Understanding CERT as a freelancer

21 Oct 2021

2 min

CERT is our official ranking algorithm. Think of it as a shiny TripAdvisor badge or a special qualification showing potential buyers that you are trustworthy, experienced and professional.

In this blog post we’ll guide you through what CERT is, why we use it and how it can help you to win and secure more work as a freelancer.

What does CERT stand for?

Community – Engagement – Repeat Usage – Trust.

Community is at the heart of everything we do.

Engagement is the way in which freelancers interact with buyers.

Repeat Usage is about retaining buyers.

Trust is about authenticity, endorsements and validation.

Why do we use CERT?

We use CERT to reward highly qualified freelancers so that they get the most exposure to buyers.

The higher quality work you do, the more we reward you and the higher your CERT level.

What do we define as highly quality?

There are several factors which we take into account when awarding CERT. This includes:

Skill set
Quality of work
Number of jobs completed
Professional ability
Response time
Reliability
Track record

How are CERT levels broken down?

CERT ranges from 1-5 with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest. 0.5% (around 200) of freelancers will even receive a Top CERT badge which is as good as it gets in terms of CERT.

CERT is a continuous process and freelancers receive a badge on their profile which shows buyers which level they are on.

Level 1 – Every freelancer starts here.

Levels 2 & 3 – Once you start earning through the site you will be elevated to level 2 and 3.

Levels 4 & 5 – Do good work and receive high-quality scores to be awarded higher levels.

TOP CERT – This CERT is offered to the top scores.