Freelancing is more than a side hustleâitâs the launchpad to global careers. With global pay comes higher earning potential, and with global talent comes exposure to diverse practices and cutting-edge teams.
Manish begins with freelancing as the starting point, where small gigs like automation fixes, bug bashes, and manual cycles on platforms such as Upwork or Fiverr help testers build experience, portfolios, and reviews. From there, he shows how to scale into bigger freelance engagements, taking on long-term contracts in automation, performance, or QA consulting through platforms like Toptal, Braintrust, and Testlioâfocusing on specialization, repeat clients, and steady income.
The session then explores the transition into full-time remote roles, where freelance credibility and client references can help land jobs via LinkedIn, AngelList, RemoteOK, or We Work Remotely. These roles provide not just stability but also global perks.
Along the way, Manish highlights the technical skills in highest demandâautomation, API, performance, cloud, mobile, and TestOpsâas well as soft skills like communication across time zones, self-management, and client handling. He also touches on parallel opportunities in content creation, mentorship, documentation, and community work, while sharing practical disclaimers around taxation, employer policies, payment methods, and compliance.
The session closes with a clear roadmap: start small, scale, transition, and thrive. Freelancing isnât the end goalâitâs the launchpad to global opportunities.