# Using Sites Like Elance And Guru

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/using-sites-like-elance-and-guru/258863>\
**Category:** random\
**Created:** [April 29, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/using-sites-like-elance-and-guru/258863 "2008-04-29T01:35:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![KyleCoyle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/67e7ee/32.png) [@KyleCoyle](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/KyleCoyle)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/using-sites-like-elance-and-guru/258863/1 "2008-04-29T01:35:22Z")

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Hey guys this is my first post.  
Although I have experience in various digital media applications like Illustrator, Photoshop, Flash and 3DsMax, I have not yet done any non-academic projects. So, I have no relevant experience or worth while references to put on my resume. I feel like I’m in a catch-22 because I need experience and references to get a job but need a job to get experience and references.  
So I ask you, are sites like Elance and Guru effective at building resume usable references and experience or just portfolio pieces? Can a truly incredible portfolio (not saying I have one) really make up for a lack of experience and references to an employer? Is pro-bono work and severely lowering my rates the only way to get through this “in-between school and career limbo”?  
Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.  
Kyle Coyle  
[[COLOR=#0000ee]www.kylecoyle.com[/COLOR]](http://www.kylecoyle.com/)  
[[U][COLOR=#0000ee]kyle@kylecoyle.com[/COLOR][/U]](mailto:kyle@kylecoyle.com)