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This is slightly off-topic, but I have a feeling the answer will be a short one. How would a straight out of university -student fare becoming a freelancer? One

by schme 15y ago

This is slightly off-topic, but I have a feeling the answer will be a short one. How would a straight out of university -student fare becoming a freelancer? One would have little to no contacts or enterprise experience (part from the degree and/or open source). I don't have a good understanding of what a freelancer contractor/consultant does, but I've always liked the word freelancer. This would be, as I assume, practically impossible?

mgkimsal 15y ago
Not at all impossible. However, most consultants I know get most of their work through word-of-mouth/network referrals. "Straight out of university" probably implies you don't have a large network of people that can refer work your way. And to the extent you can get work, it'll probably be on the lower end of the pay scale, but that'll probably be the case even if you go get a traditional job someplace.
shimon 15y ago
You'd be challenged to demonstrate your ability to actually ship software. If you don't have a network of people who have worked with you and can vouch for you, you'll have trouble getting well-paying gigs. You'd likely end up starting with hard, poorly-paying jobs and working your way up. That is difficult but doable. However, the bigger thing you'll be missing is the ability to work with programmers who are better than you. Freelancing is usually a lonely pursuit and you'll tend toward work that you can estimate accurately and execute efficiently. The need to focus on and master a domain is good for your consulting business but bad for learning. So I'd recommend against freelancing just out of university purely on that basis; you're missing out on the exposure and learning you'd get working in bigger teams. That said, you don't automatically learn from people just by working in the same building as them, and you don't necessarily have to be a lone wolf when consulting. Whatever you choose, keep learning.
garethsprice 15y ago
A consultant is someone who can improve a client's situation for the better, applying knowledge or resources that the client does not have in-house. A freelancer is more of an implementer whilst a consultant helps to decide what is implemented. Simple to get started, just find clients who need your knowledge and will pay you for it. Simple, but not easy... Be warned that as a recent ex-student, many will see you as a cheaper alternative to more experienced professionals ("looking for student or recent graduate" in freelancer wanted ads is usually code for "I pay way below market rates"). It's not impossible, but it might be difficult to make livable money at first. I was freelance straight out of college and in hindsight a year or two at an agency or startup would have given me a big step up as I spent the first few years re-discovering things that an agency job would've taught me very quickly (specialize, pick a profitable niche, don't be afraid to fire clients/turn work down, etc).

by schme 15y ago

mgkimsal 15y ago

Not at all impossible. However, most consultants I know get most of their work through word-of-mouth/network referrals. "Straight out of university" probably implies you don't have a large network of people that can refer work your way. And to the extent you can get work, it'll probably be on the lower end of the pay scale, but that'll probably be the case even if you go get a traditional job someplace.

shimon 15y ago

You'd be challenged to demonstrate your ability to actually ship software. If you don't have a network of people who have worked with you and can vouch for you, you'll have trouble getting well-paying gigs. You'd likely end up starting with hard, poorly-paying jobs and working your way up. That is difficult but doable. However, the bigger thing you'll be missing is the ability to work with programmers who are better than you. Freelancing is usually a lonely pursuit and you'll tend toward work that you can estimate accurately and execute efficiently. The need to focus on and master a domain is good for your consulting business but bad for learning. So I'd recommend against freelancing just out of university purely on that basis; you're missing out on the exposure and learning you'd get working in bigger teams. That said, you don't automatically learn from people just by working in the same building as them, and you don't necessarily have to be a lone wolf when consulting. Whatever you choose, keep learning.

garethsprice 15y ago

A consultant is someone who can improve a client's situation for the better, applying knowledge or resources that the client does not have in-house. A freelancer is more of an implementer whilst a consultant helps to decide what is implemented. Simple to get started, just find clients who need your knowledge and will pay you for it. Simple, but not easy... Be warned that as a recent ex-student, many will see you as a cheaper alternative to more experienced professionals ("looking for student or recent graduate" in freelancer wanted ads is usually code for "I pay way below market rates"). It's not impossible, but it might be difficult to make livable money at first. I was freelance straight out of college and in hindsight a year or two at an agency or startup would have given me a big step up as I spent the first few years re-discovering things that an agency job would've taught me very quickly (specialize, pick a profitable niche, don't be afraid to fire clients/turn work down, etc).