If you skim my resume, you’ll find titles like Instructional Designer, Product Manager, and Head of Product. You’ll see institutions like Michigan State University, Ilmiya, and Staff Asia, and a toolkit packed with software, strategy, and innovation.
But here’s what you won’t see:
The quiet late-night hours.
The weekend grind.
The side hustles that quietly built my portfolio across continents.
Because while I’ve always had a day job, my freelance journey unfolded alongside it—in parallel, behind the scenes, and often beyond what my resume could capture.
🚦 The Instant Start, Then 15 Months of Silence
Back in 2019, I joined Upwork (here’s my profile). Within days, I landed my first freelance client. It was fast, exciting, and made freelancing look easy. One project in, I was energized and ready for more.
Then… nothing.
No replies. No interviews. No clients—for 15 months.
But here’s the twist: I wasn’t desperate. I already had a full-time role, so I wasn’t chasing freelance gigs out of necessity. Instead, I treated them as a space for creative exploration, professional growth, and building a body of work that was fully mine.
So I waited. Patiently. And quietly kept refining my profile, crafting better proposals, and watching the freelance world from the sidelines.
🇦🇺 Breaking the Silence with a Client from Down Under
Then came a breakthrough: a client from Australia reached out. They needed articles, copywriting, and market analysis. The scope shifted constantly—it was all over the place. But that didn’t matter. It was progress.
Evenings and weekends turned into mini-sprints. I was learning to balance my structured day job with the unpredictability of freelance life. That project reminded me of one thing: momentum matters more than perfection.
🇸🇦 Where It All Connected: ESL Materials for Saudi Learners
My next project came from Saudi Arabia, and it felt like everything aligned.
As someone with a background in TESOL and Applied Linguistics, I was asked to design instructional materials for ESL learners. Suddenly, my academic foundation, teaching experience, and instructional design skills came together in one culturally rich, educationally significant project.
It felt like I had found my rhythm: teaching by day, creating by night.
🏫 The Big Leagues: SVHS & Ilmiya
Soon after, two major clients arrived via Upwork: Silicon Valley High School (SVHS) and Ilmiya.
At SVHS, I helped map over 15 online high school courses to the Common Core State Standards to support their Quality Matters accreditation. It was meticulous, strategic work—connecting learning outcomes, assessments, and objectives in a seamless academic flow.
At Ilmiya, I transitioned into a Product Manager role. This wasn’t just about course design—it was about leading innovation. I worked with engineers and designers to roll out features like automated tests, hotspots, drag-and-drop elements, and multimedia integrations—essentially building an authoring platform from the ground up.
This wasn’t just a side hustle anymore. It was leadership in action.
🇧🇪 Belgium: 36 Courses, One Big Win
Then came a game-changing project from Dokeos, a Belgium-based ed-tech company.
My team and I designed 36 interactive online courses using Rise 360—filled with multimedia, interactivity, and sleek design. These weren’t just modules; they were immersive learning experiences. We handled everything—scripting, video, graphics, interactivity—and delivered a product that blew client expectations out of the water.
It was a moment that reminded me how powerful side projects can be—especially when you’re fully committed, even outside your 9 to 5.
🇺🇸 From Beauty Clinics to Blended Learning
One of the most unique projects came from the U.S. beauty industry—specifically, micro-pigmentation training. The client wanted to transform in-person training into hybrid and online formats.
I helped script modules, design courses, and adapt hands-on learning into digital formats without losing depth or engagement. It was instructional design meets aesthetics—and yet another reminder that learning design is transferable across industries.
🏆 The Freelance Milestones
Even as a side hustle, my freelance work was recognized. On Upwork, I earned:
- Rising Talent
- 100% Job Success Score
- Top Rated
- And finally, Top Rated Plus
Each badge marked more than just client satisfaction. They represented my ability to juggle, pivot, and consistently deliver while managing a full-time career.
Now that I no longer use my Upwork profile, the badges are gone, but you can still see the earnings and job success score.
🧭 What My Resume Can’t Say
Yes, my resume says I’ve worked at universities, led teams, developed over 100 courses, and presented at conferences. It lists platforms like Canvas, Moodle, and tools like Articulate Storyline, Camtasia, and Rise 360.
But it won’t tell you:
- That I learned project management not just from Figma and Jira, but from working across five time zones.
- That I practiced client empathy by translating complex topics into simple, accessible learning.
- That I grew not because I had to—but because I wanted to.
🛤️ Final Thoughts: Side Hustle, Full Impact
Freelancing was never my main gig—but it shaped me profoundly. It gave me creative freedom, industry exposure, and confidence I might not have found otherwise.
It’s proof that your side hustle can fuel your main career, that you can build quietly while working steadily, and that your biggest growth might happen after hours.
So, if you’re freelancing on the side and wondering if it’s “worth it,” here’s my answer:
Yes. It all counts.
Even if it doesn’t fit on a single-page resume.
Mahbub Amin 