You’re in a difficult situation, but your skills are solid and you’re taking the right steps. Here’s how you can move forward effectively without relying on roles that demand heavy software engineering experience:

Freelance Opportunities Based on Your Skills

• Data Analysis & Reporting: Offer services like building dashboards, cleaning datasets, or generating reports using SQL, Python, and Excel/Tableau.

• Python Automation Projects: Automate repetitive tasks like Excel updates, email parsing, or API data pulls—these are in high demand, especially for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs.

• SQL-Based Help: Provide database setup, optimization, or custom query writing. Many clients need help with analytics but don’t know how to structure their data well.

• Technical Documentation or Testing: If you have a solid understanding of tools, consider offering documentation support, test script creation, or QA on data-heavy projects.

Getting Gigs Without Getting Scammed

• Avoid offers that require upfront payments or test work without a signed agreement.

• Always ask for clear scope, deliverables, and timelines before starting any work.

• Look for smaller, specific tasks to begin with—these are less competitive and easier to win trust on.

Positioning Yourself

• Create a clean summary of your skills and a few small project examples (data dashboards, automated scripts, visualizations).

• Be outcome-focused when pitching: “I help businesses clean and analyze their data so they can make better decisions.”

You’re doing the hard work—stay consistent, keep learning from each interaction, and don’t hesitate to reach out to communities for referrals or feedback. Would you like help writing a short intro you can send when pitching yourself to clients?