Earn well at lala firm but stuck, need exit plan

[Douglas]

About three years back I got into a tiny local firm through a reference. I'm from a modest tier-3 college. I started as a tele-caller and gradually moved into sales, marketing, advertising, strategy and eventually management.

These days I'm handling almost every function of the business. Because the firm is small there are no fixed roles or departments - we work in small teams and I'm the one managing them. The owner hardly shows up at the office now.

I'm taking roughly 1.7 lakh per month in cash (yes, it's that kind of firm - no PF or any formal structure). If needed they could start crediting my salary to a bank account for proof.

The issue is the company's future looks shaky. Finances are worsening and I fear salaries might stop soon.

I'm looking to change jobs but I'm not sure:
- Which role should I target?
- How do I explain this kind of experience to recruiters?
- Will they take my experience seriously without PF?
- What kind of companies should I aim for?
- How should I showcase my work on the resume?

Would love some practical advice from anyone who's made a similar move.

[Keshav]

Since you've been in a managerial role, consider getting a Six Sigma or similar certification and apply for a manager position in the marketing or sales department of a product-based company.

[Larry]

If you're already handling most parts of the business, why not start a similar venture of your own?

[Govind]

You could set up a small private firm - it costs around 5k to register - and run your payroll through it. Up to 12 lakh of turnover is tax-free, and you can record other expenses, giving you a legitimate company and a PF account you can use.

[Manav]

1.7 lakh in three years, bro - please guide me a bit.

[Krishna]

I was in a similar 'lala' firm. Not having PF is hurting me now - MNC recruiters lose interest when I mention I worked for a company without PF. They even paid cash every other month, so there's no proper salary trail. I took the job because the market was tough, and I'm feeling the fallout.

[Kamal]

What exactly do you mean by "that kind" of company?

[Kanchan]

I began my career in a similar, though not exactly 'lala', situation. The challenge was that I was far ahead of my peers in skill and experience because of the nature of the firm, but it was hard to showcase on a CV - India can be tricky for unconventional profiles.

In my case, getting an additional qualification solved the perception problem and finally let me turn the experience into a solid career.

[Lokesh]

Ask your manager to start crediting your salary to a bank account. Not having a PF will cause big problems later; at least a bank transfer gives you digital proof of income.

[Indrajit]

Getting 1.7 lakh in cash sounds like you're with a tax-avoiding firm. How will you prove your employment without an employee ID or PF record?

[Vaishali]

Are you filing any taxes? If you are, your ITR can serve as proof.