If you want to freelance successfully you really need to learn basic prospecting, sales, and networking.
ODesk and Elance are bad mojo unless you're dying for some grist for that portfolio.
Speaking of which, establish a solid web presence that you control (not just github) and start building up a reputation for being good at something in particular.
Also you just listed off 8 programming languages, a CMS, and two different databases. I and anybody like me who could potentially be interested in hiring a freelancer would rather know what you're actually GOOD at. Don't do that resume stuffing garbage. Case in point, can you even use function pointers in C? No? Then drop it off the list.
Start building up a portfolio of Node.js projects, then you'll build the necessary expertise to work in the stuff you want to be doing. Do contract work in whatever you're actually good at until your Node skills catch up.
And I would say on top of this put down not only what you're good at but what you would prefer to work on, and what makes you happiest and excited. If you take a bunch of jobs that you don't like (which you may have to do at first) you will eventually get bored and loose your excitement.
I should add that here on the west coast of Canada (Victoria, BC), the startup/freelancing scene isn't that great especially at first glance, which is why I was looking for stuff elsewhere. Jobs here are mostly PHP, Java etc. But that's not tech I see myself working with long-term, so like you've said I'll focus on what gets me excited.
Comments
If you want to freelance successfully you really need to learn basic prospecting, sales, and networking.
ODesk and Elance are bad mojo unless you're dying for some grist for that portfolio.
Speaking of which, establish a solid web presence that you control (not just github) and start building up a reputation for being good at something in particular.
Also you just listed off 8 programming languages, a CMS, and two different databases. I and anybody like me who could potentially be interested in hiring a freelancer would rather know what you're actually GOOD at. Don't do that resume stuffing garbage. Case in point, can you even use function pointers in C? No? Then drop it off the list.
Start building up a portfolio of Node.js projects, then you'll build the necessary expertise to work in the stuff you want to be doing. Do contract work in whatever you're actually good at until your Node skills catch up.
Thanks for the advice.
You're right, I'll be sure to narrow down my core capabilities so it doesn't look like I'm a jack of all trades.
Thanks again!
And I would say on top of this put down not only what you're good at but what you would prefer to work on, and what makes you happiest and excited. If you take a bunch of jobs that you don't like (which you may have to do at first) you will eventually get bored and loose your excitement.
I should add that here on the west coast of Canada (Victoria, BC), the startup/freelancing scene isn't that great especially at first glance, which is why I was looking for stuff elsewhere. Jobs here are mostly PHP, Java etc. But that's not tech I see myself working with long-term, so like you've said I'll focus on what gets me excited.