How do I get Paid for my skills?

Discussion in 'Programming' started by Mush, Apr 13, 2007.

  1. #1
    Hey All,
    I'm a developer that has worked in IT for about ten years. I have experience in Oracle & Oracle applicatons, PHP/MYSQL, Joomla, HTML, Dreamweaver, C#.Net, etc... I'm looking to make some money on the side so I have been searching for projects on the internet. So far I have checked out guru.com and getafreelancer.com and there seems to be alot of projects on there. I just think that its weird that programmers have to PAY to get projects. Also, the bids on those projects are DIRT cheap. Does anyone have any recommendations as to a better way to get work?

    Thanks!
    Mush
     
    Mush, Apr 13, 2007 IP
  2. komirad

    komirad Well-Known Member

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    #2
    I didn't know you need to pay for projects
    You can try getacoder.com
     
    komirad, Apr 13, 2007 IP
  3. Mush

    Mush Peon

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    #3
    Cool, thanks. I hadn't checked out that site yet!
     
    Mush, Apr 13, 2007 IP
  4. komirad

    komirad Well-Known Member

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    #4
    How much do you think it would cost to get a customized layout/template of joomla?
    If i already have the design (simple)
     
    komirad, Apr 13, 2007 IP
  5. login

    login Notable Member

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    #5
    Yes, there are so many indian/asian people working dirt cheap and delivering good work. Its hard to compete.
     
    login, Apr 13, 2007 IP
  6. Mush

    Mush Peon

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    #6
    Hey Komirad,
    By having the design done do you mean that you have the idea laid out or do you have a .psd of what the actual site should look like? Please PM me with the details.

    Thanks!
     
    Mush, Apr 13, 2007 IP
  7. IsRoss()

    IsRoss() Peon

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    #7
    Hi Mush,

    I have had good success with Guru. You can join for free, but the number of proposals you can make is limited. I did well enough in my first few months to justify paying for an upgraded membership, and I will admit that I got more work after becoming a paid member.

    The hardest part is getting the first few projects, as you will have no ratings or history. Bid low on a few easy projects, and explain to them why you are bidding low. Put a nice proposal template together - don't use their example, the employer will get dozens of proposals with that same outline. I have a very good proposal template I use - and once I began using this proposal template I also found the number of jobs I got went up.

    Guru also has fewer people bidding ridiculously low bids on projects (depending on the niche, I suppose - I bid mostly on coldfusion web development projects). On many projects I bid out at $60 - $70 per hour, and I picked up a number of ongoing/here-and-there type of clients.

    Good luck & don't forget to pay your quarterly taxes (if you are us based, that is)!!!!
     
    IsRoss(), Apr 13, 2007 IP
  8. Dadniel

    Dadniel Guest

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    #8
    I too have been in the business for over ten years and wow - what a change eh!

    Nowadays we have to compete with the 15 year old and the develop who pays $75 a month rent in some far off country... But I survive, mostly by word of mouth.

    I use http://profiles.odesk.com/0143c155c5a5665c (ODesk) - as well as a couple others I am sure you are aware of. Combined freelnace works from them all pays the bills.

    Hope that helps.

    Dadniel
     
    Dadniel, Apr 14, 2007 IP
  9. movidalatina

    movidalatina Well-Known Member

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    #9
    Mush, how is it going? I stumbled upon your thread and noticed that supposedly you have lot's of experience in PHP, MySql etc.
    I have a project that you might be interested this is the thread Need a Partner

    Take care
     
    movidalatina, Apr 14, 2007 IP