luck and networking, just like my day job
Ask HN: How do you get side gigs?
11–20 of 224 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you get side gigs?
#12I have found my last few freelancing gigs by posting my availability in Slack groups. As an Elixir dev I posted in an Elixir-specific Slack group. I also post in the HN monthly threads but I haven't gotten many leads from those.
It also helps if you have an established profile, e.g. an active Github profile with open source contributions.
Re: Ask HN: How do you get side gigs?
#13Unless you already have top of market compensation, I'd focus on interviewing for a higher paying job rather than do more work on the side. Going by the ££ signs I'm assuming you can get a job in London, where you can make >£200k total compensation as a good software engineer.
I'm already earning near that compensation, was just looking for something on the side as well :)
Re: Ask HN: How do you get side gigs?
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm on the "DevOps" side which tends to demand less $ from what I hear, but I get between $90 and $130/hr for hourly gigs (my preference). There's also Part-Time and Full-Time gigs that guarantee 20 hours and 40 hours per week respectively.
Yeah nice. What was so painful about the application process?
Be prepared to have to do off-screen and later screen-shared, timed leetcode challenges. Fail one, it's an automatic disqualification.
Re: Ask HN: How do you get side gigs?
#15I have found my last few freelancing gigs by posting my availability in Slack groups. As an Elixir dev I posted in an Elixir-specific Slack group. I also post in the HN monthly threads but I haven't gotten many leads from those. It also helps if you have an established profile, e.g. an active Github profile with open source contributions.
Thanks :)
Re: Ask HN: How do you get side gigs?
#16Unless you already have top of market compensation, I'd focus on interviewing for a higher paying job rather than do more work on the side. Going by the ££ signs I'm assuming you can get a job in London, where you can make >£200k total compensation as a good software engineer.
I'm already earning near that compensation, was just looking for something on the side as well :)
How much more money do you need if you're on 200K? That's already like 3-4x the salary of a dev in the UK
Re: Ask HN: How do you get side gigs?
#17Unless you already have top of market compensation, I'd focus on interviewing for a higher paying job rather than do more work on the side. Going by the ££ signs I'm assuming you can get a job in London, where you can make >£200k total compensation as a good software engineer.
FANGs? startups? contracts? It's been a while since I looked, is 200k the norm now? Asking for a friend...
Re: Ask HN: How do you get side gigs?
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah nice. What was so painful about the application process?
Be prepared to have to do off-screen and later screen-shared, timed leetcode challenges. Fail one, it's an automatic disqualification.
Hmm, i just cbf with leetcode grinding again.
What about for a React/frontend role. Surely no leetcode
Re: Ask HN: How do you get side gigs?
#19Networking and Marketing.
For 10 years I spoke at every conference, user group, etc. that I could find. I sustained a 9 person consulting company finding gigs through the network of other speakers and attendees that would come up and ask me questions. Every question can be rephrased as “I have a problem you can help me solve”, but you also have to qualify to make sure there is a company with a budget for solving that problem. That takes a little business development.
For conference attendees, you have to have some free giveaway to keep a connection… like a free 2 hour code review of your existing project, or “I’m willing to do this presentation for an in-house user group as a lunchtime thing if you’re interested”. Those little giveaways get you closer to the management and the confidence you know what you’re talking about.
Re: Ask HN: How do you get side gigs?
#20Networking and Marketing. For 10 years I spoke at every conference, user group, etc. that I could find. I sustained a 9 person consulting company finding gigs through the network of other speakers and attendees that would come up and ask me questions. Every question can be rephrased as “I have a problem you can help me solve”, but you also have to qualify to make sure there is a company with a budget for solving that…
I realized I should clarify “I could find”. I’m in the Washington D.C. Metro area, but I spoke _at least_ once a week everywhere from Richmond to Philadelphia, and occasionally as far as Ohio.