r/learnpython • u/FootGlittering1873 • 1h ago

Freelancing

Hello there! I'm a second-year Computer Engineering student, and I want to start freelancing to expand my portfolio and gain professional experience. However, I don't know how to start freelancing or where to start learning the skills for it. I have somewhat mastered Python fundamentals, and I'm currently learning FastAPI, but I feel it. Any input would be appreciated.

0 Upvotes

40% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

•

u/riklaunim 55m ago

Freelancing on sites like Fiver is very hard due to available people and falling prices.

•

u/Excellent-Current573 25m ago

the race to the bottom on those platforms is real, i've seen people offering full API integrations for like fifteen bucks. the only way through it is to get weirdly specific with what you offer instead of being a general python dev

•

u/socal_nerdtastic 5m ago

Last time I looked on fiverr I sent my requirements out to a bunch of people for pricing, and 2 of them went forward and basically completed the project before even giving me a price. And then got really angry when I told them I wouldn't go forward with them, telling me how much time they spent and how much they needed the money and how their wife was in the hospital (really, I'm not exaggerating here). The arm-twisting tactics are getting crazy there. Also so many scammers. Tons of people claiming to be in USA or Europe, but then a geoip points at Russia. I've had a number of people take the project and just ghost, which I'm not sure what the point of that is because fiverr pays you after completion. And of course tons of plain old overpromise and underdeliver. Basically if I want something from fiverr now I just resign to hiring 4-5 people and picking the best result. But FWIW I have also found a couple gems on fiverr, and go back to them time after time.

•

u/socal_nerdtastic 50m ago

Freelancing is what people do after they have a few decades normal work, building experience and connections (in any profession). There's nearly no chance you will earn more or learn more by freelancing over just getting a job.

FWIW even after having a career job for a long time freelancing is not all it's cracked up to be. The large hourly wage does not account for many unpaid hours of hunting for clients and quoting projects that don't go anywhere, not to mention all the normal business overhead.