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Hello everybody, I'm looking for some successful freelance programmers that hopefully could give me a few tips.
Obviously, the first thing one has to understand to start is multiple languages that you are programming in. This is currently when I am at, so far it is going well. From that point on I realize for the language to be useful to be I need to learn how to work it with the operating system. I suppose this may mean certain things like working with the windows API etc. Are their any "must-know" languages or API functionality I should research? Are their "must-have" SDKs that are crucial to a developer?
I understand that finding a freelancing job is just like finding a job anywhere else, you have to have a resume or some sort of documented experience, from what I am hearing open source projects are my best friend in this field. While I can find them relatively easily through source forge, I wonder how you can research the specialization for certain projects? For example, I found the source code for LAME (mp3 audio encoder plugin for audacity) and I began to look through it and started to realize how complex it is. How does one begin more in-depth research to understand how to re-encode audio files to make a functional plugin such as LAME?
I have started to learn how a freelancer is never really by himself, they work with other freelancers as a method of references, finding work, asking for help in specialized areas, etc. Are their any resources or communities that are well known to find other freelancers for this kind of communication?
I am sure I have more questions but lets start we these, I know it is already a wall of text anyways.:lol:
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#2
Posted 09 February 2011 - 03:28 AM
LuthfiHakim
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Programming God
Your first decision should be what area you are specializing in. Don't try to get jobs in too wide area, you would never build your "forte" area. The more experience in the more focused area making the job getting easier easier, and you will get more profit since you complete a job faster (or if you are charging by the hour, you can charge more).
While showing how sophisticated you are is indeed a plus, but it's never hurt to start by doing simple projects first. I remember my first freelancer job (on the net) was merging two or three forms. When satisfied with simple job, the client will seek you for more larger, more complex job. And there you've got your portfolio.
While showing how sophisticated you are is indeed a plus, but it's never hurt to start by doing simple projects first. I remember my first freelancer job (on the net) was merging two or three forms. When satisfied with simple job, the client will seek you for more larger, more complex job. And there you've got your portfolio.
#3
Posted 09 February 2011 - 02:14 PM
xXAlphaXx
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Learning Programmer
Thats something I have been starting to notice the more and more I research this. Should I go into application development or web design? I don't know for sure, I'd like to do both but I can't start with both. What route did you take starting up? What kind of advice could you give some one like me who is just starting up? I would like to start working for some one right now, but I am sure that it will be very difficult for some one to hire a nobody with no experience. I am sure it is easier to start on an open sourced project.
#4
Posted 10 February 2011 - 01:32 AM
LuthfiHakim
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Programming God
Web design as in designing the layout and graphics or web programming? However I don't have much experience in web programming. So I can not tell you much about them or projects related with them. But I can tell you that on the net there are much more web related projects compared to than desktop applications.
Now, are you going freelancing online or offline? I mean by online is finding projects on the net. You could use some freelancing sites. My previous post was giving advice for this kind of freelancing. For this kind of freelancing you can start with no portfolio. But then you have to start with tiny projects, and perhaps lower your fee. The key to to get your initial projects is how to convince the client that you definitely can complete that project with good quality. Good proposal/cover letter is a must, but the best is if you could supply a demo (or you could offer a demo).
When in offline world, existing portfolio is a must. You could start with helping some open source projects, like your idea. Or you could also pick your best project so far (which actually useful for others) and improve it. Give it professional look, complete some "industry standard" features for such application (if you have no idea, you could peek some similar products on the net :c-lol: ). And mention it in your portfolio section. Proposals also plays very important role here. In them you must show that you understand the problem and offer good solution. Add some buzz words to make people more interested, just don't put them too much :)
Now, are you going freelancing online or offline? I mean by online is finding projects on the net. You could use some freelancing sites. My previous post was giving advice for this kind of freelancing. For this kind of freelancing you can start with no portfolio. But then you have to start with tiny projects, and perhaps lower your fee. The key to to get your initial projects is how to convince the client that you definitely can complete that project with good quality. Good proposal/cover letter is a must, but the best is if you could supply a demo (or you could offer a demo).
When in offline world, existing portfolio is a must. You could start with helping some open source projects, like your idea. Or you could also pick your best project so far (which actually useful for others) and improve it. Give it professional look, complete some "industry standard" features for such application (if you have no idea, you could peek some similar products on the net :c-lol: ). And mention it in your portfolio section. Proposals also plays very important role here. In them you must show that you understand the problem and offer good solution. Add some buzz words to make people more interested, just don't put them too much :)
#5
Posted 10 February 2011 - 10:52 AM
xXAlphaXx
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I planned to be freelancing online, I am not much interested in web development at this time.
Where did you find your first project? I started looking around on some of these monster sites such as freelancer.com and it seems like all their projects are way above my head for almost no pay!
Have you ever developed foro an open source project? Where do you suggest I look for some? I've checked source forge like I said earlier and all their projects also seem to be way above my head.
Getting started is tough, I really appreciate all the help! :)
Oh by the way, I added you on skype if you don't mind. :P
Where did you find your first project? I started looking around on some of these monster sites such as freelancer.com and it seems like all their projects are way above my head for almost no pay!
Have you ever developed foro an open source project? Where do you suggest I look for some? I've checked source forge like I said earlier and all their projects also seem to be way above my head.
Getting started is tough, I really appreciate all the help! :)
Oh by the way, I added you on skype if you don't mind. :P
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