As independent contractors, we all need jobs, leads and resources; here are a few sites that I’ve found extremely helpful.  I can’t say that any of these sites are revolutionary or that any of these sites are assured gold-mines.  All I can say that I’ve found great gigs off all of these sites.

First and foremost for me is Craig’s List.  Craig’s List is certainly not the prettiest, sexiest, easiest or most reputable site or resource for independent contractors on the web.  I am sure almost anyone who has ever used Craig’s List will have a horror story or two to tell.  But just as assuredly, all of those people will also have great stories of success.  Despite its shortcomings, Craig’s List delivers tons of postings.  You will rarely see a day without at least five ads for your desired field.

Another possible approach is to post a profile of the services you provide on a networking site.  Freelance Contractors allows you to post a detailed profile about yourself or your independent contracting business, free of charge.  Freelance Contractors has been around for almost ten years and is a great place to start building passive income.  Just post your profile and wait for possible suitors to contact you.

One of my favorite sites, and one that I use on a regular basis for more consistent jobs, is ODesk.  ODesk works very simply.  You create a profile as an independent contractor.  Prospective clients post their jobs complete with a brief description, rate of pay, and any other pertinent information about the job.  The turnaround time from job posting to finally filling the position is generally less than a week with ODesk.  Neither Craig’s List nor Freelance Contractors can claim that kind of turnaround time!

Getting jobs through Craig’s List can be very time consuming.  Freelance Contractors is a passive site and while, it’s good to have a few sites like this in your arsenal, you can’t always count on these types of sites for regular work.  With ODesk, you also control your own individual profile, which makes it much easier to sell yourself to prospective clients.

Craig’s List is a digital classified section.  You can view prospective clients’ posts and post short ads about yourself.  Freelance Contractors allows you to put your profile out on the web.  It also affords you an opportunity to link back to your own site or profile.  ODesk is more of a one-stop shop for freelance contractors.  It has job postings, a great profile tool, tons of extra content and it even has tips for freelance contractors.  Remember, nothing beats a solid client list and a good reputation.