100 % remote! This is how we could describe the work style of Ruben Exposito Marin, freelance iOS developer from the sunny south of Spain. Two years ago, Ruben Exposito Marin decided to follow his heart: So he quit his full-time job and started freelancing. Nowadays, he already has developed and redesigned some well-known mobile apps like Instasize and TrainSmart. That is what we call an ideal example of a freelancing career. Let’s check out his recipe for success – an interview with Ruben Exposito Marin!
1) First off, can you tell us bit about yourself?
I am Ruben Exposito Marin, a 28 years old telecommunications engineer who lives in the sunny south of Spain. I have been programming for 6 years now, the last 4 of them exclusively for iOS. Two years ago, I decide to go freelancing and couldn´t be more happy about that decision.
2) If you would search for your profile on Google, which are the three keywords you would type in the search bar?
ios senior developer, augmented reality evangelist, health-focused technologies enthusiast.
3) What was your inspiration and when did you actually decide to become a freelancer?
Before starting freelancing, I worked full time remotely for a well-known startup from Madrid (Spain). After a year with them, I realized that I had an opportunity to take the full responsibility of my work and time. My heart and soul were requesting me to move forward and I just did it. I have been making apps for other companies since then and, in the last year, the demand is booming. My last work, the restyling of the famous app Instasize, is the one I´m proudest of.
4) What kind of services have your clients asked you to provide?
The client usually comes with an idea and I work together with him/her to develop it and guide him/her through the whole process. The most common apps are for mid-sized companies that need apps for marketing purposes. Some of them use a web service for the data and QR codes or augmented reality to connect to the real world objects. They usually look for an excellent user experience in their apps, and that´s why they work with me. I always focus on the user experience, with easy-to-use, intuitive interfaces.
5) Do you use other freelancers or companies to provide skills that you don’t possess?
Yes, absolutely. I know my strengths, but also my limitations. If I don´t have the knowledge to do something, or the time to do something, I care to have the correct professionals to do it. I have a shortlist of colleagues, but when they all have their timetables filled, I look for professionals in LinkedIn, local developers Facebook groups or specialized portals like freelancermap.
6) Now tell us, how do you find new clients that are interested in your services?
Well, I use a combination of all the strategies: cold mails, business networks, social networks and my own website (www.lightonapps.com). But I have to recognise that the best results come when the clients find me. I try to always have an up-to-date profile in the main freelancer networks: LinkedIn, freelancermap, elance. With a little effort, clients come to you.
7) What about freelancermap.com? Can you tell us a little bit about your experience with our IT-network?
My first impression was kind of “just another freelancer network”, but I couldn´t be more misleading. I set up my profile and configured an alert each day with the term “ios”. Every day I receive 5 new positions on my email that fit exactly what I want. And that´s the reason I think this network is more productive than others: you don´t have to waste more than one minute each day and you find the best positions in the world for your specific skills.
8) How do you set yourself apart from your competitors? What makes you special?
I have the luck to be in the iOS ecosystem since its birth, so I can offer lots of accumulated knowledge. Moreover, I have lots of apps on the App Store, some of them very important and with top level design and user experience, like the restyling of Instasize and TrainSmart.
9) What are the top three books, blogs or magazines you read to stay up to date in the IT-market?
RayWenderlich.com, bignerdranch.com, applesfera.com
10) Freestyle! Is there anything you would like to tell our readers??
Well, if I could speak to myself two years ago I would say: “If someone offers you to start a new project together, ask him what he will contribute with and what will you get from it. If he only puts the idea and you have to do the code and design work for free, just kindly and elegantly say no. You have to eat every day and your time and knowledge is worth something.”
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Where to find Ruben Exposito Marin?
- freelancer profile: Ruben Exposito Marin at freelancermap.com
- Link to website: http://www.lightonapps.com/
- Skype: ruben_lightonapps
- Twitter: Ruben Exposito Marin at Twitter
The interview was conducted by Doreen Schollmeier – freelancermap.com team.
Pic: © Ruben Exposito Marin
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