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(I feel like this is probably a frequently asked question on HN, but I'm throwing this out here anyway) As a full-timer working for a big corporation, where wo

by Splines 15y ago

(I feel like this is probably a frequently asked question on HN, but I'm throwing this out here anyway) As a full-timer working for a big corporation, where would I even begin to start getting freelance work? I'm thinking about a change in my career path and see freelancing as a potential way to go about doing that, but I'm honestly scared about where to even start.

dirtyaura 15y ago
First get one small, but representative project under your belt. Don't focus on rate yet, but keep the scope small so that you don't work for peanuts for too long. Use it and your hobby projects as a portfolio. Go to a few meetups to build your contact network. Against the intuition, developer meetups can be a surprisingly good place to find new gigs. Startup meetups can work too, there's more biz people there, but in general startup gigs are usually not very good freelance work: high expectations, small budgets, lot of people biz people who know too little about software dev. Sooner you get to big customers with bottomless pits of money, easier your contracting life will get. This was the biggest lesson for me. For big customers, you can do projects that save them big bucks. Boring, maybe, but pays the bills and you can use the free time to do fun things. So if you want to get your contracting life off the ground, don't focus what is fun, but what is most profitable.
joshtynjala 15y ago
Assuming that you have contacts outside of the corporation where you work, and your name is one that will pop into their heads when they think, "who can I ask to work on this project?", freelance work should start coming to you naturally. If you don't have those contacts, you need to speak up and get your name out there within the community where you want to find work. Blog about the technology you work with, and show off cool personal projects. Join a local user group. If there is group discussion at the meetings, show that you know your stuff. Go to conferences and make sure you find people to chat with during the day and later on when everyone goes out for dinner and/or drinks at night. In short, it's up to you to show and tell people how great you are before they'll want to work with you.
- Splines 15y ago
  Thanks to both of you for the input. I've never attended a local meetup before but I think now's a great time to start :).

by Splines 15y ago

dirtyaura 15y ago

First get one small, but representative project under your belt. Don't focus on rate yet, but keep the scope small so that you don't work for peanuts for too long. Use it and your hobby projects as a portfolio. Go to a few meetups to build your contact network. Against the intuition, developer meetups can be a surprisingly good place to find new gigs. Startup meetups can work too, there's more biz people there, but in general startup gigs are usually not very good freelance work: high expectations, small budgets, lot of people biz people who know too little about software dev. Sooner you get to big customers with bottomless pits of money, easier your contracting life will get. This was the biggest lesson for me. For big customers, you can do projects that save them big bucks. Boring, maybe, but pays the bills and you can use the free time to do fun things. So if you want to get your contracting life off the ground, don't focus what is fun, but what is most profitable.

joshtynjala 15y ago

Assuming that you have contacts outside of the corporation where you work, and your name is one that will pop into their heads when they think, "who can I ask to work on this project?", freelance work should start coming to you naturally. If you don't have those contacts, you need to speak up and get your name out there within the community where you want to find work. Blog about the technology you work with, and show off cool personal projects. Join a local user group. If there is group discussion at the meetings, show that you know your stuff. Go to conferences and make sure you find people to chat with during the day and later on when everyone goes out for dinner and/or drinks at night. In short, it's up to you to show and tell people how great you are before they'll want to work with you.

Splines 15y ago
Thanks to both of you for the input. I've never attended a local meetup before but I think now's a great time to start :).