Should you get a Coding Job, or go Freelance?

[@estevesazeiteiro]

I find that it can be wise to get a coding job in the beginning, and later move into freelancing. That way you're getting paid to learn, and won't be expecting you to know everything right out of the bat. While in freelancing, a client would probably expect you to already know your craft. First you learn, then you earn.

[@bryanha7541]

After 1 year and 3 months of teaching myself how to code, i just got my first job offer for an entry role position in web development. I will try to save as much money as possible and build that "Fuck you" money padding, and when i got enough padding, i will try freelancing after that. Thanks Uncle Stef for your tips! PS: I also have a boxing background and transitioned into coding

[@keithmonroe383]

Congratulations on the job offer! Did you study full time, as in 40 hours a week during that 15 months? Thanks!

[@bryanha7541]

​@@keithmonroe383 hey keith, thank you! I was just consistently learning. I would say i was learning around 15-25 hours weekly.

[@VictorAug]

How it went bro ? Are you now making mountains of money ?

[@marcelriedeman9286]

I live in the Netherlands and we have unemployment money if you get fired. Its money you get after you get fired for a few months to let you find a new job. You only get it if you had a job. They dont have it for entrepeneurs unfortunatly. Another factor to take into account.

[@Meleeman011]

Freelance, freelance freelance choose hard mode

[@markteevee]

Makes a lot of sense. Great video

[@josephthecreator]

Extremely sound advice. Thanks Stefan!

[@StefanMischook]

Welcome!

[@AsleepintheGarden777]

Thanks for the advice Uncle Stef

[@PositiveVibesVids]

Deff do a job first to learn. Stefs lays it out nicely on the risk starting off. After taking stefs course I got a job managing developers but also doing some development, writing articles, networking, security, a little bit of everything. I like that I'm able to learn the business and get paid at the same time. No doubt in the end I'll make it on my own but I won't take the jump until I have the skill. I got you two referrals since I started working for your course and they are enjoying it. Stef keeps it real and I really feel is mentorship program lead me in the right direction.

[@behrad9712]

Thank you so much 🙏

[@donblack1571]

Always appreciate the videos from you.

[@vladimirpetroski7089]

This helps a lot, uncle Steph! Thanks muchly!

[@StefanMischook]

No problem!

[@sie85]

I don't know how this works in USA but here in the Netherlands you also have a lot of tax-advantages when you are a freelancer. Examples include not having to pay VAT for IT equipment which is also tax-deductible. You pay a lot less tax in the end,.

[@StefanMischook]

Same in Canada and the US

[@carterpaul2688]

Superb content as always

[@nitesh-maharaj]

I initially tried freelancing, but I was inexperienced and I failed on multiple fronts. The quality of software I built was poor. I was poor at getting clients, but I had a few good contacts that actually helped me. At the time I lived with my parents and when I eventually ran out of funds, I went to my dad and he said, "Fine, you had a chance to try it out, now go and get a job." More than a decade and a half later, I've worked with several companies and gained experience with a lot of tech stacks in various industries. Now I'm considering going back into freelancing, because I'm tired of the red tape in corporations and I feel I'm not able to unlock my true value potential.

[@MrMickeyTheMouse]

Uncle Stef is on point as usual!

[@jarrodcaldwell7531]

Mr. Stefan, I am a subscriber, but if you can there is a GREY Area that is never ever covered by anyone.. A career Contractor- a Specialist that does short term, and long term contracts- and jumps jobs like a mercenary. Can you do a brief overview of the Career Contractor/ Consultant... Thanks

[@Meleeman011]

Eehhh kinda a subset of freelancer

[@StefanMischook]

Sure.

[@jarrodcaldwell7531]

@@Meleeman011 Yes and No normally in the States I work under a w2 and I am still a at will employee meaning I can get get loose just like that Zero Security. JUST produce don't fall in love with the job and maximize my contracts, hopefully not with a toxic team and more on.

[@duchoslavandrej]

From my POV as a employee. I can tell there is only difference in finding job.. As a freelancer you have to trying to find, be always available on net, forums etc.. As a employee of big company, your employer do this, I mean find projects. If you working in big company you probably will work on big stable projects, now we can assume that big projects can takes 1-3 years to end. And i dont care if i got fired because here is literally 200-300 jobs as java developer, in city where I working. Anyway, I see most devs have this path.. Going for coding job as employee and then after 3-5 years started freelancing if they want to manage their time better. Later on as a freelancer can get potentialy more money opposite to employee for same amount of work.

[@Meleeman011]

I mean I've been with some companies for 2 years, I sit somewhere between contractor and free lancer, but a contractor is easier to get started, a free lancer I feel I'm expected to do everything, contractor I can join a larger agency and all the tasks are managed for me, but sometimes even as a contractor I'm asked to implement stupid things, or asked to do something

[@lugloria-6569]

I like this video so much. If you don’t mind, I would like to ask your permission to share this video to the other website in China for the reason that KZbin is blocked from accessing in China. I will give sources of the original website. Thank you so much! 😆

[@withthesun13]

What do you do on a daily bases in a entry level job. What are your daily tasks?

[@StefanMischook]

Depends on the company. But it will likely be on small updates and additions to software.

[@paulholsters7932]

I like this video since it talks about Saas. I have a great project going on that indeed solves a problem that not has been solved in a satisfying way before. But I can’t decide on how that I want to present it to the consumer. But maybe it’s to soon to decide this yet. The idea of having to spend time to find clients makes me feel tired. I’d rather like to code.

[@paulbrown5839]

You should learn your trade properly for at least 5 years before freelancing (find a mentor if you can). Then consider freelancing. If you go long term freelancing you will probably give up managerial progression, unless you are in a very small minority. A good path is 5 years staff to learn your trade, 10 years freelancing to become financially secure, then move back into staff role and get 'off the tools' and into management for the remainder of your career (do this before early 40s or the transition is difficult). During your freelancing days always strive to get into lead roles. Saying that, freelancing (aka contracting/ consulting) is currently dying due to government tax rule changes in Europe/UK (see 'IR35' for UK).

[@toddboothbee1361]

I suspect that I would be okay/middle-of-the-road developer, but my professors believe I could be a top flight in a much less profitable field. Should be the best in the low paying field, which the median income is $18,000 per year (if one doesn't become a professor in said field), or is it okay to become an average developer, whose median income is more than $77,000? I know my great talent, but if it pays like a hobby, why should I treat it better than one? For my long line of professors, this is an heretical question.

[@estevesazeiteiro]

Hey, if you're not miserable being a 'middle-of-the-road' dev, you choose the 77k. F* your professors, they won't pay your bills... Look out for yourself first always, specially in the market.

[@toddboothbee1361]

@@estevesazeiteiro Agreed. Even the grants and scholarships given out by the ivory tower community run out pretty fast, and I'm not interested in teaching in university. I can be special in my private time. Middle-of-the-road confers no shame when survival is the point; most of us are average, though 74 percent of us think we're above average.

[@franciscolinares7392]

RUBY

[@gurugamer8632]

I currently work for a investment company as a systems administrator. I am currently learning Python. I’m thinking to quit my job in 8 weeks and perhaps do contract work as a Python developer. How easy can I get a Python coding work? I don’t have real world experience. I’m working for training videos on udemy and plural sight. What types of insurance do I need when contracting?

[@rezajanjani7712]

Hi Uncle Stefan, Thanks for your help and having very good page. I need this video. I have two questions. Could you please answer me: 1 what's SAS that you are talking about? 2 How / where can learn fundamental of programming to be able to solve problems independent of languages? I watched a lot of tutorial, but none of them teach you to think like a real engender. Happy Holidays, R_J

[@radui7468]

Is it hard to do freelance in another country then my own?

[@user-ko5ul7yi1x]

If you're in a shitty 3rd world country, usually go freelance and serve int'l clients that pay much much more than the local ones. It is what it is; Can't waste your time on chump change when you can actually earn more.

[@nikitashutkov1804]

Noice