How to become a freelance programmer while in college?

How about paying your college fee by yourself? How about earning a side income while studying? If you are a college lad who wants to make some extra money, well, which everyone wants, then freelancing can be your cup of tea. Freelancing is an ocean of opportunities wherein one can polish his / her skills, gain experience, discover their Brightside, and the most crucial point it helps you to become financially stable. When you are in college, there’s a lot of peer pressure, the pressure of society & even your parents sometimes see your studies as a burden. In this case, freelancing can be the key to unlock the doors of opportunity for you. If you are a computer student or someone who has basic knowledge about programming languages and how computers work, then you can start your journey as a freelance coder. This article will guide you on how to do it. First and foremost, who is a coder? What does he do? In simplistic terms, a person who has deep knowledge of programming and who knows how to create real-world things out of the code can be called a coder. Now the question comes, what is the right time to start? To be very honest there is no specific time frame to start the draw, so if you have the skills, you can start right now.  

Is freelancing my cup of tea?

For a novice, this is a common and important question. Freelancing is not something you can walk away from halfway. You have to figure out your “WHY?” before starting your freelancing journey. A good reason to start will inspire you to accomplish better things. It sounds nice that “Hey, I’m a freelancer “but in reality, it’s not much easy, much effort and time are needed. It may become your worst nightmare if you have your university work stacked with your client’s project, to avoid these kinds of situations, proper planning is required. Start with setting up a new schedule to prevent time conflicts. Set a particular duration for all your works so you can also get some time off at the end of the day. Don’t be demotivated if you don’t have many clients, keep improving and leave the rest to the universe. Freelancing can become your sweetheart as long as you are willing to give in hell a lot of effort and a balanced time.

What should be the first move?

First, you need to explore yourself to get started on the idea. Begin to develop a list of competencies you are confident in. Once you have a list at your fingertips, you can then come up with an appropriate plan. Suppose your skills are HTML5, CSS3 & Javascript, then you can begin your journey as a front-end web developer. You can also market your skills by teaching on platforms like  Udemy, edX. If you have skills, you will set yourself apart from the crowd, so At this point, don’t forget to concentrate solely on skills development.

How much do I need to know to get started as a freelance programmer?  

There is no end to learning. You can develop as many competencies as you want, according to your interests. But certain basic skills are required.

You need to have strong control over one of the programming languages, it can be Python, Javascript, or even C++, depending on your interest. If you are a newbie, we suggest you start with Python because it is an easy language for newbies, later you can discover advanced topics like ML or Data Science using python. You can also start working with the technologies, depending on your interest, we’ve listed a few for you here.

• Game Development: Behind every video game is the code that is running it, so if you want to start your journey of game development you need to have strong command over C++, C# (pronounced as “C Sharp”), Python, although other programming languages such as Java will also be a good option (again this is up to you).

• Web Development:   If you are interested in developing a website, you can go with web development. To do that, HTML, CSS, and Javascript are needed. HTML will define the structure of your website, CSS will be a sort of design tool, to give it a good appearance and javascript will be the core of the site since it acts as an engine.

• Software Development: Software development is the process of designing and writing code for computer operating systems, smartphone or computer apps, and non-PC devices. The programming language used by a developer is task-dependent. However, some of the best options are Python, Java, C++.

Other than all of these, you are free to go with any other technology that you are interested in.

How do I find my first client?

 If you have to sell your services, you have to attract your audience. In the beginning, this may seem impossible, but it is not. You can start building like everybody says, with your portfolio website. Your portfolio will help the client understand your competencies. If you don’t want to make a portfolio, you can start a blog or develop UI/UX designs for restaurants or shopping sites. This is done to give an understanding to the client regarding your potential. 

You may find your customers on social media or in the real world.

Start with your family first, no, I’m not asking you to work as a freelancer for your parents(this might sound weird) but you can search among your relatives who may need your services. Get in touch with local businesses in your city, talk to them, understand their point of view, maybe you can sell them your services. Web-based media can assist you with getting your first customer, you can connect with individuals on Linkedin, Twitter, and on other social media platforms, where the tech community is exceptionally solid. Often you have to be direct, in this case, cold emailing will help. Above all, note that if you need jobs, you must put yourself out there. 

Searching for help on the Internet?

Finding help these days is not a simple errand however we will control you on the best way to track down the true site for you to grandstand your ability. Though there are numerous websites that can assist you, the following are some of the best:- 

1. Upwork:- Upwork is a marketplace for freelancers in fields like writing, graphic design, and web development. The site helps professionals find projects, communicate with clients, and get paid. You may find your first client here. All you have to do is create your profile (an eye-catching title and a client-centric overview), Present your projects. Sign an agreement and get securely paid.
2. Fiverr:- The company provides a platform for freelancers to offer services to customers worldwide. Freelancers can showcase finished projects to the public so potential clients can easily pick someone whose creation sparks their interest. In addition, it also offers you free learning courses to develop your skills.
3. PeoplePerHour:- This freelance website has over 1.5 million freelancers that used their service. Every worker has different qualifications. This is a significant advancement, but it also poses a challenge. 
4. Toptal:-Toptal is a multinational remote organization that offers a forum for freelancers. Since Toptal has such a wide group of high-quality coders, finding a project is difficult due to the high level of competition. But you should give it a try.
5. Guru:-Guru is one of the best freelance websites to find & hire Freelancers online and get work done. Freelancers can search for freelance work and can find superb projects.

What Next?

Freelancing is about much more than just money; it’s about passion, perseverance, and freedom. If the idea of being a freelancer appeals to you, you should give it a shot, but be prepared to work hard and smart. 

If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.

                                                   — Jim Rohn, American entrepreneur & motivational speaker