Personally I would recommend Guru.com instead of Freelancer; I've worked with a few of those sites and Guru seemed to be the most professional. Also, if you're

Personally I would recommend Guru.com instead of Freelancer; I've worked with a few of those sites and Guru seemed to be the most professional. Also, if you're worried about being paid, use the site's escrow system (Guru has one, I believe Freelancer does as well). Your employer pays into the escrow, you complete the project, you request that they release the escrow to you, you get paid. If they don't release the escrow, you can get (usually free) dispute resolution services through the site. This has saved me from a shady employer at least once. Your hourly rate very much depends upon your skills. Start bidding high, and see if you get any catches. There are people on these sites making $100 / hr., but these people have a lot of history and are well-known. Don't expect to make the higher rates when you're just starting out, and remember you're often bidding against people in third-world countries. At the same time, remember that you'll be taxed as self-employed, so make sure your rate includes the amount you're likely to pay in taxes in your country, and make sure you save that percentage back since you're likely going to owe big time when you file your income tax. Getting projects is a challenge; mostly it's about projecting a professional appearance through your proposals. Make sure your English and grammar are top notch. Justify why you are the best person for the job. Tell the employer what you'll do to build their project. Split the project into milestones (each with payment attached). Essentially you should be writing a highly customized cover letter in every proposal.