Be wary when searching for jobs on freelance platforms

Developing a website is no easy feat. Unfortunately, receiving adequate compensation for such a tedious task is arguably more difficult than creating the site itself. Freelancing sites, such as Upwork, are notorious for setting insultingly low fees, deterring self-employed individuals from utilizing such platforms. A client has recently taken to Upwork's job board, doing nothing to dispel this scammy image of Upwork. What's more, the client has little to no grip on reality.

The job description is pretty straightforward; the client would like the developer to create a site for their jewelry business from the ground up. In return, the client has offered a measly $75. The average time it takes to build, test, and launch a site is 14 weeks. Broken down, that equates to 98 days, resulting in roughly 76 cents for a day's work - yikes! What's even more unsettling are the client's preferred job qualifications. The client prefers that the web designer have a 90% success rate and an astounding 500 hours of experience on the platform. For such ambitious qualifications, one would think the payout would at least have some zero's attached to it.

Not surprisingly, this job listing has caused quite an uproar. Freelancers and web developers alike are baffled by the prospect of creating a site for such an alarmingly low rate. Some are suggesting that the draft of the proposal alone would cost $75, while others are mocking the client's trivialization of such an intricate art form. After all, the job description does include the following caveat: "I don't know anything about building a website, so you must know what you are doing." Another designer expressed concern, stating that these types of listings support the notion that site creations can be performed in a short, mindless manner.

Suffice it to say, if this person wants a job well done, they'll need to up the ante. Most self-respecting creators would merely scoff at the listing and carry on, yet surprisingly the job has generated around five proposals. This job listing transcends beyond delusion, and lands right into the arena of downright offensive.