We’d like to share something that could change how you see your career.
You’re already working. Solving problems. Delivering results.
But here’s the real question: does anyone outside your organization see what you’re capable of?
Most working professionals spend years building expertise within the walls of one company. And when it’s time to switch, explore new opportunities, or even consider remote work with international clients, they realize their achievements are invisible to the outside world.
No portfolio. No public proof. No track record that speaks for itself.
That’s the hidden cost of traditional employment. Your work disappears into internal systems, confidential projects, and annual reviews that no one else will ever see.
Many women restarting their careers face deeper structural challenges. If this resonates, you may want to read about the real career crisis for Indian women.
But what if you could change that, starting today?
The remote work revolution isn’t just for freelancers or beginners. It’s for working professionals who are tired of long commutes, impossible deadlines, and limited growth, and want to build a parallel track record that:
- Makes you visible to international clients and employers
- Protects you from job insecurity and stagnation
- Allows you to charge premium rates based on proven results
- Gives you the freedom to work on your own terms
This isn’t a fantasy. Hundreds of women are already doing this.
And you can start building this parallel track record right now, even while working your current job.
Here’s how to do this.
The formula for success is: Skills + Track Record + Outreach
Here’s the mistake most professionals make. Most people stop at learning skills. They take courses, get certificates, and wonder why nothing changes.
Skills without proof are just claims. And claims don’t get you hired… or paid well.
Want to know what actually works?
Step 1: Start Building Your Public Track Record
Even if you’re currently employed full-time, you can start creating visible proof of your capabilities:
Create your social media profile (LinkedIn, Twitter) and start posting your insights and learnings frequently. If you already have it, then optimize it wisely to have better results.
This helps you build a personal brand. Over time, you could get a lot of inquiries for work through LinkedIn, without even applying for projects. This happens frequently with professionals who post consistently on social media.
Here’s what to do:
- Add potential clients on your LinkedIn network (don’t just add your school friends and classmates, add startup founders, business owners, agency heads, professionals in your target industries)
- Start identifying potential problems your clients face and share solutions publicly
- Every skill you learn and every problem you solve, make a case study of it. Without taking names or breaching confidentiality, share the learnings and experience on social media. Watch your credibility and brand soar.
After a while, people will approach you directly. You’ll have more clients reaching out than you can handle, without sending cold proposals.
Step 2: Build Your Portfolio (Even Without Quitting Your Job)
You don’t need to quit to start. You can build your track record in parallel:
Option A: Do 3 strategic free assignments
Initially, you may perform a few assignments for free or a comparatively low fee to collect testimonials. Getting your first 3 assignments is always the hardest. When you have testimonials and good ratings on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, LinkedIn, or Notion, work flows in faster than you can handle.
Most clients will issue a tip even for free work if they like it; approximately USD 30-100, which is pocket change for them.
Once you have done 3 assignments (whether paid or free), getting a paid client or a full-time remote job suddenly becomes A LOT easier.
Option B: Showcase what you already do
You’re experienced. Building relationships with foreign clients enables you to increase your income and perception amongst your peers and professional network. If you don’t want to do this yourself initially, you can even have a junior help you build that initial network.
You can offer help with:
- Customer support work (voice/email), project management, and testing
- Assist in managing finances, prepare MIS reports
- Conduct research
- Personal assistant work: managing calendars, travel, admin work
- Assistance in hiring and performance management
- Create training materials for their teams
If you can help them do even some of these things, they would be super happy to pay you well. This is your opportunity to build relationships for all the other generalist or specialist work you’ll do in the future.
Step 3: Capture Proof Every Single Time
Every time you help someone (even for free), ask for a testimonial.
Better yet, write a short case study:
- “I helped a Canada-based CRM startup reduce ticket clutter by 40%”
- “I automated onboarding FAQs for a US-based legaltech tool using ChatGPT + Intercom”
- “I streamlined project management for a UK marketing agency, saving 10 hours/week”
Add these to:
- Your LinkedIn profile
- Your freelance profiles (Upwork, Fiverr)
- Your Notion portfolio
- Your outreach messages
Step 4: Build Your Digital Portfolio (Notion or Website)
As you learn skills, you must build your track record in a format that’s easy to share.
Here are examples of professionals who built incredible Notion portfolios:
- Kavitha’s Ghostwriting Portfolio
- Vrinda Goel’s Portfolio
- Samridhi Jain’s Portfolio (she’s a college student earning more than many full-time professionals)
These portfolios open doors. They get you noticed. They make the sale before you even speak to a client.
Beyond skills: Build a reputation that compounds
Beyond skill stacking, focus on reputation stacking.
Why do clients go to big firms or reputed professionals? Because they have a “brand.” And that is why they can charge more.
A strong personal brand lets you charge premium rates and protects you from future competition.
In the beginning, you may or may not appreciate the power of building your own brand, but you will see the difference soon as you keep growing.
This is why successful professionals:
- Build their own presence on social media
- Publish their ideas and insights publicly
- Get their interviews published online
- Deliver guest lectures
- Even get media coverage and deliver TEDx talks
You don’t have to do all of this. But even doing some of it changes everything.
What This Looks Like in Practice
If you’re already working in a job or you’re a consultant, within 6 months, you should have:
- A meaningful stream of side income
- Multiple clients who send you work directly
- A public portfolio that speaks for itself
- Options: The freedom to choose what you work on and who you work with
You’ll have built a safety net. A Plan B that’s actually a Plan A in disguise.
Why this matters now more than ever
Traditional job security is fading. Layoffs happen without warning. Promotions are delayed. Growth is slow.
Long commutes eat away at your day before work even begins. Marriage becomes a liability in interviews. Maternity leave turns into a career penalty. Relocations force you to start from zero.
But professionals with a strong public track record and international client relationships? They’re thriving.
They have:
- Multiple income streams
- Geographic arbitrage advantages (earnings in USD, spending in INR)
- Freedom to work from anywhere
- Protection from local economic downturns
- Leverage to negotiate better terms with employers
The Takeaway
Trust is not built by waiting to be chosen. It’s built by showing up, documenting your work, and making your value visible consistently.
You don’t need to quit your job, reinvent yourself, or go viral. You just need proof. Start small. Share what you know. Capture your wins.
Six months from now, you won’t just have more skills; you’ll have leverage. And leverage changes everything.
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