I used to get contracts through oDesk/UpWork as well ( https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~015eaccf9967b4f9f4 )
However the quality of the jobs I can apply for are a continuously going backwards, even if the quality I am able to deliver is really high compared to many other freelancer on the platform. This is why I almost do not use UpWork to do my freelancing anymore.
Wanna quit your job and become upwork freelancer? Do not do that
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Re: Wanna quit your job and become upwork freelancer? Do not do that
#22The trick is to avoid looking for work on platforms like oDesk (now Upwork) where the world is underbidding you. It’s a positioning and deal flow issue. Ideally you want clients to refer you on to other clients. And maybe you should call yourself a contractor, agency, solo developer—something like that—instead of a “freelancer.” So it’s possible to do well if you quit your job and work as a freelancer, but you need t…
You're right.
Re: Wanna quit your job and become upwork freelancer? Do not do that
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
I was just telling about my experience working on odesk (read biggest freelance website). This is not first case of stupid client and I'm not first day there. What kind of backup? Link to my profile? Ok will update post now.
Sergey, one advice - please do NOT work for $15/hr. All it takes to charge $XXX/hr (or $8X-$9X/hr ) is just to ask for it. Seriously. And keep away from odesk/upwork/etc.. race to the bottom sites. Search and contact prospective clients yourself - as if you'd looking for standard job. No middle-man is needed here.
Thanks for the advice. Actually I already started to search full time job. Enough odesk freelancing for me. :)
Re: Wanna quit your job and become upwork freelancer? Do not do that
#24This is all wrong. Click-bait title. Some thoughts by a discouraged person in a globalised world and a general conclusion that doesn't make any sense if you read the article. Maybe the OP shouldn't look for projects in oDesk-type websites. I don't do that and I'm really happy working as a freelancer. For anyone wondering how to find freelance projects. You should go and look for local clients, networking, contact com…
The page's actual title is "...become Upwork freelancer", which is fairly specific and not click-baity IMO. (It looks like the HN title is the same now, changed from just "become a freelancer.")
Re: Wanna quit your job and become upwork freelancer? Do not do that
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
$60/hr is not particularly good money in the Bay Area.
Source? What is ideal for Bay Area? Most startups I see have salaries around ~$80k (~$32/hr for 48hr week or ~$40/hr for 40hr week)
You realize that the $80,000 includes completely free health care (otherwise $300 a month minimum, if not more if they offer a good plan) with no employee contribution, free dental ($20 a month?), $300 towards vision a year, minimal life insurance maybe, free meals at the office, etc.
Not to mention that you get sick pay, holiday pay, retirement account contributions, etc.
Including the benefits it easily adds up to $100,000 a year of benefits or more depending on how good the benefits are
Besides, if it's not a start-up you're easily making $130,000+ if you have a lot of experience
Re: Wanna quit your job and become upwork freelancer? Do not do that
#26Well, like one of my friends is saying "friendly speaking" I think he took the right decision :)
Re: Wanna quit your job and become upwork freelancer? Do not do that
#27This is all wrong. Click-bait title. Some thoughts by a discouraged person in a globalised world and a general conclusion that doesn't make any sense if you read the article. Maybe the OP shouldn't look for projects in oDesk-type websites. I don't do that and I'm really happy working as a freelancer. For anyone wondering how to find freelance projects. You should go and look for local clients, networking, contact com…
The page's actual title is "...become Upwork freelancer", which is fairly specific and not click-baity IMO. (It looks like the HN title is the same now, changed from just "become a freelancer.")
yes, just updated title, because my post about upwork experience, not freelance in general, as many people pointed in comments.
Re: Wanna quit your job and become upwork freelancer? Do not do that
#28"I studied CS.."
You asked someone who obviously has no clue what it takes to actually DO the work to value your work. Hence the response you got was someone thinking... "damn.. how hard is it to write a crawler, I can think that through in my head, step by step, easy as pie."
You learned a great lesson - value must be shown and substantiated, clearly and succinctly. People outside of your head have no idea the effort it took you to understand and do what you do. You're putting the onus on them to recognize the effort when it's YOUR responsibility to convey and stand by exactly that.
As you deal with more senior and exec management, you'll come to find that playing dumb is quite often a finely honed skill that preys upon situations exactly like this... which left unchecked, is setting yourself up for a sudden realization down the road you're killing yourself to deliver on a silly deadline at well below your normal rate.
Step back and breathe this lesson in, it's so much more to your benefit than simply defaulting to indignance.
Re: Wanna quit your job and become upwork freelancer? Do not do that
#29Quit my job 2 years ago and went freelance. I earn just a bit more than before but I have way less stress and quality of life improved. All my clients are contacts I gathered over the years, never had to look for a client online. My advice is, before you quit make sure you are networked enough to pull it off on your own. Maybe it's a good idea to plan spending the last couple of months at your regular job arranging your first freelance gig before quitting.
Re: Wanna quit your job and become upwork freelancer? Do not do that
#30It takes some effort to find jobs where clients are willing to pay a premium for quality.
I've used Upwork before - if you are experienced enough, you can easily filter the client by a combination of amount spent, average hourly rate paid, prior feedback by contractors, feedback given to contractors and their estimate price (or expertise) for the project. Apply/respond only if the client matches your filter.
But as others have mentioned here, it is cut-throat competition - you have to be patient and very choosy.