Freelancing since bootcamp: how did you make the jump to a…
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Freelancing since bootcamp: how did you make the jump to a full-time job?
**TL;DR: two years freelancing after a bootcamp, been looking for a team position for months. If you’ve made this transition, how did you frame your freelance background to employers?**
Quick context: unfinished physics engineering degree, then a web dev bootcamp in 2024. Couldn’t land a job coming out of it because all I had was bootcamp projects, so I went freelance to build real experience.
Since then I’ve shipped client work in Next.js, GSAP, SvelteKit, WordPress, Shopify and Squarespace. Mostly front end, plus a personal full stack project I’m building to stay sharp.
Now I want to join a team, as much to learn faster as (let’s be real) for a bit of financial stability. I’ve applied to agencies, startups, large companies. In six months I’ve seen maybe three junior openings. Everything else targets senior profiles, and I apply anyway.
I’ll be honest: it’s discouraging. Applying every day to roles that don’t match my profile wears you down. But I don’t want to give up, because I genuinely love this work, I love learning, and I know I’m good at it. That’s exactly why I’m looking for angles I haven’t thought of yet.
Two questions for anyone who’s been through this:
\- Did your freelance experience count as real experience in interviews, or did you have to “translate” it? And did aiming for mid-level roles instead of junior ones work better for you?
\- Did you land something through posted openings, or more through network, subcontracting, and contracts that converted?
Any other insight is welcomed.
Thank you
#technology #programming #dev
source
**TL;DR: two years freelancing after a bootcamp, been looking for a team position for months. If you’ve made this transition, how did you frame your freelance background to employers?**
Quick context: unfinished physics engineering degree, then a web dev bootcamp in 2024. Couldn’t land a job coming out of it because all I had was bootcamp projects, so I went freelance to build real experience.
Since then I’ve shipped client work in Next.js, GSAP, SvelteKit, WordPress, Shopify and Squarespace. Mostly front end, plus a personal full stack project I’m building to stay sharp.
Now I want to join a team, as much to learn faster as (let’s be real) for a bit of financial stability. I’ve applied to agencies, startups, large companies. In six months I’ve seen maybe three junior openings. Everything else targets senior profiles, and I apply anyway.
I’ll be honest: it’s discouraging. Applying every day to roles that don’t match my profile wears you down. But I don’t want to give up, because I genuinely love this work, I love learning, and I know I’m good at it. That’s exactly why I’m looking for angles I haven’t thought of yet.
Two questions for anyone who’s been through this:
\- Did your freelance experience count as real experience in interviews, or did you have to “translate” it? And did aiming for mid-level roles instead of junior ones work better for you?
\- Did you land something through posted openings, or more through network, subcontracting, and contracts that converted?
Any other insight is welcomed.
Thank you
#technology #programming #dev
source
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