Last week, our entire team gathered for an All Hands Meeting to discuss key seasonal updates, evaluate our achievements, and share plans for the future. Here’s a summary of the highlights!

What’s Happening on Upwork?

This season, Upwork has been rather quiet with official updates — almost completely stopping public announcements. The Product Updates page has been shut down, and the promised quarterly reports are nowhere to be found. The only official update remains the outdated news about the Uma chatbot. However, behind the scenes, Upwork has undergone many internal changes:

Client dashboards are now fully integrated with Uma, bringing AI into nearly every process — from candidate recommendations to automated project descriptions.

Algorithm tests are running non-stop, with changes happening every 2-3 weeks. Upwork keeps adding and removing features, creating a chaotic search and ranking system.

Our team has already adapted to this constant “marathon of changes” and keeps profiles and proposals updated regularly, even though the platform's stability remains unpredictable.

What’s Happening at Etcetera?

This winter, we celebrated together, enjoyed warm gatherings, organized a Secret Santa, and had the chance to celebrate five team birthdays .

New Team Members:​

We welcomed Valeria (SMM Specialist) and Alina (Full Stack Developer) to the team! They jumped in with full energy, already handling active projects and proving they’re ready for any challenge

This season, we also said goodbye to three colleagues—Masha, Lyuba, and Pasha. We’re grateful for their contributions and happy they were part of our journey.

Right now, we are 33 team members strong, confidently moving forward!

Sales Funnel

The numbers speak for themselves (check out the photos for full stats), but in short:

Despite the winter holidays, we logged even more hours than in the fall!

  • 38 new contracts were opened this season.
  • A significant increase in new clients—thanks to proactive direct messages, invites, and strategic bidding.

The number of interviews also grew, not because Upwork is becoming more generous, but because our team quickly adapted to the platform’s unpredictable changes. We’ve mastered the art of responding swiftly to unexpected shifts—though, at times, it feels like playing a game without clear rules!

Plans for Spring 2025

Since Skype is shutting down in May, we’re planning a full transition to Discord in April.

With an increase in applications and projects, we’re hiring for multiple new positions! If you’re interested, check out our website here now. Demand for AI-powered solutions is rising, and we’re looking for tech-savvy professionals eager to grow with us.

The upcoming months promise even more exciting projects, growth, and challenges. Stay tuned for updates, and if you’re looking to join an innovative, fast-moving team, now is the time!

More Articles

How SEO Is Changing in the Age of AI
21-10-2025

AI is transforming search. Learn how SEO evolves into AEO and GEO — where visibility means being cited in AI answers, not just ranked in results.

Keeping the Human Mind Sharp When AI Can Do It All
16-10-2025

AI makes work easier, but thinking harder. Learn how to stay creative, critical, and human in the age of intelligent machines.

AI Workslop: Why Businesses Pay Freelancers to Fix AI
07-10-2025

AI speeds up work but often creates “workslop” - results that look complete yet lack value. Freelancers are the ones turning them into quality.

Disney Creative Strategy: How Ideas Become Reality
03-10-2025

Disney Creative Strategy: dream, plan, critique — a tool to guide ideas from imagination to real-world results.

Upwork Boost: Increasing Freelancer Profile Visibility
29-09-2025

Discover how Upwork’s Available Now badge and Profile Boost work, their costs, pros and cons, and which boost is best for freelancers or agencies.

10 Posts to Help You Get Started on Upwork
29-09-2025

We’ve gathered a set of articles to guide you through the essentials — from setting up your profile to building long-term client relationships.

Etcetera summer 2025 report
26-09-2025

Etcetera summer 2025 results: quiet season, new team members, shifting Upwork rules, and plans for an active autumn.

Upwork Feedback: a trust tool you should learn to read and write
22-09-2025

Upwork feedback is more than stars — it builds trust, shapes reputation, and guides choices. Learn how to read, request, and write reviews effectively

7 Hats: a thinking tool that saves time and nerves
08-09-2025

Instead of mixing emotions, facts, and criticism in chaos — this method by Edward de Bono helps separate thinking modes.

Upwork: From Simple Fees to Pay-to-Play
29-08-2025

Discover how Upwork’s fees evolved from flat 10% to a pay-to-play model with Connects, boosts, and variable 0-15% commissions in 2025.

Upwork Reset 2025: How to Refresh Your Freelance Strategy
25-08-2025

Discover 5 practical steps to reset your Upwork strategy in 2025: update skills, rethink pricing, optimize proposals, and grow with the market.

How to Build a Team That Won’t Fall Apart in a Crisis
22-08-2025

How to build a strong team that survives crises: Denys Safonov shares lessons from 11 years of leading the agency Etcetera through global challenges.