# Upwork Interview Prep: Web Design Project

**PROJECT:**
Shopify e-commerce redesign for jewelry brand ($2,000-3,500)

**YOUR EXPERTISE:**
Shopify Web Designer, 5 years experience

---

## SCREENING QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

### Question 1: "What is your experience with Shopify?"

**Strong Answer:**
```
I have worked exclusively with Shopify for the past 4 years, completing 23 store builds and redesigns. My experience includes:

- Theme customization (Dawn, Debut, Prestige, and custom themes)
- Liquid templating for custom functionality
- App integrations (Klaviyo, Judge.me, ReCharge, Loox)
- Performance optimization (my stores average 85+ mobile PageSpeed scores)
- Checkout customization and conversion optimization

Most relevant to your project: I redesigned a handmade jewelry store last year (Artisan Silver Co.) that resulted in a 42% increase in mobile conversions. Happy to share that case study.
```

**Why This Works:**
- Specific numbers (4 years, 23 stores, 85+ PageSpeed)
- Relevant tech stack they might need
- Directly relevant example with results
- Offers proof (case study)

---

### Question 2: "Share examples of similar work"

**Strong Answer:**
```
Here are three projects most relevant to your jewelry redesign:

1. **Artisan Silver Co.** (artisansilver.com)
   - Handmade jewelry, similar aesthetic to yours
   - Redesigned from Debut to custom theme
   - Result: 42% mobile conversion increase, 28% higher AOV

2. **Luna Gems** (lunagems.co)
   - Fine jewelry, needed elevated brand feel
   - Built custom product pages with zoom and video
   - Result: 3.2 minute average time on site (up from 1.4)

3. **Coastal Jewelry** (coastaljewelry.com)
   - Bohemian jewelry brand, mobile-first redesign
   - Focused on Instagram shopping integration
   - Result: 67% of sales now from mobile

I can walk you through any of these in detail on a call if helpful.
```

**Why This Works:**
- Three specific examples, not just "check my portfolio"
- Results for each (numbers!)
- Offers to discuss further (moves to call)

---

### Question 3: "What is your availability and timeline?"

**Strong Answer:**
```
I have availability starting next week and can dedicate 20-25 hours/week to this project.

Typical timeline for a project like yours:
- Week 1: Discovery + wireframes + mood board
- Week 2-3: Full design + 2 revision rounds
- Week 4: Development + testing
- Week 5: Launch + training + handoff

Total: 4-5 weeks from kickoff to launch.

I am also flexible—if you have a specific deadline (holiday sale, product launch, etc.), let me know and I can adjust the schedule accordingly.
```

**Why This Works:**
- Specific availability (20-25 hours/week)
- Clear timeline with milestones
- Shows flexibility
- Asks about their constraints

---

## LIVE CALL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

### "Tell me about yourself"

**Framework:** Present → Past → Future (60-90 seconds max)

**Answer:**
```
I am a Shopify specialist focused on e-commerce stores for jewelry and accessories brands. For the past 4 years, I have helped over 20 brands redesign their stores to improve conversions—my average client sees a 35% lift in mobile sales.

Before freelancing, I worked at a Shopify Plus agency where I learned enterprise-level optimization. I went independent because I wanted to work directly with brand owners like yourself instead of through account managers.

I am particularly excited about your project because handmade jewelry is exactly my niche—I understand the balance between showcasing craftsmanship and driving sales.
```

---

### "Why should we hire you over other freelancers?"

**Framework:** Specific expertise + Relevant proof + Their benefit

**Answer:**
```
Three reasons:

First, jewelry e-commerce is my specialty—not just Shopify in general. I understand the specific challenges: photography presentation, trust-building for high-ticket items, gift-buying flows.

Second, I do not just make things look pretty. My last 5 jewelry clients saw an average 38% conversion increase. I will share those case studies.

Third, I am easy to work with. I communicate proactively, hit deadlines, and do not disappear. My 100% Job Success Score on Upwork reflects that.

But honestly, the best way to know is a small test. I am happy to do paid discovery week so you can evaluate my work before committing to the full project.
```

---

### "What is your rate / Can you do it for less?"

**Framework:** Anchor value → Justify → Offer options

**Answer:**
```
My rate for a project like this is typically $3,000-3,500, which includes discovery, design, development, and 30 days of post-launch support.

That said, I understand budget matters. A few options:

1. **Full service ($3,200):** Everything included, you are hands-off
2. **Design only ($2,000):** I design, your developer implements
3. **Phased approach:** We start with homepage + 3 key pages, then expand

Which approach fits your situation best?
```

**Why This Works:**
- Does not immediately discount
- Provides options instead of yes/no
- Puts decision back to client

---

### "Can you meet our tight deadline?"

**Framework:** Clarify → Assess → Commit or Counter

**Answer:**
```
Let me make sure I understand—you need this live by [date], correct?

[If doable:]
Yes, that is tight but achievable. Here is what I would need:
- Kickoff call this week
- Your product photos and copy ready by [date]
- Quick feedback turnaround (24-48 hours on revisions)

If those are in place, I can commit to that deadline.

[If not doable:]
That timeline is aggressive for the scope you described. I can either:
- Deliver a launch-ready MVP by [date], then refine post-launch
- Bring in a developer I trust to parallelize the work

Which would you prefer?
```

---

### "What happens if we are not happy with the work?"

**Framework:** Acknowledge concern → Explain process → Reduce risk

**Answer:**
```
Great question—you should ask this.

My process is designed to prevent that:
- We align on wireframes before any design work
- You see progress weekly, not just at the end
- Two revision rounds are included at each stage

If after all that we are still not aligned, I offer a satisfaction guarantee: if you are unhappy after the first milestone, you can walk away and I will refund that phase.

I have never had a client use it, but it is there for peace of mind.
```

---

## QUESTIONS TO ASK THE CLIENT

Asking smart questions shows expertise and helps you close.

| Question | What It Signals |
|----------|----------------|
| "What does success look like for this project?" | You care about outcomes, not just tasks |
| "What is driving the timeline?" | You want to understand priorities |
| "Have you worked with freelancers before? How did it go?" | You want to avoid past mistakes |
| "Who will I be working with day-to-day?" | You think about communication |
| "What is your review/approval process?" | You anticipate bottlenecks |
| "Is there flexibility in scope, or is this fixed?" | You think about trade-offs |

---

## CLOSING THE INTERVIEW

### Strong Close:
```
Based on our conversation, I am confident I can deliver what you need. Here is what I suggest as next steps:

1. I will send a brief proposal summary with timeline and pricing tonight
2. You review and let me know any questions
3. If it looks good, we can kick off Monday

Does that work for you?
```

### If They Need to "Think About It":
```
Totally understand. A few things that might help your decision:

- I can share references from similar clients
- Happy to do a small paid test project first
- I am interviewing with other clients this week, so timing may matter

When do you think you will make a decision? I will follow up then.
```

---

## RED FLAGS TO WATCH FOR

| Red Flag | What to Do |
|----------|------------|
| Vague scope, fixed budget | Clarify scope before committing |
| "We need it yesterday" | Charge rush fee or decline |
| Multiple decision-makers | Ask who has final approval |
| Asking for free work/test | Offer paid test instead |
| Extremely low budget | Politely decline or offer reduced scope |
| Bad reviews from past freelancers | Ask what went wrong |

---

## POST-INTERVIEW FOLLOW-UP

### Same Day Email:
```
Hi [Name],

Great speaking with you today. I am excited about the possibility of working on [project].

As discussed:
- Timeline: [X weeks]
- Investment: $[amount]
- Next step: [what you agreed]

I have attached [proposal/portfolio/references] for your review.

Let me know if any questions come up. Looking forward to getting started!

Best,
[Your Name]
```