Stage 5 · Lesson 4 of 7
Invites, interviews and contract offers
Clients may invite you to apply, or message you after a . Treat that chat or call as a . Ask about their goal, their deadline and what done looks like, and confirm the scope before accepting an offer.
Keep every conversation on Upwork until a contract starts. Sharing email, WhatsApp or Telegram before then breaks Upwork's rules, even if the client asks first. This is called , and it can cost you your account.
When the offer arrives, check the contract type, the rate or , and the fee shown. Also check that the first milestone will be funded before you start. Upwork may give some back when an established client interviews you.
Common trapaccepting an offer whose terms differ from what you discussed, because the contract, not the chat, is what protects you.
A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 2 cheat sheet entries come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it