Job Seeker Help Center

How do I apply for freelance jobs or submit a proposal?

1. To apply for a freelance job, select “Submit a Proposal” at the top of a job posting.

2. On the next screen, confirm your contact information and verify your phone and email if you haven’t already. You can also upload or change your profile photo and opt in to receiving text message updates about your proposal’s status.

3. If the employer has included prescreening questions, they will appear in the next step after you confirm your contact information.

4. Now it’s time to write your proposal, which is similar to a cover letter in a traditional job application. A strong freelance proposal clearly shows you understand the client’s needs, explains how you’ll help them meet their goals, highlights your relevant experience, and lays out your timeline and pricing.

Don’t know where to start? Create a proposal in seconds using generative AI by selecting “One-Click Proposal.”

Our AI tool will create the proposal based on your portfolio, resume (if you’ve uploaded one), job preferences, and answers to any application questions. You can edit the AI-generated proposal as needed before submitting it.

5. While it’s optional for freelancers to include a resume, you may do so in this step. Choose from your saved resumes, add a new one, or select “Apply without a resume.”

6. In the next step, you’ll enter a bid. A bid is the compensation amount you’re asking for. It can be an hourly rate or a fixed total payment for the deliverable(s). Including a bid in your proposal helps the client understand your pricing upfront. If you’re unsure how to price your work, check out this article in our Resource Center.

7. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see the total compensation you’ll receive, plus the 8% iHire service fee, if selected for the projects. Select “Next” if everything looks good to you.

8. In the final step of the application process, you’ll have a chance to review your entire proposal before submitting it. Select “Submit Proposal” when you’re ready to move forward.

9. After submitting your first freelance proposal, you will be asked to input a payment method to ensure you are paid on time once work is completed. You can securely connect to your PayPal account in just a few clicks. You can also navigate to “Payments” under “Account” and connect to your PayPal account there.

Once you start receiving payments from clients, you’ll see your available balance at the bottom of this page and can withdraw funds as needed.