:
- 5 minutes – Check your saved searches and scan for new listings
- 3 minutes – Apply to jobs that are a great match
- 2 minutes – Save and flag jobs to revisit later
The feed updates constantly, so checking once in the morning and once in the evening is a solid rhythm. You can afford 20 minutes out of your day to look for jobs to make some extra money, right? Make this a part of your daily routine!
Watch Out for Red Flags
As much as we love Upwork, not every job post is worth your time. Keep an eye out for:
- Clients with no verified payment method
- Vague or confusing job descriptions
- Requests to communicate or work off-platform (a clear violation of Upwork’s Terms)
Trust your gut—and when in doubt, skip it.
Final Thoughts: Take Control of Your Feed
Your job feed should feel like a curated list of real opportunities—not a needle-in-a-haystack situation. With the right filters, smart keywords, and a consistent strategy, Upwork can become a powerful platform for finding the freelance work you actually want.
We go over all of this (and more!) in our newest YouTube video:
👉 Understanding Upwork’s Job Feed
Let us know what tricks have worked for you—and if you’re feeling stuck or need guidance, check out our coaching options at www.RPTVirtualServices.com. We’re here to help you succeed.