A Freelance Designer Used AI to Apply for Jobs - Here’s What Happened

By Eve White, Freelance Designer

Freelancing has always been about freedom for me - the ability to choose my projects, set my schedule, and work with clients I genuinely connect with. But let’s be real: the job-hunting process can be exhausting. Between scrolling through job boards, crafting custom proposals, and dealing with the uncertainty of whether I’d even hear back, I often felt like I was spending more time applying for work than actually doing it.

That’s when I came across HourlyRate.ai - and in just 14 days, my freelance workflow changed entirely.

My Struggle: Hours Spent Writing Proposals

As a designer specializing in product design, packaging design, and logos, I knew I had the skills clients were looking for. But getting noticed in a sea of freelancers was a different challenge. Writing compelling proposals took time, and I often second-guessed whether my applications truly stood out. The process felt like a numbers game, and I wanted a smarter way to approach it.

I’d typically spend 3-4 hours a day browsing job boards, customizing proposals, and tweaking my portfolio links. And despite all that effort, I’d sometimes go days without a single response. It was frustrating, disheartening, and made me question whether I was pricing myself correctly or presenting my skills in the best way, or maybe I should just go back to having a “regular job” in an agency somewhere with no real growth opportunities.

The Game-Changer: AI-Generated Proposals

I decided to give HourlyRate.ai a shot during its free trial. The platform’s built-in AI proposal generator caught my attention. Instead of spending 30 - 40 minutes tailoring each application, I could generate a polished, customized proposal in minutes. The AI analyzed job descriptions and helped me highlight the right skills and experience for each opportunity.

How It Worked

1. Job Matching - HourlyRate.ai’s AI-driven job-matching system pulled relevant freelance gigs from multiple platforms (including Upwork) and suggested the best ones based on my skills and preferred rate.
2. Instant Proposals  - With one click, the AI generated a professional, tailored proposal, cutting my application time down by 80%.
3. Optimized Pricing Suggestions - The platform suggested competitive pricing for each job, helping me confidently set my rates without underselling myself (turns out I was doing that regularly, ouch!).

The first time I used it, I thought, There’s no way this is going to work. But then, I started getting responses - quickly. Clients were engaging with my proposals, and within two weeks, I had landed five projects and earned $2,300 in design gigs.

What Changed for Me

• Less Time Applying, More Time Designing – Instead of spending hours on job applications, I could focus on actual design work.
• Higher Response Rate – I noticed that more clients were replying, which meant I could be more selective with the projects I took on.
• Confidence in Pricing – HourlyRate.ai also suggested competitive rates based on my experience, making it easier to price my services fairly.
• Reduced Stress – Knowing that I had a steady flow of job opportunities made freelancing feel less unpredictable.
• Consistent Work – By the end of my second week, I already had repeat clients reaching out for additional projects.

My Advice to Fellow Freelancers

If you’re tired of the endless cycle of job applications, I highly recommend trying HourlyRate.ai. It made freelancing feel fun again - because I could actually focus on what I love instead of drowning in admin work.

Here’s what I’d suggest:

• Start with the free trial – You’ll quickly see how much time you save.
• Use the job-matching tool – It finds relevant gigs so you’re not wasting time on the wrong opportunities.
• Let AI handle the proposals – It’s faster, smarter, and gets results.
• Don’t be afraid to raise your rates – The built-in pricing suggestions helped me charge more confidently.

I never thought AI would play such a big role in my freelance career, but here I am, two weeks in, already seeing the impact. If you’re on the fence, just test it out. You might be surprised at how quickly things start to click. I'm definitely keeping my HourlyRate account going, as the results have proven that it works wonders for me!

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