[Moonbat]

Does anyone have any tips? It seems that any time I try to get a job, I get underbid by large companies that can afford to work for the bare minimum. Is there anything to help me stand out?

Keep in mind I'm just starting. I don't have a reputation to go by on freelancing sites (it's hard to get a rep when you can't get jobs).

[no2pencil]

If the lowest bid is all that the buyer cares about, then you don't want that job bid & I'll tell you why. They will never be happy with anything you do. If they want something for nothing, then they expect something for nothing. Quality of work, timely manor, good communication, they don't care about any of these things. So don't sweat it.

Since you are having a hard time finding work, here is what I would suggest. Focus on your positives. English communication. Available via IM. Available via Skype. Try to be as accommodating as possible. What types of examples of your previous work are you providing? These are all things to consider when placing a bid on a job, the pay amount should just be details. You should be more concerned about getting the turnaround time correct, & making sure that you know the details of what type of work needs to be performed, as well as your plan of attack. You should know these two details 150%. If you don't, then you are what the seller considers a "steak dinner" meaning your main concern is that you make enough money, & the job details come 2nd. I'm not saying this is the case, but you don't want to falsely portray that scenario.

I hope this makes sense, & helps you land a couple of positive jobs. Follow up, & let us know how things are working out.

[eclipsed4utoo]

what if the only real samples you have are applications that are to be kept private because you created them for another company?

I currently work for a small software developing company. The work that we do is kept private to the customer. I can't post those applications as things I have completed.

So what do I do?

[no2pencil]

Screenshots with blurred detail works, as well you could recreate the specific details with possibly generic information, therefor showing a proof of concept that would basically be useless as far as a deliverable product. Basically show them that you can do the meat of the project. There is also the option of a non disclosure agreement.

Maybe there are better suggestions, but these work for me.

[akozlik]

The #1 thing that I've noticed that gets me jobs when freelancing is communication. When you are chasing down a client the important thing is to identify what their problem is, and how you intend to solve it. Ask them questions about their project and show a genuine interest. The people who are putting out the jobs love to see bidders who take an interest in what they're doing. They'll be able to see through all the generic bids, and will focus on the people who fully understand their problem. I never bid on a project before making an initial contact with a client. If a potential client is only going to take the lowest bidded price, that client won't be worth the time anyway.

I have tons of horror stories about clients gone wrong, but I have a lot of good ones too. The more you bid on jobs and freelance, the better you'll get at it.

I think I need to write a few blog posts on the topic. In the meantime, you might want to check out these blogs:

http://www.freelanceswitch.com
http://www.freelancefolder.com
http://www.younggogetter.com

The list goes on and on.

[Chubber]

You must also be able to write solid code that tests well and can be installed and run without errors, solving the problem statement. And do it the first time.

Listen to what the client is saying. Learn to differentiate between what they think they want and what they truly need. Explain the difference and discuss their needs again. Learn to be a business resource, not just another programmer. Some of my past clients call me up just to bounce ideas off of me. They may not do anything with it, but when they do, Ill be the first one they call.