> Easiest way to find the work is to work with folks you've worked with before, and build a business based on referral. I agree. I worked as a freelance transl

> Easiest way to find the work is to work with folks you've worked with before, and build a business based on referral. I agree. I worked as a freelance translator for nearly twenty years, from 1986 to 2005, and almost all of my work came from people I knew personally or from people previous clients had referred to me. Are there are programs at your university that need programming help? Do you know anyone who runs their own company and might need computer assistance? The first jobs you get might not be the most interesting or pay the best, but they will provide the practical experience you will need to get better work later. Another possibility is to try to find an experienced freelancer who is willing to serve as a mentor. That person might farm out some work to you while also offering advice on getting and keeping clients, deciding how much to charge, dealing with taxes and insurance, etc. I left freelancing before those online freelancing platforms had much of a presence, but I have since hired freelancers a few times through Fiverr. While I was satisfied with the work they did for me, the price competition among the people who bid for my jobs was absolutely cutthroat, and I felt sorry for anyone trying to break into freelancing through those platforms. Unless you are living in a country with both a very low cost of living and good Internet access, I would avoid trying to find work through those platforms if you can and instead try to build a client base through personal connections.