Hi Eliot,
It’s not possible to message a client from a job post; you must send your proposal to them first. If they accept your proposal, a message room will be created where you can continue to interact with the client and discuss the project details.
I also want to clarify that clients are allowed to ask freelancers to complete a skills assessment as part of an interview process. The assessment cannot be part of the work the freelancer is actually being interviewed for and should be solely to assess the freelancer’s skills before hiring. If the client is requesting a sample related to the project you’re being hired for, they should set up a small Fixed-Price contract to compensate you for it.
Lastly, remember to keep all communication on Upwork before a contract is in place. You can visit this page to learn more about staying safe on Upwork.
