✓ Interview and negotiate

Upwork’s messaging tools allow clients to interview freelancers via chat, audio, or Zoom video to clarify project needs, negotiate terms, and assess fit before hiring. All communication must begin on Upwork, ensuring security and fairness. Enterprise clients are allowed to share contact information before a contract begins but should still be cautious about sharing information.

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An interview gives you an opportunity to communicate your needs, ask questions, evaluate a freelancer’s spontaneous responses, and negotiate terms of the contract, such as the work, terms, deadlines, and more. This is your chance to decide if the freelancer is the right match before making an offer and sets the tone for future communication.

To make it easy, we offer audio and video interview options, including Zoom, right in Upwork Messages.

How do I start an interview message thread?

1. Open the job post from Hire talent > All job posts
2. Choose a freelancer’s profile then select the (...) options menu
3. Select the Send Message button to contact the freelancer or agency

Once you complete this process, we automatically move the applicant to your Messaged section for further review. Your message thread will embed in the proposal view.

From this point, you can continue communicating through Upwork Messages and set up a time to interview. Learn about our best practices for video interviews, sharing files, and more here.

To help you stay as safe as possible, we require that all direct communications begin on Upwork. Enterprise clients do have more leeway than other users to exchange contact information with freelancers and use external tools to interview, but conversations need to start in Upwork Messages. This means you cannot share your contact information in your profiles, proposals, and job postings, for example.

We provide secure tools for clients and freelancers to communicate directly from Upwork Messages.. Once a freelancer accepts your offer, you can choose to share your contact information and use other tools to manage your project, too.

We always recommend that you be cautious when sharing any sensitive or personal information with anyone you do not know and respect the freelancer’s need to do the same. Learn more about best practices for online safety here.

Note:

To keep things fair, neither clients nor talent can offer the other extra rewards for winning a contract. For example, a freelancer should never request or offer you anything of value (like a gift card, money, or additional services) for giving them the contract. And you shouldn't request or offer anything besides the contracted funds. But you can always pay a bonus for excellent work, if you'd like.