How to start freelancing software development

Pierre Rochon was less lucky. He spent a few weeks learning iOS development and then started working on his first project a few months later, for a real estate broker wanting an app to display his listings and allow buyers to contact him directly from within the app.

Kuba Suder was planning to become a freelancer, but could never seem to get around to it. Then one day, he was introduced to someone who was looking for developers, for a new project. He decided to quit his previous job and take advantage of the opportunity. Ignacio Nieto was in a really well paid job, as solid and stable as one could get in Spain. His salary was great, but he just hated it. Working in a grey office, day after day, with the same faces, in un-creative work nobody cared about, the traffic jams, it was sucking his life.

So he decided to take the leap, quit his job and started to work in creative projects, make better use of his time and to take control of his own life. And he never regrets his decision. Julio Carrettoni had a day job when he started freelancing. He finally quit his job and decided to become a full time freelancer when he realized that he was making the same amount of money, without all the hassle of being an employee, attending mandatory and useless meetings not related to his projects, and being constantly interrupted with tasks and deliverables not related to his work, etc.

Paul Jones instead reached an age where he had to choose whether to stay technical or become a manager, in order to earn more. Pawel Krakowiak was looking for a new job when a friend sent him a link to a freelancing platform called RentACoder now Freelancer.

It looked interesting, so he gave it a try, even though he was still looking for a full-time job. After a couple of months, Pawel decided to try freelancing full time. Finding Projects Whether you decide to take an immediate plunge or build up slowly, one of the first things you need to do is find some projects to work on. Twitter: This is similar to word of mouth. Let your followers know you are looking for new opportunities, and gently ask to retweet. Your tweet could be read by hundreds or thousands of people.

Networking at conferences and meetups: Another variation of word of mouth, you can meet other developers, potential clients, and more generally expand your network. It can happen quite easily that, by just talking, you get connected to people seeking developers.

Smartphone apps are limited in features. You need a computer to run software that are required for doing the work properly and delivering great results. So, before you go ahead and think about working online, go get yourself a laptop or even an old computer would do the trick. This can be something as simple as transcribing a podcast or something advanced like developing a mobile app.

Once you find a marketable skill, you should make sure you can offer it as a service. Simply put, you need to be really good at what you do to be able to get paid for it. This category has good demand. You also have experience writing about it in school or college. Blogs and online publications use very different writing styles and formatting for articles. Mainly to attract general audiences. So now you need to learn how to write blog posts for online audiences.

Learn how to use WordPress. How to make graphics for articles. And more. You must polish up your skills first. Also, taking online courses is the most effective way to properly learn and polish up a skill.

Check the links below for recommendations. Deloping a skill from scratch takes time. So be patient and keep learning and practicing. It could take weeks, months, or years. Just keep at it. In short, get some of your work out there. Do some free work at first if you have to. Reach out to blogs that accept guest posts. Do some concept design work. Whatever it is, work on building your reputation.

The process of marketing yourself, selling your services, and dealing with clients can be overwhelming. However, as you learn about the technologies that came before those used today, you will gain insight into why certain languages made certain choices. This insight will help you determine if a particular language is right for your current or upcoming projects. Continually survey other languages and frameworks.

Complete a couple of small projects with them. Pick one language and technology to learn intimately, then gain a cursory knowledge of a few others.

The best developers will know more than one language. While some hiring managers believe that a developer should specialize in a single technology, doing so is like wearing blinders in a road race. You will only see what is in front of you. If you only have a hammer in your toolbox, everything will look like a nail!

The more tools you know, the better prepared you will be to choose the right one for your projects. Once you can write binary search, red-black trees, depth-first, and breath first algorithms, and you have a good understanding of your language of choice, learn as many problem-solving techniques as possible. Even if it takes you months to find a job, keep programming every day, build your own projects, and keep learning about your chosen craft.

Web and mobile development especially web are the easiest development fields to break into. You can start by signing up on the various freelance portals on the web.

Programming is fun! Beating your head against the wall in frustration is normal for most of us. However, the longer you program, the less you experience such roadblocks. And, when you do, it is on harder problems. And Keep Learning! My friends over at www. Their information is pretty good and well worth the read. Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Today, certified programmers are choosing the flexible route to software development — freelance programming. This is because freelancing puts you in control of your productivity, output, and deadlines. You have the freedom to take up software development projects that interest you and pay you well.

While working on different projects, you get to learn new things and work with the latest technologies, thereby boosting your expertise. Most importantly, you call the shots and set your work-life balance — you can begin your day at your convenience without being stuck in the monotony of a full-time job. Read ahead to know how to become a successful freelance software developer. If you are keen to switch to freelance software programming, there are two routes for you.

You can either make the big switch by leaving your current job immediately, or you can make the transition gradually and plan your exit from the present company smoothly. Taking the Big Leap: This is a good idea if you no longer like being a full-time software developer in your company and have managed to network well with your clients.

If your clients are willing to work with you independently, you can take the leap of leaving your full-time job. However, make sure that when you leave, you have a few clients ready and handy to work with you. This will ensure that you keep earning even after you leave your stable job. While you still work as a full-time employee in your company, you can start freelancing on small software development projects. This will get your ball rolling and as your name circulates the clientele base, you will bag bigger projects.

When you find that you have a few well-paying projects at hand, you can bid adieu to your full-time job. Here are some bulletproof tips to help you become a successful freelance software developer:. This step is fundamental to becoming a stable freelance programmer.

You must learn multiple languages in programming as it will help you work on a diverse range of projects. It will also push up your reach among prospective clients.