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KamenRiderTorbjorn
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So I've been teaching myself how to code for the past year or so and I was thinking about doing freelancing. Since I have no experience is me being a freelancer feasible?
I don't see where in my previous posts where I asked anything about freelancing before, but I was just asking since I figured its been almost 2 years now since I've been learning how to code, but sorry for asking?Vanadium 50 said:Probably not "I've been teaching myself how to code for the past year" is a long way to from "coding well enough that someone will pay me for it" which is different from "coding well enough to make a living at it".
Your habit of asking the same questions over and over again (which` people can see from the "show threads" on your profile page) will not serve you well in freelancing. If I hires someone who asked me what the output file format is once, I'd be glad he was paying attention. If he had to ask me twice, I probably would hire someone else next time. If he asked me three times, I'd probably hire someone else immediately.
KamenRiderTorbjorn said:I don't see where in my previous posts where I asked anything about freelancing before
KamenRiderTorbjorn said:So I've been teaching myself how to code for the past year or so
KamenRiderTorbjorn said:since I figured its been almost 2 years now since I've been learning how to code
KamenRiderTorbjorn said:sorry for asking
In my experience most freelancers in IT were hired through an agency. That said, that may have changed as I've been retired for seven years. In any case, it can't be hard to find an agency or two and see what they think of your CV. If an agency thinks they can sell you, they'll take you on.KamenRiderTorbjorn said:So I've been teaching myself how to code for the past year or so and I was thinking about doing freelancing. Since I have no experience is me being a freelancer feasible?
Well I started around the end of February of 2019. February 27th will be two years exact.Vanadium 50 said:Which is it? And if it's two, and you're upset that we think it's one, why did you tell us it was one?
I'm guessing that an agency will want some idea of what you've written. Like a website showcasing your abilities?KamenRiderTorbjorn said:Well I started around the end of February of 2019. February 27th will be two years exact.
PeroK said:I'm guessing that an agency will want some idea of what you've written.
I was mainly thinking about doing web design the issue is I'm trying to develop a portfolio and don't have any contacts.Vanadium 50 said:This is true. They also want to know what you can write. Web design? FPGA programming? Games? Database reports? It is highly unlikely that after one or two years the OP is equally good - and hire-ably good - in every possible area. He might be in one, but the fact he didn't specify which one in his original post does not bode well.
In grad school I did some part time work. I did not go through an agency because I had more work than I could handle. My niche was small businesses ($2M-$10M/year) who had bought some turn-key solution and needed it modified, usually involving some statistics which I also handled. As an example, one client sold ice cream, and comparing this month's sales to another month's was not terribly useful. Selling 10x as much in July as January - is that good or bad? So I developed and implemented a seasonal adjustment to their reports.
My point is that was my niche - that's what I was marketing. Sure there were better programmers, and better statisticians. But I was cheaper than hiring two people, and there was no issue about how well we could work together. I knew what I was selling. I don't think the OP does.
This has become a commodity. Unless you're doing something special, websites can be bought off the shelf or knocked up using the tools available.KamenRiderTorbjorn said:I was mainly thinking about doing web design
hutchphd said:In order to market there must be (at least) one person who will buy your product.
hutchphd said:You need to identify what that person looks like.
KamenRiderTorbjorn said:I was mainly thinking about doing web design
You could try to doing work for free for small groups who can't afford to hire someone to get experience and build up a portfolio.KamenRiderTorbjorn said:I was mainly thinking about doing web design the issue is I'm trying to develop a portfolio and don't have any contacts.
Why don't you set up your portfolio of coding and include it in your page. Stack Overflow has a lot of openings. Maybe you can check it out.KamenRiderTorbjorn said:So I've been teaching myself how to code for the past year or so and I was thinking about doing freelancing. Since I have no experience is me being a freelancer feasible?
I believe I could offer services for ad hoc business process automation, or automating messy manual data processing tasks that no one wants to do.
Yes, it is possible to freelance without any prior experience. Many freelancers start their careers by taking on small projects and building their portfolio. It may take some time and effort, but with determination and a willingness to learn, you can become a successful freelancer.
Finding clients can be challenging for any freelancer, whether you have experience or not. However, without experience, you may need to put in extra effort to showcase your skills and convince potential clients of your capabilities. Networking, building a strong portfolio, and utilizing online platforms can help you find clients.
One way to gain experience as a freelancer is by offering your services at a lower rate or even for free. This will allow you to build your portfolio and gain real-world experience. You can also take online courses or attend workshops to enhance your skills and knowledge in your chosen field.
One potential disadvantage of freelancing without experience is that you may face more competition from more experienced freelancers. Additionally, you may need to charge lower rates initially to attract clients, which can affect your income. However, with hard work and dedication, you can overcome these challenges and build a successful freelance career.
You can showcase your skills to potential clients through your portfolio, testimonials from previous clients, and by completing a test project to demonstrate your capabilities. You can also highlight any relevant coursework, certifications, or side projects that demonstrate your skills and expertise.