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> Other than upwork, are there other sites that I can get started with? The answer to "which platform is best" is going to depend greatly on what you want to d

> Other than upwork, are there other sites that I can get started with? The answer to "which platform is best" is going to depend greatly on what you want to do. I'm a former investment banker and the platform I use to find side work is Catalant; most of it ends up being diligence projects for PE firms. If you're a former strategy consultant or finance person, Catalant is the best platform I've found. Toptal is probably the best marketplace for coding talent; I've used it to source engineers for projects I couldn't do myself and have been routinely impressed. Lots of really, really sharp people from Russia, Eastern Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East are on there. Probably more of a buyer's market, in that the quantity and quality of the code you get for $60/hour-ish is really really good (or has been for me at least). You mentioned a portfolio, so if you're a designer, maybe Fiverr would work. Good luck!

scarface74 8y ago
Lots of really, really sharp people from Russia, Eastern Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East are on there. Probably more of a buyer's market, in that the quantity and quality of the code you get for $60/hour-ish is really really good (or has been for me at least). And this is the issue. Sure it’s good for the buyer, but commoditizing software developers is horrible for the developer. $60/hour for American developer who has to pay income taxes, self employment taxes, and has to worry about the lack of business is peanuts.
- srean 8y ago
  Well, Americans weren't complaining when American enterprises were driving down costs to subsistence levels in other markets. In fact, they did quite the opposite: taking moral high ground of free market and what not. Of course I am generalizing here with 'Americans'.
  - scarface74 8y ago
    I’m not making any moral arguments either way. From a practical standpoint, an American developer has much better opportunities than the race to the bottom - for now at least.
  - ykevinator 8y ago
    Your reply made me laugh. It's totally true.
- dboon 8y ago
  If you can find forty hours of work a week, that's about 120k. You probably can't, but being paid at the same rate of someone who makes 120k isn't peanuts.
  - scarface74 8y ago
    You’re not being paid at the same rate though. Someone working a corporate job is probably getting subsidized health insurance and at least 15 days paid time off. A self employed consultant will also have to pay an extra 6.2% social security tax and 1.8% Medicare tax that your employer pays. You also have the risk of not getting clients and even if by some miracle starting out you can get steady work to fill out the time, you still have to spend time promoting yourself.

scarface74 8y ago

Lots of really, really sharp people from Russia, Eastern Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East are on there. Probably more of a buyer's market, in that the quantity and quality of the code you get for $60/hour-ish is really really good (or has been for me at least). And this is the issue. Sure it’s good for the buyer, but commoditizing software developers is horrible for the developer. $60/hour for American developer who has to pay income taxes, self employment taxes, and has to worry about the lack of business is peanuts.

srean 8y ago
Well, Americans weren't complaining when American enterprises were driving down costs to subsistence levels in other markets. In fact, they did quite the opposite: taking moral high ground of free market and what not. Of course I am generalizing here with 'Americans'.
- scarface74 8y ago
  I’m not making any moral arguments either way. From a practical standpoint, an American developer has much better opportunities than the race to the bottom - for now at least.
- ykevinator 8y ago
  Your reply made me laugh. It's totally true.
dboon 8y ago
If you can find forty hours of work a week, that's about 120k. You probably can't, but being paid at the same rate of someone who makes 120k isn't peanuts.
- scarface74 8y ago
  You’re not being paid at the same rate though. Someone working a corporate job is probably getting subsidized health insurance and at least 15 days paid time off. A self employed consultant will also have to pay an extra 6.2% social security tax and 1.8% Medicare tax that your employer pays. You also have the risk of not getting clients and even if by some miracle starting out you can get steady work to fill out the time, you still have to spend time promoting yourself.