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Atakan Özden

Data Science | Web Development | VA | Data Entry

Freelance

Atakan Özden, a freelance computer engineer specializing in data science, web development, and virtual assistance, has built a thriving online career since graduating in 2024. Starting with small projects on Upwork, he quickly grew his portfolio through persistence, strong client relationships, and advanced English proficiency. In this interview, Atakan reflects on the freedom of freelancing, how AI is reshaping his field, and the satisfaction of working with clients from around the world.

• LinkedIn

1. How would you describe your professional background in a few sentences?

   I am a computer engineer, and during my studies, I completed my internships as a web development specialist. I graduated in 2024, and after graduation, I took the IELTS exam to prove my English proficiency. Shortly after, I started working as a freelancer on Upwork. At first, I took on small projects, but over time, I had the opportunity to participate in larger ones and increase my earnings. Currently, I work on Upwork in various fields such as data entry, research, virtual assistance, data annotation, proofreading, and social media management, and I regularly collaborate with my long-term clients.

2. Who or what influenced your professional direction most?

   Working as a freelancer has always been my dream. I wanted a job where I could set my own working hours and work freely from my computer. Upwork has been the perfect platform for that, giving me the opportunity to start my career.

3. What does a typical day look like in your role?

   I currently have a part-time client with whom I work from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. After completing my tasks there, I start working on projects for my other clients, whose work schedules are more flexible, and I communicate with them. During the day, I also spend about 45 minutes to an hour searching for new jobs and keeping track of new opportunities.

4. Which skills have been most valuable to your success?

   I believe that living in Turkey and having an advanced level of English has given me an advantage, as not many people in my country speak English fluently. This helps me stand out to international clients who want to work with someone based in Turkey. Additionally, being a computer engineer allows me to complete my tasks quickly using AI and similar tools, which has positively contributed to my career growth.

5. What trends are shaping your industry right now?

   AI is currently creating - and continuing to create - major transformations across all industries, especially in software development. It enables people to complete their work much faster and greatly contributes to automation and time efficiency.

6. What values guide your decision-making at work?

   Building direct and sincere relationships with people during my work significantly increases my success. I clearly express my needs and expectations, and in return, I receive direct and honest feedback from them as well.

7. Who or what played a key role in your success story?

   Upwork and the amazing people I work with play the biggest role in my success. The wonderful clients I collaborate with have a positive impact on me as someone who is just starting my career.

8. What are you most excited about in the next stage of your career?

   I’m currently continuing to grow in my freelance career, and the projects I take on are getting bigger and bigger. Expanding my client portfolio and being able to work online with people from many different countries is the most exciting part of my career.