This is especially true and important for freelancers with no reviews and feedback. When you are a newbie on a certain freelance job board, it is you that says how good you are – and you practically expect your potential clients to take your word for it. Yes, you can write a sample or take on a trial. But before you reach that stage of the work process – you need to convince the client you are worth trying. That’s why it’s important that you do a couple of thing.
First, describe your skills and be realistic when doing it. There’s nothing more frustrating than hiring someone who sells themselves brilliantly only to find out they can’t do half the things they said they can. It is a waste of time and money for both parties.
Secondly, take skill tests. If you are not a native English speaker, take English tests (spelling, vocabulary, basic skills) to confirm your self-assessment is correct. And then move on to your specific niche related tests. E.g. if you are designer, take the tests for Photoshop illustrator or whatever else program you use. If you are a writer, take the tests about creative writing, English sentence structure, technical writing, etc. If you are a marketing