Latest / The Career Change Podcast with Fexingo: Switching Fields, Bootcamps, and Reskilling / How Bootcamp Grads Can Launch a Freelance Career
Transcript
- Lucas: So we talk a lot about bootcamp grads landing full-time roles, but today I want to look at a different path — one that doesn't always get the spotlight but is growing fast: freelancing. Luna: You mean like going independent instead of taking a W-2 job? Lucas: Exactly. According to a 2025 survey from Upwork, nearly 40 percent of bootcamp graduates have done at least some freelance work within two years of graduating. And about 15 percent are making it their primary income source. Luna: That's a meaningful number. But I imagine it's not easy to get started — especially if you're fresh out of a bootcamp with only a few projects under your belt. Lucas: True, but the barrier to entry is lower than you'd think. Let me give you a concrete example. I spoke to Sarah — she graduated from a full-stack bootcamp in 2024. She didn't land a full-time role right away, so she started taking small freelance gigs on Upwork. Luna: What kind of gigs? Lucas: Initially she did simple WordPress fixes, static site updates, even some HTML email templates. She charged thirty dollars an hour. Within six months she had built a reputation and started getting referrals. By month twelve she was billing seventy-five dollars an hour and had a waitlist. Luna: So she basically used the platforms as a lead generation engine? Lucas: Right. Upwork and Toptal are the obvious ones, but also platforms like Fiverr Pro and even LinkedIn's services marketplace. The key is to start with small, low-risk projects to build social proof. Luna: But doesn't that race to the bottom on price? I've heard horror stories of people bidding ten dollars for a website. Lucas: It can, if you treat it like a commodity. The smart play is to niche down early. Sarah focused on 'React-based dashboards for small e-commerce businesses'. That specificity let her charge a premium because clients saw her as an expert, not just another coder. Luna: So rather than being a generalist, you pick a vertical. That makes sense — the bootcamp taught the tech, but the niche comes from market research. Lucas: Exactly. And the portfolio is critical. You don't need ten projects; you need three that show impact. Sarah's portfolio had a before and after of a store's conversion rate after she optimized the checkout flow. That's more compelling than listing skills. Luna: Client communication is another hurdle. Freelancers have to be their own sales, marketing, and project management team. Lucas: Yes, but bootcamps often teach agile workflows and stand-ups. That translates directly. Sarah used Trello and weekly check-ins. Clients loved the transparency. She also learned to set boundaries — like having a standard contract and requiring a deposit. Luna: What about the financial side? Taxes, insurance, retirement — that's daunting. Lucas: It is, but there are great resources. Sarah used a service called Bench for bookkeeping and set aside 30 percent of each payment for taxes. She also opened a SEP IRA. It's manageable once you set up the systems. Luna: It sounds like the freedom of freelancing comes with real responsibility. But for someone who values autonomy and variety, it could be a great fit. Lucas: Absolutely. And here's the thing — if this conversation has helped you think about your own career options, and if it was worth a coffee to you, there's a link on our show notes: buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It's a small way to keep this podcast ad-free. Luna: Yeah, we really appreciate that support. It goes a long way toward keeping the production going. Lucas: So back to freelancing. Another tip: don't ignore your bootcamp network. Sarah landed her first big retainer client through a Slack group for alums from her bootcamp. They needed someone to maintain their website, and she was top of mind. Luna: That's a great point. The community you built during the bootcamp is an asset long after graduation. Lucas: And don't underestimate the power of a side project. Sarah built a free tool called 'Shopify Speed Checker' that analyzed store load times. It got her on the first page of Google for relevant searches, and clients came to her. Luna: So content marketing meets product development. That's a smart way to attract inbound leads without cold pitching. Lucas: Exactly. The biggest mistake I see bootcamp freelancers make is underpricing because they lack confidence. Remember, you're not selling hours; you're selling outcomes. If your code increases a client's revenue by 20 percent, your fee should reflect that value. Luna: How do you recommend they figure out their rate? Lucas: Start with a target annual income, add overhead, then divide by billable hours. For example, if you want to make eighty thousand dollars, factor in taxes, software, health insurance — say forty percent overhead. That's one hundred twelve thousand. If you plan to work 40 weeks a year with 30 billable hours per week, that's 1200 hours. So your minimum rate is about ninety-three dollars an hour. But adjust based on market. Luna: That's a helpful framework. It takes the guesswork out. Lucas: And once you have a few clients, you can raise rates. Sarah doubled hers within a year because she kept getting referrals. The key is to always be scouting for the next client so you don't get stuck with one who underpays. Luna: What about the long term? Can freelancing lead to a sustainable career, or is it mostly a stopgap? Lucas: It can absolutely be a career. Many freelancers eventually build agencies or product companies. Sarah is now considering hiring a subcontractor. But it requires discipline. The failure rate for freelancers in tech is actually lower than you might think — about 20 percent in the first two years, compared to 50 percent for startups. Luna: So it's viable. But it's not for everyone. You have to be comfortable with uncertainty and self-promotion. Lucas: Right. But if you're the kind of person who thrives on variety and control, it might be your best move. And the bootcamp gave you a solid foundation — the rest is about positioning and hustle. Luna: I think we've given listeners a lot to consider. Any final piece of advice? Lucas: Start small. Take one low-stakes project this month. Even if it's for a friend. Use it to build a case study. Then just keep going. The freelance path is a marathon, not a sprint. Luna: Well said. Thanks for the insights, Lucas. Lucas: Thanks, Luna. And to our listeners — we'll be back next time with another angle on building your career after bootcamp.