You can get work from gigster or upwork but you will not make the rate you should be making. They have access to the clients - find your own clients and charge

You can get work from gigster or upwork but you will not make the rate you should be making. They have access to the clients - find your own clients and charge hourly or weekly, 2-3x per hour what you made as an employee. As everyone else has said, use your network. That's the best way to get good work.