I know this isn't what you want to hear, but the best option is definitely to use your network. As both a freelancer in the past and someone who hires them now, I've had very few successes outside of referrals.

Network doesn't mean friends, necessarily! I built most of my network by building cool random things and mentioning I was looking for freelancing.

(That being said, you have a lot of eyes on this post now, so you should comment a way to contact you!)

I previously founded and sold a VC-backed marketplace for short-term contract programming work. However, I think any of the marketplace-style business models are flawed because they have to be so controlling to maintain their cut of the revenue.

I believe we need a simple job board for part-time, freelance software work. No long process to apply. No need to rate your coworkers to get paid. No subscriptions or revshare. Just a lightweight job board with a great email and good matching.

So, I'm working on building that:

https://frctnl.xyz

(Using a throwaway because I'm not talking about this project publicly yet.)

I love this idea. Enough I'd even be willing to help (without pay). Any way to contact you?

Perhaps sign up for the list, then just respond to the first email - which I plan to send next Wednesday!

Done

Never used them, but I've heard reasonable things about:

- https://gun.io/

- https://www.toptal.com/

How brutal are the interviews?

Very light for toptal

I’ve been out of the industry for two years. What would be worth refreshing on for python/data/backend?

Not what I heard.

I have never done any algorithm preparation in my life and was able to pass. They asked to figure out how many decks I could make out of cards given by sign + number. Using a hash map made it very straightforward

I find 3-6 month contracts using recruiters. I have never found a good contract on a website or by applying directly to the company.

How did you find said recruiters?

Apply to a bunch of contract jobs. Some of them will be recruiters posting fake jobs to attract the kinds of candidates that are easy to place.

Then the best of those recruiters will call up people at employers that they have relationships with and try to get you in. Often a company will be trying to hire perm, but open to a contractor. Or a companies HR dept might be completely useless and the recruiter will call up an exec who is trying to get something done and needs your skills.

Once you've done a good job at a company and built a relationship with a good recruiter they'll keep finding you new contract work.

Being a recruiter is a real skill. I have tried to find contracts on my own and failed every single time.

Check out https://www.moonlightwork.com/

looks a little bare bones atm has it got many active users? I've signed up all the same

The best place for finding that kind of work is your Rolodex (or Linkedin connections) because you won't have to convince strangers to hire you and people you know may point you to someone who has work even when they don't.

It's usually better to have a leg up than to start from scratch.

Good luck.

It's a bit more focused on AI/data driven projects but sometimes they look for full-stack folks @ tribe.ai

Dice.com used to be the place to go. I haven't looked at them in quite some time.

not that i've found and upwork/freelancer seems pretty shit to be honest

They don't seem to have much in the way of clients. For example, they currently only have 4 active "missions" in web development.

Maybe it's a good sign.

How?

Good curation.

Seconded. I found work through them last year; the pay is much better than alternatives like toptal.