Many returning clients finds their favorite designers and sticks with them by sending job requests in private. Most of what you see posted publicly, is either occasional requests, or straight garbage. I agree that it can be really hard to get attention of more serious clients at the begining, especially if you don't have good portfolio to show and/or few positive reviews to prove that you're fitting for the job, but if you will persist applying to the jobs that you can handle and will gain some experience and portfolio, eventually you should find your clients that will swear by you and will supply you with the flow of work. On the other hand, if you're still in the school, i'd suggest to focus on your studies, as this is much more important than some pocket money. Don't compromize your future, otherwise you may regret it for the rest of your life.
