Everyone Seems to Have a Side Hustle - Should You?
Inflation is rising. Cost of living is sky-rocketing. Salaries and wages are stagnating. Many of us are wondering: "Should I take on a side-hustle?!"
In fact, most people I know with full-time, relatively well-paying jobs have taken on a "side-hustle" in recent years, either to pay the bills or to maintain their previous lifestyles.
For most of my career, I have worked at least one other job on the side, sometimes more. Which is why I want to share my insights into how to be strategic about how to get side-hustles, which ones to take on, and how to make it work for your career goals.
Palmer, Alfred T., photographer. Woman working on an airplane motor at North American Aviation, Inc., plant in Calif. (1942)
Through my career coaching service (which is actually my side hustle), I have also found that many equity-deserving professionals are working several side jobs (or taking on multiple volunteering positions) to gain additional experience and to supplement their income.
This is particularly the case for immigrants, newcomers, and younger professionals who are trying to gain Canadian work experience and to grow their networks in a new country. For young professionals who are also newcomers, the high barrier of "Canadian work experience" can feel daunting and super challenging to overcome.
Even if you are first-generation Canadian, it can still be daunting because when compared to peers who have wide networks from their parents and family members, you may only have connections that you built yourself from work and educational experiences.
I am writing this article with these professionals in mind, but the points I'll present below would likely be useful for anyone considering taking on additional work on the side.
How do I find a side hustle?
There are several ways you can find a side hustle, the most traditional method is to apply for part-time jobs or contracts. However, you are often competing with many other applicants and the rejection rate can be high, which can feel incredibly demoralizing. Being intentional with why you are applying to a particular side job will help you focus your efforts, but more on that later.
The other ways you can find a side hustle is to leverage your connections (a.k.a. your network) by reaching out to previous employers, professors, teachers, mentors, colleagues, and friends to see if they know of any opportunities. This option is particularly challenging for people who don't already have the established networks, either because they have recently arrived to a particular country and/or did not attend school in the country they are trying to work in. In those instances, consider reaching out to organizations that assist newcomers or to your ethnic/religious/cultural community associations as a starting point.
Lastly, you can consider pursuing your own business part-time while keeping your main job. Striking it out on your own is challenging and risky, and so many of us do not have a family safety net to fall back on if it doesn't work out. Take it slow when you start and don't be shy about reaching out to experts for advice.
Palmer, Alfred T., photographer. Operating a hand drill at North American Aviation, Inc. (1942)
Which side hustle is right for me?
Intentionality is so important when it comes to allocating our time and energy. Here are five questions for you to consider when you are trying to decide which - if any - side hustle is the right move for you:
Who: What kinds of people will I work with/meet through this job? Will I enjoy working with them? Can I learn from them?
What: What types of impacts will this side job have on my (mental) health, family time, relationships, main career, education, spiritual practices, religious obligations, etc.?
Why: Why do I think this side job will help me build new skills or strengthen existing skills? Why am I interested in this side job compared to other opportunities?
When: Am I taking on too much at this point in my life? What time of the day/week will I do the work required for the side job?
How: How does the compensation compare to other side jobs of a similar nature? Am I being fairly compensated when considering the commute and prep time?
Palmer, Alfred T.,photographer. Operating a hand drill at Vultee-Nashville, woman is working on a "Vengeance" dive bomber, Tennessee. (1943)
Does this side hustle help me achieve my goals?
The most important question to ask yourself is whether the side hustle you are considering aligns with your own personal goals. Ideally, the side hustle would also align with your values, but it's important to acknowledge that some of us don't always have the privilege to pursue values-driven work, due to financial pressures, systemic barriers, and limited employment options.
Unfortunately, many people pursue side hustles because an opportunity presents itself and they jump in without asking themselves whether it will help them achieve their goals. Then, they get trapped in a contract or project that serves the goals of the client or organization and realize, much later, that it actually might have taken them further away from their own goals.
Before you say "yes" to a side hustle, really spend the time to consider whether it will add a building block on the road to your own definition of success. These building blocks from side hustles could include: new skills; living in a new city; relocating to be closer to family/friends; the chance to build relationships and contacts; an extra line in your resume; more money to invest in your goals; working with new and diverse groups of people; and many more.
As long as each side hustle adds at least one building block of value to your own goals, then it may be worth pursuing.
I hope these questions are helpful in guiding your process of deciding whether and which side hustle may be right for you. The answer might be that you don't have the time, energy, or mental space to take on any other jobs besides your main career, and that is okay too.
