Many podcasters, workaholics, and hustle-culture influencers have the worst advice for elevating your net worth: “You should look into side jobs.” But in reality, many of us just want to unwind after a long day at work, not clock right back in! To set the record straight about these jobs, Top Applicant is taking a realistic look at what everyone should consider before taking up a side gig.
Time
Working a side job makes you more money, right? Well, let’s put this into perspective. Are you willing to work 10 more hours at your full-time job each week? Likely not!
Now, are you willing to work 10 to 20 extra hours a week for less pay? If you seriously think about it, that’s probably even less likely. Every hour means something to your career, and side jobs can lay a sure path to burnout.
So while waiting tables may help financially, we suggest looking into side jobs that align with your career trajectory. In the end, spending time developing skills that empower your main profession will elevate your worth to the point where you don’t have to work a second job!
Money
While more money could seem nice, it can also come with more problems. Before you look into side jobs, consider how much that extra gig actually costs you. In addition to time away from home, an extra meal on the run and additional commuting can add up over time! While that extra financial cushion may sound tempting, finding a healthy work life balance gets even more difficult, and that burnout costs a lot in the long run.
Willpower
Not only does another job mean more hours of commitment, it also means another mental and emotional burden. Instead of going straight into applying for side jobs, we recommend building a growth plan at your full-time job. You may put in extra time, but focusing each hour on improving your career trajectory will make you more money in the long run than delivering pizzas.
Your Sidekick for Side Hustles
Taking up a side job is totally up to you, but weighing the pros and cons is important before taking on more responsibility. Every day, people use them to learn new skills, make ends meet, or just fill some extra time in the week. Regardless of why you’re looking into a 5 to 9 after your 9- to 5, clock in with Top Applicant first. Our free tools can help evolve your career, find that side job, and show your skills with 1 powerful platform!
Just sign in and build your profile to get started.
