Tips for Success
AI TrainingHow to Succeed with AI Training as a Sidegig
Diversify Across Multiple Platforms
Never rely on a single platform. Create accounts on at least 3-5 platforms (UHRS via Clickworker, Appen, Toloka, Scale AI, and Remotasks) to ensure consistent work. When one platform experiences a dry spell, others often have tasks available. Set aside one day per week to check for new qualification opportunities across all your platforms, as the highest-paying projects often fill quickly.
Master the Qualification Process
Qualification tests are your gateway to higher earnings. Take them in a distraction-free environment and read instructions multiple times before starting. For UHRS qualifications, screenshot the guidelines for reference as they often disappear after you begin. On Appen, apply to at least 10-15 projects monthly even if you're currently busy, as project invitations can take weeks to arrive. Common mistake: Rushing through qualifications without thoroughly understanding guidelines, resulting in missed opportunities for high-paying tasks.
Calculate Your Effective Hourly Rate
Before committing significant time to any task, time yourself completing 10-20 examples and calculate your effective hourly rate (tasks per hour × payment per task). This prevents wasting time on seemingly high-paying tasks that take too long to complete. For experienced workers: Create a spreadsheet to track hourly earnings across different task types to optimize your focus. Target tasks paying at least $8-10/hour as you gain experience.
Prioritize Quality Scores Over Speed
Your quality/spam scores determine access to the best tasks. When starting a new task type, focus on accuracy even if it means working slower. Once you understand the requirements fully, gradually increase your speed. On UHRS, maintain at least 85% (ideally 95%+) on all hitapps. For Scale AI and Appen, aim for 4.7+ out of 5 quality ratings. Common mistake: Working too quickly before fully understanding guidelines, resulting in permanent bans from high-paying tasks.
Develop Specialized Knowledge
Advanced AI training workers specialize in high-value niches. Develop expertise in areas like legal content moderation, medical data annotation, or financial text classification where specialized knowledge is rewarded with higher pay rates (often 2-3× standard rates). For LLM evaluation tasks, study linguistic concepts like coherence, relevance, and factuality. If you have language skills beyond English, prioritize tasks in those languages as they typically pay 50-100% more due to smaller worker pools.
Use Productivity Tools and Peak Hours
For repetitive tasks, use text expanders (like TextBlaze) and keyboard shortcuts to increase efficiency. Create templates for common responses in evaluation tasks. Work during peak release hours (typically 9am-2pm EST) when new batches appear. For UHRS specifically, install tracker extensions like "UHRS Real Time" to get notifications when high-paying hitapps become available. Common mistake: Working during off-hours when only low-paying tasks remain available.
Join Community Resources
Connect with other AI trainers through Reddit communities (r/UHRSwork, r/WorkOnline) and platform-specific Facebook groups. These communities share real-time information about high-paying tasks, platform issues, and qualification opportunities. For advanced workers: Contribute regularly to these communities to build relationships with project managers who occasionally recruit directly for premium projects. The "Appen Social" Facebook group and UHRSCrowd Telegram group are particularly valuable for finding the best current opportunities.