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Ask HN: Where can I find good freelance opportunities?

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Ask HN: Where can I find good freelance opportunities?

#1

Post by alashley »

Hi,

So I'm a student who's graduating college in a month, and I'd like to freelance until I find a job. Ideally, I'd like to work with JavaScript and Node.js. I don't have a ton of experience with Node, but my degree was pretty hands-on and we learned several technologies that have given me translatable experience.

I have written code in C, C#, VB.NET, PHP, Python, Java (Android/Web), JavaScript, and Ruby. I am also familiar with Drupal, Oracle and MySQL. I am by no means an expert in all of these technologies, but I do believe that I can ramp up in a reasonable time frame in a given technology.

I've tried ODesk and Elance, but my experience so far has been that most of the jobs there favor freelancers with the most experience and the lowest bids.

So where can I find some decent opportunities that will help me to grow quickly? I'm open to any ideas! At this point its not even so much about the salary, but I just want to be able to put my coding skills to good (paid) use.

Cheers,

A.

Re: Ask HN: Where can I find good freelance opportunities?

#2

Post by coolsunglasses »

If you want to freelance successfully you really need to learn basic prospecting, sales, and networking.

ODesk and Elance are bad mojo unless you're dying for some grist for that portfolio.

Speaking of which, establish a solid web presence that you control (not just github) and start building up a reputation for being good at something in particular.

Also you just listed off 8 programming languages, a CMS, and two different databases. I and anybody like me who could potentially be interested in hiring a freelancer would rather know what you're actually GOOD at. Don't do that resume stuffing garbage. Case in point, can you even use function pointers in C? No? Then drop it off the list.

Start building up a portfolio of Node.js projects, then you'll build the necessary expertise to work in the stuff you want to be doing. Do contract work in whatever you're actually good at until your Node skills catch up.

Re: Ask HN: Where can I find good freelance opportunities?

#3

Post by alashley »

coolsunglasses wrote: post #2

If you want to freelance successfully you really need to learn basic prospecting, sales, and networking. ODesk and Elance are bad mojo unless you're dying for some grist for that portfolio. Speaking of which, establish a solid web presence that you control (not just github) and start building up a reputation for being good at something in particular. Also you just listed off 8 programming languages, a CMS, and two di…

Thanks for the advice.

You're right, I'll be sure to narrow down my core capabilities so it doesn't look like I'm a jack of all trades.

Thanks again!

Re: Ask HN: Where can I find good freelance opportunities?

#4

Post by joshmlewis »

Find someone that's successful in your community business wise and befriend them. Find someone that used to do what you do and now does more upper management type deals that has connections and then they will start referring you to people if you're good. Find a good designer to partner with that needs a good back-end person. I started this way and just last week closed my biggest client ever because of a referral for aforementioned mentor friend I made. Might not work for everyone, but connections and referrals are what worked best for me.

And it goes without saying, do great work. Not just good enough work, do great work. Work that people will be impressed with and you'll grow even faster. Don't take on too much to where your work quality dips down to just enough to get by. If you suddenly have an overflow of clients, charge more.

Edit: Also put your name/email in your profile. I just tried to find it and I was going to email you for some projects I have going on. Also, post on HN when the freelancer post every month comes up.

Re: Ask HN: Where can I find good freelance opportunities?

#5

Post by joshmlewis »

alashley wrote: post #3
coolsunglasses wrote: post #2

If you want to freelance successfully you really need to learn basic prospecting, sales, and networking. ODesk and Elance are bad mojo unless you're dying for some grist for that portfolio. Speaking of which, establish a solid web presence that you control (not just github) and start building up a reputation for being good at something in particular. Also you just listed off 8 programming languages, a CMS, and two di…

Thanks for the advice. You're right, I'll be sure to narrow down my core capabilities so it doesn't look like I'm a jack of all trades. Thanks again!

And I would say on top of this put down not only what you're good at but what you would prefer to work on, and what makes you happiest and excited. If you take a bunch of jobs that you don't like (which you may have to do at first) you will eventually get bored and loose your excitement.

Re: Ask HN: Where can I find good freelance opportunities?

#6

Post by alashley »

joshmlewis wrote: post #4

Find someone that's successful in your community business wise and befriend them. Find someone that used to do what you do and now does more upper management type deals that has connections and then they will start referring you to people if you're good. Find a good designer to partner with that needs a good back-end person. I started this way and just last week closed my biggest client ever because of a referral for…

Noted. Thank you!

Re: Ask HN: Where can I find good freelance opportunities?

#7

Post by alashley »

alashley wrote: post #3
coolsunglasses wrote: post #2

If you want to freelance successfully you really need to learn basic prospecting, sales, and networking. ODesk and Elance are bad mojo unless you're dying for some grist for that portfolio. Speaking of which, establish a solid web presence that you control (not just github) and start building up a reputation for being good at something in particular. Also you just listed off 8 programming languages, a CMS, and two di…

Thanks for the advice. You're right, I'll be sure to narrow down my core capabilities so it doesn't look like I'm a jack of all trades. Thanks again!

I should add that here on the west coast of Canada (Victoria, BC), the startup/freelancing scene isn't that great especially at first glance, which is why I was looking for stuff elsewhere. Jobs here are mostly PHP, Java etc. But that's not tech I see myself working with long-term, so like you've said I'll focus on what gets me excited.

Re: Ask HN: Where can I find good freelance opportunities?

#8

Post by obviouslygreen »

As stated: Portfolio, portfolio, portfolio. Make friends with a good designer, or make very good friend with Bootstrap.

If node.js is what you want to do, worm your way into the community and get yourself to the point where you're either a contributor or known to contributors that actually work in the corporate world. Those are valuable references, and with no work experience, your references could make or (more likely) break your chances.

I guess my only personal advice would be not to expect too much, and to be willing to at least consider The Dreaded Corporate World. You shouldn't expect freelance gigs when you're brand new and don't actually have the experience to earn a freelance gig, so if you get one, feel lucky and make it count! If not, understand that success usually takes time, and experience is time well spent, whether it's in your dream job or something less ideal.

Re: Ask HN: Where can I find good freelance opportunities?

#9

Post by chrisa »

Start a blog and portfolio where you can post about projects that you are proud of, and that show off that you can work with certain technologies. That goes a long way towards getting work, as it demonstrates that you know what you're doing.

To meet people, go to developer meetups in your area for the technology that you would most like to work with. Tell them you are looking to do some freelancing - I've seen many people start partnerships and projects that way.

Re: Ask HN: Where can I find good freelance opportunities?

#10

Post by tagabek »

joshmlewis wrote: post #4

Find someone that's successful in your community business wise and befriend them. Find someone that used to do what you do and now does more upper management type deals that has connections and then they will start referring you to people if you're good. Find a good designer to partner with that needs a good back-end person. I started this way and just last week closed my biggest client ever because of a referral for…

I'm curious about how you would go about "charg[ing] more."

Do you contact current clients and explain why you are raising prices and charge them your increased price on the next job? Do you just state it and not explain?

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