Freelance Programming Jobs

If you know the difference between CSS and JavaScript and you’re tired of working for someone else for a living, you might have a promising future in freelance programming. Do a quick search for computer programming jobs and you’ll find pages and pages of viable results. Are you suited for one or more of those jobs? There is only one way to find out. You need to present yourself properly and then scope out those potential jobs to hopefully make it on your own as a computer-programming free agent.

The Perks of Freelancing

Freelancing is a great opportunity for the person who craves constant change and limitless possibilities while pursuing one’s financial goals. You don’t have to answer to a boss, you can set your own hours and you can take vacations whenever you feel like it. In order to live as free as a bird while working from home or in a private office, or wherever you’d like as long as you have a computer and internet connection, you first need to build a portfolio and put yourself out there so that you can secure one or more of the freelance programming jobs that are currently available.

Education and Experience

Freelancers who are first starting out always come across the following ‘catch 22’ obstacle. They don’t have any experience to speak of and yet potential new clients usually always want to see examples of the freelancer’s previous work. How are you supposed to land freelance programming jobs if you don’t have any proof that you can actually do the work required? The answer is to draw on any paid positions you may have had in the past and, void of those, just start making up programming examples that you can show new clients. Paid or not, any examples are good examples when you want to entice new clients to hire you.

New clients will also want to see a resume of your education, skills and experience so that they can gauge whether or not you are good for the position. Again, present yourself properly and those freelance programming jobs will be yours.

Here are a few examples of freelancing opportunities that can get you started on your path to a newer, freer and more lucrative future.

Web Design

Business owners, online marketers and even non-profit companies need a website in today’s day and age and that’s where you can potentially swoop in and clean up. If you can develop websites that really set brands apart and that provide visitors with a seamless and memorable web experience, you won’t find yourself hurting for freelance programming jobs anytime soon.

Mobile Developers

The world has gone mobile and this transition from desktops to laptops to pocket computers is only the beginning. Analysts predict that soon mobile devices will rule the computing world, forcing desktops and laptops to go the way of the BetaMax, 8-track or Laser Disc. If freelancing is what you want to do and you’re well familiar with mobile devices and the software that operates them, you could find yourself making quite the difference in our multi-screen dominated world.

Software Engineer

There has always been great money in software, and that’s because people use software for a variety of reasons. Banking, personal communication, work, organization and more; it’s all run by software. If you know how to create software, repair it or both, you will find that there are tons of freelance programming jobs awaiting your application.

So where do you find these jobs? There are plenty of freelancing job boards that will allow you to create a profile for free. These include eLance, Odesk, Freelancer and Guru. You can also try putting free ads on sites like Craigslist. Or create your own freelancing website so that you can advertise your services to any service providers looking to fill one or more freelance programming jobs.

As long as you have the skills and experience and as long as you are willing to remain reliable for any clients who are willing to give you a chance, you will go far as a freelance professional. Make sure you set competitive prices, come up with a contract that you can present to new clients that will keep you both protected in case trouble arises later on and never stop marketing your abilities. The world needs programmers and few companies want to take on the added cost of hiring a programming professional full-time. The alternative is to go freelance so that you can offer your programming skills on your terms and at a price you set. If you have ever worked for anyone else, you will soon realize that freelance is the only way to go for the free spirit with a hungry appetite for more and better business opportunities.

Image Source: Flickr