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Hiring freelancers is itself almost a scam; hiring teams means scam, squared. Easiest way to fail your startup. Hire only locally, people you know. Don't use an

Hiring freelancers is itself almost a scam; hiring teams means scam, squared. Easiest way to fail your startup. Hire only locally, people you know. Don't use any online platform for that, you are going to get ripped.

mattmanser 9y ago
What "scam"? I'm working as a freelancer for a startup that's doing great, thanks.
- anovikov 9y ago
  The market for custom software developers is built in a way that tricksters inevitably outcompete honest people. I.e. any sufficiently attractively looking profile on a freelance developer on any freelance site is likely someone to actually, avoid. They know what they are doing very well, that is their bread, they do it whole their lives, and there is absolutely no chance an outsider can beat them i that game.
  - rhubarbcustard 9y ago
    I see your point: people who market themselves better do better, regardless of their skillset to back up their claims. Which happens a lot everywhere, not just with programmers. But it should be relatively easy to beat the scammers, learn how to market yourself properly, get testimonials to back up your claims, build your marketing message to answer questions and problems that your potential customers have. In other words: build your authority as a freelancer.
    - carlos22 9y ago
      Yes, but then you are in the game. And soon you spend more energy and time in building your marketing instead of the things which made you a good developer... It is the market logic which drives us to solutions which aren't really one (but we think we are forced to).
      - mattmanser 9y ago
        I'd say to people though, if you're not interested in playing the business game, probably best to be an employee instead. You even make more in the short/medium term.
deleted 9y ago
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icebraining 9y ago
From your profile: "I do freelance Flex, JS and Java work" Self-hating mood?
chrisbennet 9y ago
There is definitely an advantage to hiring people you know but...if companies hire a freelancer to save money maybe that's the problem. Don't conflate, "I hired cheap developers and got poor results." with hiring talented developers who freelance.

mattmanser 9y ago

What "scam"? I'm working as a freelancer for a startup that's doing great, thanks.

anovikov 9y ago
The market for custom software developers is built in a way that tricksters inevitably outcompete honest people. I.e. any sufficiently attractively looking profile on a freelance developer on any freelance site is likely someone to actually, avoid. They know what they are doing very well, that is their bread, they do it whole their lives, and there is absolutely no chance an outsider can beat them i that game.
- rhubarbcustard 9y ago
  I see your point: people who market themselves better do better, regardless of their skillset to back up their claims. Which happens a lot everywhere, not just with programmers. But it should be relatively easy to beat the scammers, learn how to market yourself properly, get testimonials to back up your claims, build your marketing message to answer questions and problems that your potential customers have. In other words: build your authority as a freelancer.
  - carlos22 9y ago
    Yes, but then you are in the game. And soon you spend more energy and time in building your marketing instead of the things which made you a good developer... It is the market logic which drives us to solutions which aren't really one (but we think we are forced to).
    - mattmanser 9y ago
      I'd say to people though, if you're not interested in playing the business game, probably best to be an employee instead. You even make more in the short/medium term.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

icebraining 9y ago

From your profile: "I do freelance Flex, JS and Java work" Self-hating mood?

chrisbennet 9y ago

There is definitely an advantage to hiring people you know but...if companies hire a freelancer to save money maybe that's the problem. Don't conflate, "I hired cheap developers and got poor results." with hiring talented developers who freelance.