In the current high cost of living, more and more people are looking to engage in side jobs to help pay bills or debts, or save money for a car, house, and more. Faced with a variety of side job options, many people are unsure of what to choose. Alice Everdeen, who has experience in side job entrepreneurship, said that figuring out what ideal side job to pursue may be easier than you think – and it only takes 15 minutes.
In 2020, Everdeen started a side gig as a voice actor. According to documents reviewed by “CNBC Make It,” she later turned this side job into a full-time business, earning up to $15,000 per month. When her income slightly decreased last year, she decided to find another side gig.
She found a side job assisting a company in hosting skills training workshops. In these classes, she introduced a simple strategy to help everyone determine what side job to pursue.
“I have people make two separate lists: one of their skills, things they’re good at, and another of things they enjoy, their passions and hobbies,” said 33-year-old Everdeen. “Then, I have them look at both lists and try to combine them.”
For example, if you love dogs and have your own home, you could try a side job of pet sitting. If you are physically strong and enjoy helping friends, you could consider becoming a professional mover.
In Everdeen’s own experience, this strategy helped her identify the skills training workshop side job from the start. She said she enjoys giving more speeches and truly loves helping others through public speaking.
She also noted that this strategy was very effective for her. The new side gig helped stabilize her income, which is very valuable for any freelancer. Plus, this strategy only requires 15 minutes of time.
According to “CNBC Make It,” for anyone looking to join the side gig trend, Everdeen’s strategy could be a great starting point. Kathy Kristof, founder of side job review website SideHusl.com, suggests asking yourself two more questions:
– How much work do I want to put in? This can help you decide between more proactive or passive side gigs.
– Do I want to start a business on my own? Platforms like Fiverr and Contently can bring you clients, easing some marketing and advertising work, but they also charge a fee from your earnings.
The SideHusl.com website offers a quiz to help visitors narrow down side job choices based on interests, skills, and available working time.
Side hustles are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. A freelance work forecast survey released by freelance platform Upwork in December 2023 showed that 38% of the US workforce (64 million Americans) engaged in freelance work in 2023, an increase of 4 million professionals from 2022. While some work full-time in freelancing, many also work part-time and view it as a side job to earn extra income.
If you feel that you are not fully utilizing your skills or professional knowledge in your main job and have a few hours of free time each week, a side job can help improve your financial situation and even enhance your performance in your primary work.