Contract-to-hire—showing you are open to full-time employment

We know at times clients want to hire freelancers as full-time employees after working with them on Upwork. If you are open to this possibility, you can add this to your profile for clients to see.

Showing that you’re open to a contract-to-hire opportunity


You can set in your Profile settings if you are open to contract-to-hire opportunities:

If you have an existing Upwork profile:

  1. Go to Find Work
  2. Click the edit symbol labeled Job Preference
  3. Check the box next to Open to contract-to-hire
  4. Click Update to save your preference

If you are new to Upwork, you can select Open to contract-to-hire during profile set-up.

Once you have selected this setting in your profile, clients can find you by using a filter for Open to contract-to-hire when searching for talent on the platform. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a job with contract-to-hire potential?

When you are searching for jobs posted by clients, select the Contract-to-hire filter option from the menu on the left.

Am I obligated to go full-time with the client if I take a job with contract-to-hire potential?

No. We highlight contract-to-hire opportunities, but there is no obligation to move to full-time and the client may decide not to move the job to full-time.

What is the process for going full-time with a client I found on Upwork?

As long as you both agree, the client can convert your contract so they can hire you as a full-time employee. The client will pay the Upwork Conversion Fee: you do not pay any fee for converting the contract.

Can I have multiple contracts at once that are contract-to-hire opportunities?

Yes.

Can I go full-time with a client if our contract was not for a job described as a contract-to-hire opportunity?

Yes. We offer the option for clients to convert any closed or active contract, whether it started as a contract-to-hire opportunity or not.

How do I know when it’s ok for me to work with a client who is handling contracts, payment, and communication on their own?

We’ll communicate with both you and your client during the contract conversion so the process and the status is clear to everyone. When you agree to the conversion and the client pays the fee, we also send a confirmation email letting you know.

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