The System I Built with AI to Quit 9-5

The AI freelancing system I built after 7,400 Upwork hours: a Claude Skills trend radar that finds high-paying jobs before everyone else. Skill file inside.

In 2016, when I was working a 9-to-5 job, I realized this wasn't for me.

I needed more freedom.

Because I don’t like to be caged.

So I quit my job.

BTW, the company I was working for was the third biggest company in my country, Turkish Airlines.

I was working as an Engineer.

This shocked everyone near me.

Everyone was expecting me to land another job.

But my plan was different.

That plan eventually became the AI freelancing system I am about to show you.

Step 1: Data Science and AI Education

Believe it or not, I even searched for universities offering psychology programs.

I emailed some students at Sigmund Freud Private University in Vienna.

At that time, my best friend was preparing to become a data scientist.

When he told me about it, I loved the idea and started taking courses on Coursera.

I collected every certificate I could.

But there was one problem.

I couldn’t work for corporate companies because of visa restrictions, as I was living in Turkey.

I either had to move to the US or find another way.

I found another way.

Step 2: AI Freelancing on Upwork

I created accounts on Fiverr, Upwork, and several other freelancing platforms.

I loved Upwork and dreamed of working with multiple companies overseas.

So I did.

I have worked more than 7,400 hours.

7,400+ hours on Upwork: the foundation of my AI freelancing career

I started as a data science writer and evolved into an AI expert.

I achieved my dream of working with companies around the world.

I worked with some of the largest companies in their industries, as well as smaller companies trying to stand out.

I watched job titles and expectations change constantly.

So I had to adapt to those changes too.

I had to build projects that clients would love.

And my own title changed many times along the way.

During that time, I realized that I always follow the same pattern.

The Pattern of Success

During this period, I worked on countless projects.

After a while, I decided to start writing about them.

There was demand from you, and that is how LearnAIWithMe became what it is today.

LearnAIWithMe grew from writing about the AI projects I built for clients

But how do I decide which projects to build?

How do I learn what I need?

And how do I turn that new knowledge into real experience?

I am going to show you.

But first, I want to introduce the improved version of my RADAR system.

Following AI Freelancing Trends

To become a successful freelancer, you have to follow the trends.

So I did.

But then I realized there is a better way now.

Guess what I used?

Claude Skills, of course.

Claude Skills are among the most powerful tools available right now, yet they are also incredibly easy to install.

So I built my own radar using the Upwork API through Apify.

Let me explain to you how it works.

The Upwork Trend Radar (Built with Claude Skills)

This radar runs on a schedule.

It checks new trends and sends me a report like this.

The Upwork Trend Radar report, built with Claude Skills and the Apify Upwork API

First, the demand: how many jobs are listed, what the average hourly rate and fixed-price budget are, and how many proposals each listing receives on average.

Demand snapshot: job count, average hourly rate, fixed budgets, and proposals per listing

Next, the skills in demand. Even when I filter for AI jobs, many listings also ask for Python, machine learning, APIs, and similar skills.

Skills in demand for AI freelancing jobs: Python, machine learning, and APIs keep appearing

The next two sections are experience level and what moved, showing which skills companies are chasing

Experience levels and 'what moved': the skills companies started chasing this week

Next is the most important part: the action points. Based on these, I tend to build similar projects.

Action points: the radar tells me which AI projects to build next

And if you think you’ve already done enough trending projects, check the rising list. These may not be in the top five yet, but they could be early signals.

The rising list: early signals before a skill hits the top five

I want you to earn money with AI.

Not just write prompts.

Or even build projects.

I want you to truly benefit from it.

Now, let me give you the skill file.

You can build your own radar and start chasing the job you want.

Or even better, make them chase you.