I completed a web development bootcamp in 2024 after leaving an unfinished physics engineering degree. I couldn't find a job immediately because my portfolio only contained bootcamp projects, so I started freelancing to gain real-world experience. Since then, I've delivered client work using Next.js, GSAP, SvelteKit, WordPress, Shopify, and Squarespace. Most of my work has been front end, and I'm also building a personal full-stack project to keep improving.
Now I'd like to join a team so I can learn more quickly and have greater financial stability. I've applied to agencies, startups, and larger companies, but over the past six months I've found very few junior openings. Most roles ask for senior-level experience, although I still apply when I meet some of the requirements.
For people who have successfully moved from freelancing into a permanent developer role: did employers treat your freelance work as professional experience, or did you need to present it differently? Did applying for mid-level or contract roles work better than focusing only on junior positions? Also, did you find your job through regular applications, networking, subcontracting, or a contract that eventually became permanent?
2 Answers
Present the work as contract or consulting experience rather than leaving it under a vague “freelancer” label. A title such as “Frontend Engineer — Contract” makes it easier for recruiters to understand what you actually did.
Describe the clients, scope, technologies, and results. “Built a Next.js site” is less persuasive than explaining that you delivered an e-commerce frontend, integrated it with Shopify, worked with a designer or product owner, and improved measurable performance or conversion results. Any examples of collaborating with existing teams are especially valuable because they show you can operate in a normal engineering workflow.
You may also want to apply to some mid-level, agency, and contract positions. The junior market is crowded, while your two years of shipped client work may make you more credible for roles that value independence.
Don’t assume the unfinished degree automatically disqualifies you. It can matter at companies that use degree filters, but two years of delivered client work is still meaningful experience. Treat each substantial project like a proper role on your resume, explain the business problem you solved, and show evidence that real users or customers relied on what you built.
Networking, referrals, agencies, and short-term contracts can be more productive than applying to a limited number of junior postings. Keep applying, but also contact former clients, collaborators, local agencies, and companies whose products interest you. A contract-to-hire arrangement or a role where you support an existing team may be an easier entry point than waiting for the perfect junior listing.
That framing is really helpful. I hadn’t thought about presenting myself as a contract frontend engineer instead of simply calling myself a freelancer. Have you used this approach yourself, or is it based on what you’ve seen in hiring?