Proof of Work: The Future of Hiring

Resumes are so last decade. Everyone knows it, but we still cling to them because it’s “just how it’s done.” Pages of polished formatting tell you very little about what someone can actually do.

It’s time for something better: Proof of Work.

If you’re a designer, developer, marketer or anyone who is building in public, proof of work might be your biggest career edge!

The Problem with Traditional Resumes

Resumes are often more style than substance. They are designed to game Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and do not communicate real ability.

You’ll see phrases like:

• “Results-oriented leader”

• “Strategic thinker”

• “Proven track record”

What do those mean, really? Unless they’re backed by specific and visible results, they don’t say much at all.

Resumes are also hard to verify. It’s easy to say you managed a project or led a team. But without proof, those are just words.

And most importantly, resumes flatten people and their abilities into bullet points. This strips away the context, creativity, and depth that make someone valuable.

What Is Proof of Work?

Proof of work is real and visible output. It’s the projects you’ve built, the content you’ve created, the designs you’ve shared, the code you’ve written, the systems you’ve documented, and the results you can show.

Here are a few examples of what Proof of Work entails:

• A designer’s portfolio showing mockups, user flows, and actual UI builds

• A software engineer’s GitHub profile with active repositories and commit history

• A writer’s blog or Substack showing regular, high-quality content

• A marketer’s case study breaking down the strategy and performance of a campaign

Proof of work is public, discoverable, and direct.

Why Proof of Work Wins

Let’s break down exactly why proof of work beats the resume, every time.

Your work speaks for itself:

A resume tells someone you’re good. Proof of work lets them see it for themselves.

If you’re a great writer, share your writing. If you’re a builder, show what you’ve built. That’s far more powerful than listing “strong communication skills” in 12-point Times New Roman.

Builds trust faster:

Hiring managers, clients, and collaborators don’t have time to guess. When they can see your past work, they’re more confident in your abilities.

Cuts through noise:

Everyone has a resume. Very few people have visible proof of what they’ve done. That makes your proof a differentiator. It immediately positions you as someone who does, not just someone who says.

It’s discoverable:

When you publish your work online on platforms like Peerlist or your own site you make yourself discoverable. People can find you without you trying and the more eyes on your work, the better.

Opens a lot of doors:

Proof of work leads to conversations, collaborations and unexpected opportunities. When people see your work and resonate with it, they reach out. Many people today are hired based on a blog post, an open-source contribution, or a Twitter thread.

Start Building Your Proof of Work

You don’t need to start from scratch or quit your job to start building proof of work. You just need to take small, consistent steps in public.

Pick a platform

Select platforms that best align with your work. Substack or Medium for writers, GitHub for developers. Even better, integrate them all into your Peerlist profile to create one place where all your professional proof-of-work lives.

Start small

You don’t need a huge body of work to start. One blog post. One case study. One shared project. It’s enough to show what you’re capable of.

Be consistent

Building proof of work is a habit. Set a rhythm. Share weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, whatever you can keep up. Momentum matters more than volume.

Document the process

Don’t just share the final output. Talk about how you got there. What went wrong? What did you learn? What would you do differently next time? That’s what makes your work valuable to others.

Put it out there

Share it on Peerlist, LinkedIn, Twitter or Discord. The more visible it is, the more chances it has to open doors.

Peerlist Is Built for Proof of Work

Peerlist was created for this exact shift in how people hire and get hired.

Unlike platforms that show just one part of you, Peerlist brings your whole professional identity together - writing, open-source work, speaking engagements, achievements and side projects all in one clean and searchable profile.

It’s the best way to turn proof of work into visibility and visibility into opportunity.

Proof of Work Isn’t Just for Freelancers or Creators

This isn’t just advice for entrepreneurs or influencers. Even if you work in a traditional role at a traditional company, proof of work gives you career insurance. It helps you build leverage. It makes you less dependent on your employer’s perception of you.

You’re more than a list of past jobs. You’re the sum of the things you’ve done. So stop relying on a piece of paper to tell your story.

Platforms like Peerlist make it easy to build and showcase your proof of work, helping you stand out, get hired, and take control of your career path.

Start building proof on Peerlist and let your work speak louder than any resume ever could.