Over one third of Americans are freelancing, and those numbers are expected to grow as time goes on. With a computer and internet access, freelancers can even work remotely, meaning qualified individuals can be connected to companies regardless of distance.
Become a Professional Freelance Front-End Developer
One of the more lucrative fields of freelance work is in tech, including the work of front-end developers. In fact, the average rate of a freelance front-end developer runs between $61–80 an hour! Of course, there are more reasons to consider becoming a freelance front-end developer beyond salary alone.
What is Front-End Development?
Front-end developers rely on coding languages like Javascript, HTML and CSS to create the parts of an application, like a website, that a user interacts with. Their work is to ensure the user can navigate and interact with a site as smoothly as possible, balancing interactivity with the seemingly invisible code that ties it all together.
A front end developer is useful for developing a new company website, as well as ensuring the website is running smoothly and responsive to desired SEO strategies. Of course, these workers must also be prepared to stay on top of trends – the methods for developing a good website now might be almost entirely null in five years.
How to Become a Front-End Developer
There are many ways to train to become a front-end developer. For example, there are plenty of resources available online to learn coding. These span a variety of prices, coding languages, class structure and time span, providing more than enough possibilities for individuals hoping to get their feet wet.
Another possibility for preparing to become a front-end developer are coding bootcamps, which are short term classes – typically lasting no longer than a year – developed to prepare students to join the workforce. Since the first official bootcamp in 2011, the coding bootcamp industry has blossomed, providing plenty of opportunities for people looking to learn. While the traditional image of a coding bootcamp involves full-time study (eight hours a day, five days a week) at a physical location, there are plenty of part-time and remote options available now.
To prepare to become a front-end developer specifically, students will want to ensure that their bootcamp offers courses tailored to front-end development. That can include specific courses for front-end developers, but could also simply be learning a language like Javascript or HTML.
Finally, there’s always the traditional college method for learning. Two to four year programs can not only prepare students to become a front-end developer, but provide them with additional skill sets that can be useful in the field.
Regardless of the course of study, it will be important to have projects to showcase for future employers. Ideally, there should be a variety of projects so you can show off a range of skills. These creations can be from school projects, favors for friends and family or even what you’ve done for fun, so long as it demonstrates your abilities.
It’s also important to make sure your soft-skills are up to par before freelancing. You might be an awesome front-end developer, but if you miss deadlines, struggle to communicate or are not easy to get along with, it’s going to be harder to keep up clients. Your soft skills matter, so make sure you’re someone that other people want to work with.
Why Freelance?
Once you’ve honed your coding skills, it’s time to find a job, but it’s worth asking if being a freelance front-end developer will work for you. Freelancing is a growing field that boasts a number of advantages over traditional work, but for some, the disadvantages might outweigh the advantages.
Advantages
- Schedule
One of the biggest perks of being a freelancer is the ability to set your own hours. Maybe you’re an early riser who wants to get a start on the day before the sun is up, or maybe night is when you’re at the top of your game. Whatever your preference, with freelance, the only person in charge of your schedule is you.
- Location
Many freelance jobs only require a computer and internet access to accomplish. One of
the perks is that freelancers have access to a wide range of job opportunities. It also means that freelancers can work from wherever they want. If you enjoy travel, freelancing can make that dream a reality.
- Variety
With freelancing, you will get to experience a number of clients, potentially with a range of goals. One week you might be creating a website for a dog-walking business, the next, creating work for a hospital...etc. If interesting work is important to you, freelancing has the capability to keep you on your toes.
- Pay
At a full-time job, your pay will remain fixed from day to day. This can be good if you’ve got easy projects, but when you’re handed something that takes significantly more time and effort, you might not be getting paid what you’re worth. Freelancing not only allows you to set your own rates, but provides an opportunity for you to be compensated fairly from project to project.
- Experience
As a beginner, whether you’re hoping to get a full-time job or break into the freelancing industry, freelancing provides chances to gain experience. Starting small might not pay well, but it will give you more professional projects to showcase on your portfolio.
Disadvantages
- Pay
Although there are plenty of ways to be successful with freelancing, pay can be difficult. Make sure you’re doing research to ensure you’re charging a good rate and be careful of who you take on as a client – some might not pay on time. However, TalentPowered eliminates this risk. As you successfully complete specific milestones within the project, TalentPowered’s completely secure Milestone Payment System authorizes payment and ensures that you receive your money for your work.
- Stability
For those breaking into the field, finding stability in the freelance game might be difficult. To play it safe, consider freelancing in your spare time first, which can help you build a network and portfolio. It’s also worth being careful with your finances to prepare for weeks (or months) with less job opportunities.
It’s important to be aware of the good and bad aspects of freelancing, especially if you’re considering trying to freelance full time. Still, there’s a reason freelancing is growing in popularity: Freelancers are able to take control of their employment and reap the benefits that follow.
Freelance Front-End Developer Jobs
Maybe you’ve gotten your education, built your portfolio and are ready to be a front-end developer. Freelance might be the next desired step, but knowing where to start can be difficult. Building networks and searching the web for jobs can seem overwhelming, which is where TalentPowered comes in.
On TalentPowered, employers create job postings where they outline a project, including size and requirements like coding language. Freelancers are able to use TalentPowered to narrow the scope of their searches, pinpointing the exact sort of projects they’d like to work on, rather than dig through a variety of job postings they are either uninterested in or unqualified to do.
When you find a job you’re interested in, you will place a bid. These bids will cover your rates and expected time frame, provide examples of past work and showcase your credentials.
Once connected with an employer, TalentPowered provides you with communication tools that are helpful for keeping in touch during a project. This makes it easier to set fair prices and payment plans, clarify goals for the project and reduce the likelihood of miscommunication.
With each finished project, you’ll have a better portfolio and a wider network, making it easier to find more work in the future. Breaking into the freelancing business might be daunting, but TalentPowered can help ease some of the pressure.
Why Freelancers?
Maybe you’re not a freelancer, but a business in need of a front-end developer. Hiring a freelancer might seem daunting, but it can be a great investment and a solid way to finish projects.
Advantages
- Contract Work
If you’re not in an industry that needs constant front-end development, a full-time employee can be a costly decision that might not even provide the best results. Hiring freelancers for a project-by-project basis, on the other hand, can ensure you get the best person for each specific job.
- Price
With a freelancer, there’s no need for lengthy hiring processes, office introductions and, most importantly, insurance. This means you can pay simply for the task required, saving you money in the long run.
- Quality
If you’re hiring in person, you are restricted by location. Hiring a remote freelancer, on the other hand, can help you find someone who is better suited for the job at hand.
Disadvantages
- Finding the right person
Looking for that perfect developer for your remote job might feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Luckily, TalentPowered allows you to tailor your job postings to narrow down who is applying.
- Miscommunication
Keeping in contact with a remote worker can be difficult, which can mean longer turn around times and more expensive projects than you were expecting. With TalentPowered, however, you are provided with the tools necessary to keep in contact with your new employee, helping the project run smoothly.
Becoming a freelance front-end developer might seem intimidating, but it can be With more people migrating to freelancing each year, it can be worth taking advantage of the wealth of knowledge and experience available in the freelance pool. Your perfect front-end developer might be a simple job bid away.
Freelancing is extremely rewarding. Enjoy a flexible schedule and an exciting realm of job possibilities as you join over one third of the United States workforce in freelancing. Check out TalentPowered for opportunities today.