Freelance Coding

Joans · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8658

As my contract work appears to be drying up at an alarming rate, I've recently been having a look at some of the various "coders for hire" sites, but I'm trying to work out if they're a complete waste of my time. Unfortunately my technical skills don't really stretch beyond Access and VBA (although I will do you something really nice), and most of the jobs related to these fields seem to be incredibly vague as to what the work actually is, but there's already a million people bidding to do the job saying they have 10+ years experience in <insert field here> and will get the job done immediately for very little cash.
The only one I've found that doesn't appear to be like that is vWorker (although admittedly the fact that other peoples bids are hidden means I can't see what other people are saying anyway).

Does anyone have any experience in any of these sites, can anyone recommend any, or should I just get off my arse and get a proper job like everyone else?

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49252

I imagine there's some serious work to be found in there, but you're trawling through the dross. I saw someone put in a spec for a complete OS from the ground up, and the job allowed for 2 weeks and offers under £4000.

Joans · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8658

Well, I'd be quite happy with four grand for two weeks work

It looks like if you can get in, then you can do well, the question is, is it worth the time/effort it takes to get in.
I had a look at some of the data entry jobs on there, to at least get me noticed, but they appear to be slave labour.

GazChap · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 13:56

My experience of these sites is that you simply cannot compete financially with the coders based in India and other developing countries, so you never get any work.

Joans · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8658

GazChap wrote:

My experience of these sites is that you simply cannot compete financially with the coders based in India and other developing countries, so you never get any work.

Yeah, this does appear to be the case. I'll leave them alone then I think.

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 14:15

And bedroom coders don't help.
The fact that people get a crap product at the end of it doesn't seem to bother them

devilman · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 14:17

The only one I have any knowledge of is Scriptlance, but that was the other way around - a mate of mine needed something knocking up and in the end some Russian coder wrote it all very cheaply. I imagine there's a hell of a lot of competition out there and a lot of undercutting just to make a few quid, but you may be able to benefit from being UK-based if someone is wary of outsourcing abroad? Might at least be worth seeing if there's much supply and demand for VBA/Access stuff though.

MrD · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2139

Quote:

And bedroom coders don't help.

SAD FACE.

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 14:26

MrD wrote:

Quote:

And bedroom coders don't help.

SAD FACE.

Sorry, man. But they tend not to charge anywhere near as much as someone who makes a living from it (for obvious reasons), then take forever to deliver.

nickachu · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 14:27

How about you play people at scrabble competitively?

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 14:28

nickachudolph wrote:

How about you play people at scrabble competitively?

Only if coding projects happen to have me learning about the exact thing my letters practically spell out a few days before the game

Joans · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8658

nickachudolph wrote:

How about you play people at scrabble competitively?

Because real scrabble doesn't let you try a few made-up words first to see if you can get a better score

Joans · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8658

devilsnowman wrote:

The only one I have any knowledge of is Scriptlance, but that was the other way around - a mate of mine needed something knocking up and in the end some Russian coder wrote it all very cheaply. I imagine there's a hell of a lot of competition out there and a lot of undercutting just to make a few quid, but you may be able to benefit from being UK-based if someone is wary of outsourcing abroad? Might at least be worth seeing if there's much supply and demand for VBA/Access stuff though.

I just stumbled across that one this morning, not a lot on it, but I have sent a message to someone on there asking for Excel/Access experts (two separate jobs) to see if he could be a little more specific.

nickachu · **Posted:** Mon Dec 13, 2010 14:48

JoansToTheWorld! wrote:

nickachudolph wrote:

How about you play people at scrabble competitively?

Because real scrabble doesn't let you try a few made-up words first to see if you can get a better score

Zeps.

Apparantly

Quote:

noun
a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States

Joans · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8658

Well things are looking up with this, I'm getting some pretty positive responses.

Quote:

It seems you have a good perspective ansd seem to feel this is no problem for you. I like that. My concern with these services (My opinion) is that there is a candy store full of wonderfull applicants but none seem to stay focus and most try and convicnce you of a new better way. I want a new better way so I am connecting and finishing what I have. What all who want to rewite this fails to see is that finishing this requires the understnading of the project necessary to recognise what is truly involved. I think the one who will be around to rewrite or build ort support me will be the same person who understands my ultimate goal. That will be clear as we do this project.If you can do it and in a comfotably quiqk pace that would be great. I want to do it is small tasks. This way it keeps going forward and if someone decides to fall asleep on me I am not starting over, a mistake I have made a few times. As for $$$ until we do a small piece or a big piece I will not know or appre ciate any $ per hour rate. 1.00 per hr with a turtle could be more that 10.00. So if you are quick and clear (NOT CRAZY SPEED, not to mis understand me) I have enough in my head and demanding business to have plenty to do. Iwant to do a lot. SO the expert will smile because his pace is his pace. It is the turtle who scratches his head and bills you for his constant research I worry about. We can talk breifly about this but if your hour makes me smile then that is all that is important. Lets try if you like. There is a website that in deramweaver that needs completion ASAP.

I'm scared.

TheVision · **Posted:** Sun Jan 23, 2011 0:30

Did that come straight out of an email? With all those spelling mistakes? I would approach with caution personally... there's no excuse in this day and age for making that many mistakes.

Joans · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8658

TheVision wrote:

Did that come straight out of an email? With all those spelling mistakes? I would approach with caution personally... there's no excuse in this day and age for making that many mistakes.

That's copy and pasted. Even without the spelling mistakes I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. The only allusion to any sort of work is a mention of "deramweaver", and the project has nothing to do with that.

Incindentally, I have managed to get one project out of this so far, it just takes a long time to filter out all the $1/hr!!!!1111 data entry jobs.

Be Excellent To Each Other

Freelance Coding
Anyone tried it?

Who is online

Be Excellent To Each Other

Freelance Coding Anyone tried it?

Who is online

Freelance Coding
Anyone tried it?