When you think of the word hustle, it’s likely an image of a 60-hour workweek for $10 dollars pops into your head. Nothing could be further from the truth! When you watch shows like “Shark Tank” and listen to podcasts about business, the term is tossed around liberally. It really just means working hard on something outside of what you’re currently doing. Sure, there are people out there making banks selling t-shirts or running an Etsy store but most side hustles require some level of skill or education.
Here are 10 real-life benefits I’ve experienced by having two jobs (one full-time and one part-time).
- Paul Haarman observed most people would assume that working two full-time jobs would be draining both mentally and physically. The truth is, you get used to it and after a while, it doesn’t even feel like work. When I was full-time at my job in public relations, I typically came home and made dinner for myself before logging onto my Etsy store or working on an online course that was assigned by one of my other employers (a Side Hustle Agency).
- I became more organized at both jobs because I had two separate calendars to keep track of. Instead of having appointments scattered throughout the week with no rhyme or reason, it became easier to organize them when there were only about three days in between each appointment. This meant not having one client fall through the cracks and cancel on me at the last minute (you’d be surprised how often that happens in the beauty business).
- As a personal trainer, I had a lot of flexibility when it came to my hours. For example, I could come in early and work a full shift or I could leave right on time every day to make it home in time for dinner. What was great about working at my Side Hustle Agency was that there were no set hours – if something needed me to be there from 9-5 but another job needed me from 5-9 I would stick with the 9-5 because you can’t do both jobs at once! This meant spending more one-on-one time with my kiddo after school which he absolutely loved.
- I know what you’re thinking: how much money CAN a side hustle make? My first year, I made $18k. Yes, you read that right! The following year was another story entirely – I only made $2k but it was worth every minute of the time I put into it.
- Side hustles allow for creativity and flexibility. By working at home there are no dress codes to follow. If I wanted to wear my pajamas one day, that was totally fine by me! You don’t have to deal with the daily commute to work either which means less traffic on your way in and out of town (which is a huge perk if you’ve ever driven around Boston).
- It’s nice knowing exactly how much money you’re bringing in each month or week because this helps allocate how you’re spending money. For example, I might want to go out to eat with friends but by having my side hustle income separate from my regular income it allowed me the opportunity to do this occasionally (not living paycheck to paycheck) without feeling guilty about wasting money.
- Working two jobs also opens up more networking opportunities which mean better job prospects down the road. By keeping your name out there and working for yourself you’ll never know who will end up being your next employer! So how does one go about actually getting a second job? Here are some tips on how to get started:
- This is the easiest step-by-step process because it truly isn’t as hard as people make it seem. As an added bonus, signing up is free. These companies typically have been around for a while and have the process down to a science. You just provide your name, email address, phone number, and personal referral code if you have one.
- Do some research beforehand to find out exactly what types of loans are available. I’ve used Lending Tree twice so far and will continue to use them until I pay off my current student loan debt. They give out loans starting at $2k – depending on how much money you need, these can be very helpful!
- The first thing you want to do is join an online course community like Skill share. This website allows you to learn anything from writing cover letters for job applications, cake decorating (hello birthday cakes!), or web design. You can even learn Spanish or French if that’s your language of choice! These classes range from $10-$15 depending on how long the class is and whether you’re an annual member (costing less per month).
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Conclusion:
Now that Skills hare is on your resume you’re ready to apply for some jobs! If you’re a beginner looking for an entry-level position, look no further than Indeed or Glass door. Both of these websites allow companies to post job opportunities and salary ranges. These are great starting points if you know what industry you want to work in but don’t have the experience yet – it’s worth taking a few classes over at Skills hare just so you can get your foot in the door!
Even if the job doesn’t seem like something you would be interested in pursuing keep applying because the more practice interviews the better! The way I got my current job was by going through three rounds of interviews with Monster before getting it says Paul Haarman.
