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Second Income/Freelance

  • 19-08-2020 08:52AM
    #1
    SportingFun
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 74 ✭✭


    Hi All,

    I am looking for any recommendations than anyone has for a potential second job or a reliable freelance site focused on technology.

    I am currently working hours 8.30-5 and looking to top up my income as I am looking at buying a house.

    Thanks for any tips and advise


Comments

  • #2
    OMM 0000
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,733 ✭✭✭OMM 0000


    Well freelancer.com is the big one, but I would avoid them as their account requirements are too high - you need to give them a scan your passport, a scan of your signature, and a utility bill. I've asked them before how they store this data (is it encrypted? when is it deleted? is it stored in backups? etc.) and I got the impression they haven't thought about these questions before.

    I also don't think you should be giving a website this sort of data. Only governments or banks, etc., should be able to see this data.

    upwork.com doesn't require this stuff, but the site is more focussed on lower level admin work.

    There are probably a few others.


  • #3
    SportingFun
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 74 ✭✭SportingFun


    OMM 0000 wrote: »
    Well freelancer.com is the big one, but I would avoid them as their account requirements are too high - you need to give them a scan your passport, a scan of your signature, and a utility bill. I've asked them before how they store this data (is it encrypted? when is it deleted? is it stored in backups? etc.) and I got the impression they haven't thought about these questions before.

    I also don't think you should be giving a website this sort of data. Only governments or banks, etc., should be able to see this data.

    upwork.com doesn't require this stuff, but the site is more focussed on lower level admin work.

    There are probably a few others.


    Thanks for reply. I would agree re that information in particular as don't know how stored

    I have heard some mixed reports on upwork but will do some more research


  • #4
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,457 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    When you look at those sites, people seem to work 100hr weeks for €20.
    You'd probably make more money doing normal things, like DIY or painting for people.


  • #5
    OMM 0000
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,733 ✭✭✭OMM 0000


    beauf wrote: »
    When you look at those sites, people seem to work 100hr weeks for €20.
    You'd probably make more money doing normal things, like DIY or painting for people.

    That's not totally true, I just hired someone from there for USD 8k. It's about two month's work.

    However I agree it is full of Indians who work for peanuts. But you get what you pay for.


  • #6
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 11,189 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    OMM 0000 wrote: »
    However I agree it is full of Indians who work for peanuts. But you get what you pay for.

    But for them is not working for peanuts, it depends on the cost of living where you are located.

    Also a lot of the IT seems to be repeat stuff, once you've done a few jobs, you have a wealth of code to pull in to the new project.


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  • #7
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,457 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    I just don't know how anyone could make money on those sites competing with people with far lower cost base, especially part time, as the OP will be, since they seem to turn around projects at an unbelievable rate, which makes me think that many of the them are subcontracted to a bunch of people working even cheaper.

    Long time since I did nixers or short contracts, and these sites were pointless back then. Perhaps it's all different theses days.


  • #8
    OMM 0000
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,733 ✭✭✭OMM 0000


    beauf wrote: »
    I just don't know how anyone could make money on those sites competing with people with far lower cost base, especially part time, as the OP will be, since they seem to turn around projects at an unbelievable rate, which makes me think that many of the them are subcontracted to a bunch of people working even cheaper.

    Long time since I did nixers or short contracts, and these sites were pointless back then. Perhaps it's all different theses days.

    I can only speak for myself, but I have no interest in choosing the cheap Indians/Pakistanis/Bangladeshis. I've given them too many chances and the quality is always low. Nice people though.

    So I use it to hire people I can't get where I am. My latest project (the 8k one) is with a guy who has a PhD (verifiable) in an area we need help on.

    I think if you're going to use these sites your brand needs to differentiate yourself from the other freelancers.


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