Are you ready to land a freelance Salesforce job? We get it, turning preparation into action can be the most challenging part of making the switch to freelancing. We find that some of our students get comfortable in the learning space, always focused on taking new certifications and perfecting portfolios.
But the truth is–all that prep goes to waste if you don’t turn it into a profitable hustle. What do you need to do to clear this hurdle? It’s simple–make a plan and take that next step. Here are six platforms where you can connect with companies looking for your skills–and interested in the flexibility of hiring a freelancer.
1. Gun.io: Best for Skilled Developer Matches
Gun.io is a pretty large community of freelance developers. The last time we checked, it was somewhere in the ballpark of 25,000 freelancers. On one hand, that’s a lot of competition. But on the other hand, a platform of this size can attract big-budget clients.
Here’s what we like about Gun.io. It’s a community built to support technical proficiency. You’ll have to prove yourself by taking assessments and supplying credible work history details. It might be more work to set up, but you’ll be working with high-quality clients and competing for work with equally capable freelancers–so there’s little chance that those who lack technical proficiency will steal your jobs.
2. Hired: Best for Connecting with Local Clients
Working with local companies can have advantages–access, specifically, is one of the big ones. When you work with local clients as a freelancer, you may have the ability to connect face-to-face, improving communications and client relationships.
Here’s what we like about Hired. It’s a platform that offers access to more than 10,000 employers with a mix of local and remote opportunities. It’s also free to sign up–meaning that there is little risk if you don’t find what you’re looking for.
Hired also turns the typical pitching process around, allowing companies to come to you. You put together a compelling profile in lieu of endless resumes and cover letters and the platform promotes you to businesses (except current and former employers) to help you land freelance Salesforce gigs.
According to Hired, 84% of candidates accept offers received on Hired. Plus, the platform seems to be heavily skewed towards technical freelancing, including software engineering and developers.
The downside is that Hired is currently focused on major markets only. It’s great if you’re in cities like San Francisco, New York, Austin, or London. The rest of the globe might have to compromise a little.
3. Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr: Best for Beginners
If you’re brand new to technical roles or freelancing, the best place to get your feet wet is on a platform designed to facilitate freelance work. These platforms get mixed reviews. On the upside, they’re a good place for the inexperienced to get some work under their belt. However, they also attract clients that are offering bottom dollar pay with gold plate expectations. Still, there is legitimate work and many reasonable clients to be found on platforms like these.
The three most common are:
1. Upwork
2. Freelancer
3. Fiverr
Each of these platforms offers a slightly different version of the same thing–a relatively safe and easy way to find, pitch, and land work. The biggest draw for new freelancers is that these platforms–for a commission–facilitate secure payment transactions.
This typically means that they hold funds in an escrow until the project is completed and then pay out to the freelancer. It’s a good way to know that you’ll be paid for work you submit instead of taking the chance you’ll get ghosted.
4. Gigster: Best for Tried-and-True Technophiles
If you’re like us–and eat, breathe, and sleep the latest trends in technology, Gigster is the hub of all things freelance. It’s a platform built by–and for–digital-native disruptors. Straight from the horse’s mouth, this platform believes in democratizing tech enablement.
Gigster is a little more challenging to land. The platform is currently ‘invite only’ which means that you’ll need to find an in to get onboard. But once you’re there–the world is your oyster (at least as far as Salesforce freelancing goes.)
5. Crossover: Best for global mobility
There’s one more freelancing platform that we think deserves a mention. Crossover bills itself as the home of an elite team of freelancers. That’s a big claim! The platform attracts Fortune 1000 companies from across the globe, giving you plenty of opportunities to pick up work.
What we like most about Crossover is that the platform is committed to matching great candidates with good clients who are willing to pay fair rates for in-demand technical skills. Crossover is redefining the way that people work–and we love it.
The five-day work week–done. The daily commute–over it. Geographical barriers–forget about it. With access to a global network of clients looking for the skills you have, Crossover can help you realize why you chose to freelance in the first place.
Final Tips for Finding Freelance Salesforce Jobs
When you’re ready to land that first gig, keep in mind that everybody starts somewhere. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of options to connect you with the companies that need your skills. From well-known platforms like Upwork that are prolific with jobs but not always the most reputable to high-end, elite platforms like Crossover–there’s something for everyone. Get a leg up in freelancing with Salesforce by joining a freelancing platform.
