Discussions about Freelancing sites (coding for $ / hiring from) - Computer Technical Help

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03-27-2011 , 07:48 PM

jukofyork

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Use this thread for discussions about Freelancing sites (both coding for $ and hiring coders from them).

Juk

Last edited by jukofyork; 04-06-2011 at 07:22 PM. Reason: Created new OP for thread from old post.

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04-05-2011 , 10:27 AM

00Snitch

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Random question:

Does anyone entirely support themselves by trolling places like elance for jobs?

I thought about attempting it a couple of years ago (obv so I can work on the beach in Thailand

), but I don't know if I have the ability to compete with a billion Indian/Pakistani programmers...

Also appeared that there was a fair few companies (for lack of better word) that were bidding on projects with the intention of further subcontracting them... Seemed pretty cut-throat. Maybe I'm just being precious.

fwiw, I'm 27, no family, no physical assets, no debts... Although I do have a very cushy, well paid job.

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04-05-2011 , 10:42 AM

clowntable

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Never tried, never will. Why would you want to work in an environment where programmers are treated like commodties?

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04-05-2011 , 10:46 AM

wellju

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Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 5,247

Why get in an endless line with thousands others that don't stand out.

Make good code and publish it. A well running project on sourceforge will likely get your inbox to reach it's physical limits with job offers.

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04-05-2011 , 10:47 AM

Zurvan

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I've had some luck with Odesk, to make some extra money.

The trick is to find a small job, and do it cheap, so you get a rating and hours in the system. Then jack up your price to whatever level is acceptable to you, and apply for jobs at that price. Depending on your skill set, you can top out about $60/hr on ODesk. There's some skill involved in finding the people who are looking for quality, not just price.

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04-05-2011 , 10:53 AM

00Snitch

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Well the answer to "why" is obviously the ability to be able to work anywhere in the world at anytime that suits you. Everything is a commodity yours/my skills included.

But as wellju (and myself earlier) suggested, I thin the biggest problem is competing with a billion 3rd world programmers.

As for getting something solid up on sorceforge, I'm not original enough to make something that stands out.

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04-05-2011 , 10:56 AM

00Snitch

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Zurvan

I've had some luck with Odesk, to make some extra money.

The trick is to find a small job, and do it cheap, so you get a rating and hours in the system. Then jack up your price to whatever level is acceptable to you, and apply for jobs at that price. Depending on your skill set, you can top out about $60/hr on ODesk. There's some skill involved in finding the people who are looking for quality, not just price.

Bolded reflects my initial thoughts...

dunno, I'll probably never do it. Just wondering if anyone has had any success.

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04-05-2011 , 11:18 AM

Zurvan

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If you try to compete with the $3/hr guys, you will always lose

You need to find the jobs posted by people who care about quality over price. They are out there, and they're also often looking for long term help. I've had one client on ODesk for 2 years, and I hear from her every few months when she needs something tweaked on her site.

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04-05-2011 , 10:18 PM

wellju

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Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 5,247

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00Snitch

As for getting something solid up on sorceforge, I'm not original enough to make something that stands out.

Me neither. I just rather make a good copy of something than a bad first invention

It doesn't necessarily need to be creative, it must simply work to generate traffic from what I've experienced.
A maybe pointless but weekly and very long changelog might help too

Oh, and Juk might be onto something here

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04-05-2011 , 10:51 PM

#10

TheIrishThug

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Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,223

It doesn't even need to be original. PlaceMint started as a reimplementation of a program called PokerAide. The developer stopped posting and the page hosting the download died. I had been using the program and decided I could do it and make improvements. That was 3 years ago and now the most recent release has had over 2000 downloads. You don't have to worry about getting featured on the front page of Sorceforge big, just enough that other people will be impressed if you direct them there.

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04-06-2011 , 05:19 AM

#11

Gullanian

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I think saying your inbox will be to the brim with job offers is highly inaccurate.

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04-06-2011 , 08:37 AM

#12

TheIrishThug

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Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,223

Yeah, the only people that have contacted me offering money for programming work are people that want special features added. No real job offers. But it is something I have directed people to when applying for real jobs.

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04-06-2011 , 11:58 AM

#13

00Snitch

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Quote:

Originally Posted by wellju

Oh, and Juk might be onto something here

Plus we can start a "Looking for/Starting a programming house in <3rd world country>" thread ala the travel forum.

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04-06-2011 , 03:51 PM

#14

rt1

adept

Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,132

Quote:

Originally Posted by wellju

Me neither. I just rather make a good copy of something than a bad first invention

It doesn't necessarily need to be creative, it must simply work to generate traffic from what I've experienced.
A maybe pointless but weekly and very long changelog might help too

Oh, and Juk might be onto something here

Yup, and to add to this, you can just start contributing to other open source projects.

I get a couple job offers a week from my github profile, I do not even advertise I am looking for work. Most of these offers are from scum recruiters, but once and a while theres a legit offer in there.

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04-06-2011 , 04:25 PM

#15

anononon

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Ah, scum recruiters. There's a topic for a new thread

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04-06-2011 , 04:32 PM

#16

diebitter

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Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 67,426

favourite recuiter comment (in 2007).

Him: "I need someone with 5 years' experience visual studio 2005"
Me: "Well, I have 2 years experience of 2005, but over 5 years of visual studio. No one's got 5 years of 2005, have they. It's only 2007 now."
Him: "I'm sure someone has."

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04-06-2011 , 04:34 PM

#17

anononon

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Those are the best. I've gotten similar comments before.

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04-06-2011 , 04:40 PM

#18

gaming_mouse

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Quote:

Originally Posted by diebitter

lol

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04-06-2011 , 04:55 PM

#19

TheIrishThug

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Awesome.

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04-06-2011 , 04:56 PM

#20

diebitter

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I should have posted that in the WTF thread actually.

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04-06-2011 , 07:19 PM

#21

clowntable

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Nice branch, mainly just posted this to fix the title from here on out

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04-06-2011 , 11:41 PM

#22

Neil S

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Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 20,767

Re: competition and low prices.

That's why if you're in a saturated market (I'm looking at you, web site development) it's really about who you know.

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04-07-2011 , 01:58 AM

#23

rt1

adept

Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,132

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil S

Re: competition and low prices.

That's why if you're in a saturated market (I'm looking at you, web site development) it's really about who you know.

one thing for web dev: when you are starting out expect to spend ~50% of your work day finding clients. most new people seem to way underestimate this figure.