5 answers
Akinterinwa
Student
Lagos, Nigeria
2
Questions
Asked
1647 views
How can I get a side gig or project while still learning frontend development?
Thanks to people that have answered my question in the past. I’ve tried platforms like Upwork and Fiverr and I see that you’ll need to have few reviews before you get hired. I and some other criteria too. This has been a very difficult one and I would so much appreciate probably if I could get someone to mentor me and put me through this phase.
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5 answers
Paul Loeb
Product Manager
6
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Paul’s Answer
I'd recommend you build some projects on your own. You don't have to create something new and innovative, rather you can create your own version of an existing tool. Through creating the project, you will learn about the end-to-end journey of software development, and you will end up with a tangible product to add to your portfolio and showcase to future employers.
Amar Verma
Software technical architect
12
Answers
Alexandria, Virginia
Updated
Amar’s Answer
Hello Akinterinwa
African continent has several awesome startups and companies that are providing abundant regional opportunities.
https://startuplist.africa
For your freelance or side-hustle gigs, please:
* Prepare your portfolio in a presentable form. For example - www.Behance.com.
* Contact local companies and inquire if they can use remote resources like yourself for part-time gigs.
* Find and attend local professional meetup forums, whether in-person or remotely. For example, use https://www.meetup.com.
* Join regional and international freelance platforms and provide specific response to the resource requests, instead of canned responses.
Feel free to reach out to me for follow up questions.
Regards
Amar Verma
African continent has several awesome startups and companies that are providing abundant regional opportunities.
https://startuplist.africa
For your freelance or side-hustle gigs, please:
* Prepare your portfolio in a presentable form. For example - www.Behance.com.
* Contact local companies and inquire if they can use remote resources like yourself for part-time gigs.
* Find and attend local professional meetup forums, whether in-person or remotely. For example, use https://www.meetup.com.
* Join regional and international freelance platforms and provide specific response to the resource requests, instead of canned responses.
Feel free to reach out to me for follow up questions.
Regards
Amar Verma
I appreciate you taking the time to answer this. I already connected with you on LinkedIn and I would love to have a personal chat with you when you have the chance.
Akinterinwa
Steven Feliciano
4
Answers
Updated
Steven’s Answer
You’ve already tested the big platforms — that’s real experience, even if it didn’t land the way you hoped. Those marketplaces are oversaturated and frankly brutal for newcomers. Time to work smarter.
Where to Go Instead:
Your Physical Community First
Walk into local businesses — barbershops, restaurants, boutiques, gyms, salons.
Most have no website or a terrible one built in 2015. That’s your opening.
An in-person conversation converts at a much higher rate than a cold profile on a platform.
Campus is an Untapped Market
Student organizations, sports clubs, greek life, campus events — all need web presence and almost none have budget for agencies.
Reach out to your school’s entrepreneurship or business club. Those students often have startup ideas and need a dev partner.
Post in your university’s Facebook group or Discord.
You can also shift your approach entirely
Instead of competing for postings, create your own opportunities:
Pick 10 local businesses with bad or missing websites. Build a free unsolicited mockup of their homepage. Then email or walk in and show them.
That move alone puts you miles ahead of anyone sending a generic proposal on Upwork.
Collaborations
Find a graphic designer or marketer who doesn’t code. Offer to be their dev partner on client projects. They bring the client, you build the site, you split the fee. This is how a lot of freelancers quietly build consistent income early on — through partnerships, not platforms.
Upwork and Fiverr reward history, not talent -- Go where there’s no competition and bring the work to people directly. That’s the move.
Where to Go Instead:
Your Physical Community First
Walk into local businesses — barbershops, restaurants, boutiques, gyms, salons.
Most have no website or a terrible one built in 2015. That’s your opening.
An in-person conversation converts at a much higher rate than a cold profile on a platform.
Campus is an Untapped Market
Student organizations, sports clubs, greek life, campus events — all need web presence and almost none have budget for agencies.
Reach out to your school’s entrepreneurship or business club. Those students often have startup ideas and need a dev partner.
Post in your university’s Facebook group or Discord.
You can also shift your approach entirely
Instead of competing for postings, create your own opportunities:
Pick 10 local businesses with bad or missing websites. Build a free unsolicited mockup of their homepage. Then email or walk in and show them.
That move alone puts you miles ahead of anyone sending a generic proposal on Upwork.
Collaborations
Find a graphic designer or marketer who doesn’t code. Offer to be their dev partner on client projects. They bring the client, you build the site, you split the fee. This is how a lot of freelancers quietly build consistent income early on — through partnerships, not platforms.
Upwork and Fiverr reward history, not talent -- Go where there’s no competition and bring the work to people directly. That’s the move.
Sahida Khatun
Software Consultant and Analyst
115
Answers
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Updated
Sahida’s Answer
Finding a side gig or project while still learning frontend development can be challenging but definitely achievable with the right approach. Here are some steps you can take:
Build a Portfolio: Create a portfolio showcasing your frontend development skills. Include projects you've worked on, even if they are personal projects or practice exercises. Having a portfolio demonstrates your capabilities to potential clients or employers.
Contribute to Open Source Projects: Join open-source projects related to frontend development on platforms like GitHub. Contributing to these projects not only helps you learn but also allows you to showcase your skills and collaborate with other developers.
Network: Attend local meetups, conferences, or online communities related to frontend development. Networking can help you connect with potential mentors, collaborators, or even clients who may have side gigs or projects for you to work on.
Freelance Platforms: While you mentioned you've tried platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, don't give up on them just yet. Build your profile, focus on creating a compelling bio, and showcase your portfolio. Start with smaller projects to build your reputation and gather reviews.
Social Media and Online Presence: Utilize social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, or even Reddit to connect with professionals in the frontend development community. Share your projects, ask for feedback, and express your interest in finding side gigs or projects. You might come across opportunities through these channels.
Seek Mentorship: Look for mentorship opportunities either through formal mentorship programs, online communities, or by reaching out to experienced developers directly. A mentor can provide guidance, advice, and possibly even connect you with opportunities.
Stay Persistent and Patient: Landing your first side gig or project may take time and persistence. Keep applying, networking, and improving your skills. Be patient and don't get discouraged by rejections.
Remember, it's important to keep learning and improving your skills while actively seeking opportunities. With dedication and perseverance, you'll eventually find the right side gig or project to kickstart your frontend development career.
Build a Portfolio: Create a portfolio showcasing your frontend development skills. Include projects you've worked on, even if they are personal projects or practice exercises. Having a portfolio demonstrates your capabilities to potential clients or employers.
Contribute to Open Source Projects: Join open-source projects related to frontend development on platforms like GitHub. Contributing to these projects not only helps you learn but also allows you to showcase your skills and collaborate with other developers.
Network: Attend local meetups, conferences, or online communities related to frontend development. Networking can help you connect with potential mentors, collaborators, or even clients who may have side gigs or projects for you to work on.
Freelance Platforms: While you mentioned you've tried platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, don't give up on them just yet. Build your profile, focus on creating a compelling bio, and showcase your portfolio. Start with smaller projects to build your reputation and gather reviews.
Social Media and Online Presence: Utilize social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, or even Reddit to connect with professionals in the frontend development community. Share your projects, ask for feedback, and express your interest in finding side gigs or projects. You might come across opportunities through these channels.
Seek Mentorship: Look for mentorship opportunities either through formal mentorship programs, online communities, or by reaching out to experienced developers directly. A mentor can provide guidance, advice, and possibly even connect you with opportunities.
Stay Persistent and Patient: Landing your first side gig or project may take time and persistence. Keep applying, networking, and improving your skills. Be patient and don't get discouraged by rejections.
Remember, it's important to keep learning and improving your skills while actively seeking opportunities. With dedication and perseverance, you'll eventually find the right side gig or project to kickstart your frontend development career.
Samuel Ajithkumar
Account Executive
4
Answers
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Samuel’s Answer
Securing a side job can seem challenging, but here are a few uplifting tips to guide you:
Consider connecting with Tech Jobs that offer Campus Recruiting roles. Explore if they have internships within their company. This could provide you with the opportunity to enhance your front end development skills, while keeping you engaged and updated.
Additionally, don't forget to visit angellist.com. It's a fantastic platform for start-ups and angel companies that are looking for short-term contractors or part-time employees to help them grow. It's a great place to find exciting roles that could fit perfectly with your schedule and skill set.
Check out Angellist.com
Check out Tech Jobs on LinkedIn that have campus recruiters or intern program coordinators and reach out to see if they have opportunities
Consider connecting with Tech Jobs that offer Campus Recruiting roles. Explore if they have internships within their company. This could provide you with the opportunity to enhance your front end development skills, while keeping you engaged and updated.
Additionally, don't forget to visit angellist.com. It's a fantastic platform for start-ups and angel companies that are looking for short-term contractors or part-time employees to help them grow. It's a great place to find exciting roles that could fit perfectly with your schedule and skill set.
Samuel recommends the following next steps: