Sidehustling — Keeping Your HR Day Job While You Make Extra Income on the Side

by Alan Collins

In today’s tough economy, there’s a new career model emerging.

This is one you won’t read about in Workforce magazine, HR Executive or find as a topic at any SHRM meeting.

It’s called sidehustling and here’s how I stumbled on to it.

A buddy of mine who is an HR director in Chicago recently informed me that he was taking an advanced online class on how to sell stuff on eBay.

Totally shocked and just a bit curious, I asked him:

“Why the heck are you wasting time taking a class on eBay when you could be using the time instead to take a class on talent retention, health care cost containment or how to leverage social media in HR?  Those are the hot topics right now for HR…wouldn’t those be better for your HR career?”

“Sure, but hey,” he replied passionately, “Doing the ebay thing is my side hustle to put a little more cash in my pocket.   I absolutely love HR to death, but the health care company I work has eliminated merit increases entirely for this year and I can use the extra income.   This advanced ebay class is going to help me do that.”

He went on to say:  “You see, I’ve been a coin collector since I was in grade school.  And, I worked in a coin shop during the summer to help pay for college.  Now, I make a nice little side income buying and selling them a couple of evenings a week from home on my laptop on ebay.   At one point, I thought about opening up my own coin business full-time as a coin dealer, but it was just too risky and expensive.  So, I decided to turn my passion into my side hustle instead.  I’ve been buying and selling coins at a profit for over four years on eBay — all while keeping my day job in HR.   So back to your question…yes, I’m looking at building my skills in HR, but I want to keep my side hustle going too.”

After we talked a bit more, it was hard to argue with his logic.  And one thing struck me…

More HR folks need a sidehustle.

Let’s face it, the economy is at an all time low, the housing and job markets are in the middle of a crisis, credit is hard to find and keep, and many exceptional HR pros are out on the street or having a hard time meeting their monthly financial obligations.

While many search for a better paying job or work towards advancing their HR career right where they are, many others are also choosing to sidehustle.

If you’re in HR, a sidehustle may be a great alternative for:

Here are a few examples of sidehustles people that I know are doing successfully on evenings, weekends or part-time…while balancing the demands of their full-time gig.

Obviously, some of these are more risky than others.  Some are related to HR.  Some aren’t.   While the people doing them won’t become as rich as Oprah, Bill Gates or Lady GaGa, they’re finding the extra spare-time income helpful.

While many are choosing not to hide their sidehustles from their full-time employers, they don’t publicize them either. They don’t want their sidehustle to get them fired from their main hustle.   So, if asked, they refer to them as their “hobbies” or “spare-time interests,” because they don’t want to be perceived as not being 100% committed to their organization’s success.

So what’s your side hustle?

One of the things I do in my spare time is to create websites.  I’ve never called this my sidehustle, but that’s exactly what it is.  It’s fun for me and it creates another revenue stream.  Besides sites I create for myself, I’ve created blogs for local judges, real estate agents and a couple of interior designers.

Over the years, I’ve learned how to produce these sites quickly in my spare time…without diverting me from my main focus which is my HR work and career.  And it’s a good change of pace for me, allowing me channel my creative juices into something not related to HR.   I’ve even created a new website about this whole idea of sidehustling…and it includes a ton of sidehustle ideas you may want to consider…check it out HERE.

From my own experience and talking with others, a good sidehustle will have the following characteristics:

What do you think about sidehustling as a supplement to your HR career?   Do you have a sidehustle?   Give us your feedback by clicking HERE.

We’d love to hear your story.

About the Author: Alan Collins was Vice President – Human Resources at PepsiCo where he led HR initiatives for their Quaker Oats, Gatorade and Tropicana businesses.  He is now President of Success in HR, Inc. and the author of UNWRITTEN HR RULES .  His new book, BEST KEPT HR SECRETS will be available in September on Amazon.

21 Responses to “Sidehustling — Keeping Your HR Day Job While You Make Extra Income on the Side”

  1. Lucien Delapraz Says:

    Hi Alan,

    As an HR Consultant, I really enjoy your “fresh” articles. I was however wondering if you could add a “button” to your website so that i could print out your articles in a “printer friendly” way. This would allow me to read your articles while i am commuting to and from work.
    Take care and best regards from Switzerland.
    Lucien D:)

  2. Scott Howland Says:

    Your point of view is dead-on. I started teaching graduate school in 2002. I needed to be reminded that HR was not just executing reductions. The energy that I gained from teaching was well worth the time investment. Then, I would receive a check for efforts that I used for my hobbies and interests. My sidehustle kept me in HR by reminding me what strategic HR looked like. As you stated above, my number one rule is “don’t let your night job get you fired from your day job.” Thanks for bringing this topic to light.

  3. Stenisha Green Says:

    Alan, this is awesome advice! I just started as an Independent Consultant for Mary Kay in May b/c I knew I needed a side hustle. You are exactly right, as ususal.

  4. ioana Says:

    Absolutely yes! I write articles and books and do other “little things”. It is not so much about the income (at least not until now), but about the fun ;)

  5. Rhonda Jordan, PHR Says:

    How timely is this article topic! My “side hustle” has been working retail, nights and weekends at Macy’s at our local mall for the last nine years. It started out as a way to earn extra money to buy my first house. A friend had just been hired and she called me saying how the recruiter kept asking if she had any experience facilitating new hire orientation, customer service training and other training for employees. She immediately recommended me knowing my HR background. I applied thinking I would be there only for a short time until I closed on my house, but nine years later, I’m still there.

    Working at Macy’s has definitely been a godsend. No sooner had I accepted their offer, I was downsized on my full time job. I was able to pick up extra hours on the selling floor until I found another full time job.

    A previous HR Manager at Macy’s left and joined Macy’s corporate office as Regional Associate Relations Director, and stayed in touch with me over the years. It’s good to know when/if my HR Director job ends with my current full time employer, I have a strong promise of joining the corporate office with Macy’s if I’m in a position to relocate.

    Working a part time job in addition to working a regular full time “9 to 5″ does not come without sacrifice. Working nights and weekends all but puts an end to any similance to an active social life. It puts your time management and organizational skills to the test. It’s helped honed my customer service skills, as well as, provide “unofficial” HR guidance to the other Associates. I’ve made wonderful friends and the best PLUS has been over the last nine years I’ve gained the repretation as being a one woman fashion show! I’m lovin’ my side hustle!!

  6. admin Says:

    @Lucien – thanks for the terrific suggestion. I’ll immediately look into adding a button to allow “printer-friendly” capability. Great idea!

    @Scott, @Stenisha, @Iona, @Rhonda – thanks so much for sharing your stories so openly. I’m inspired by what you each are doing. In addition, all of you are making an excellent point that can’t be underestimated…which is that the personal and professional value that you can gain from a sidehustle can be greater and EVEN MORE VALUABLE than the extra income it produces. Awesome!

    thanks,
    Alan

  7. Najwa Grace Ibrahim Says:

    Alan,
    I do some “sidehustling” myself. I am a permanent full timer Assistant General Manager and HR Manager and yet I do headhunting, consultancy, HR best practices workshops to entrepreneurs – all in my spare time: after or before working hours. I enjoy being my own boss specially since the economy makes it difficult for me right now to start something on my own.
    I’d like to thank you for your enlighting ideas that come our way…
    Najwa

  8. Lorraine Says:

    I started off volunteering my services to help others with resumes and interviewing techniques. What I was doing spread to the Director of a local community center, and I was asked if I would provide job coaching sessions once or twice a week for a fee. Now I work with several churches, community centers and careers services centers helping individuals develop resumes,doing mock interviews and counseling people career moves. I naturally enjoy helping people and I am hoping one day soon I can make this my full time job

  9. admin Says:

    @Najwa – all I can say is WOW! I admire your ability to manage your time and juggle so many great hustles at once. Love it!

    @Lorraine – Your sidehustle is a great example of how to leverage HR-related skills in different venues, in your spare time, while helping others in the process. Very impressive!

    best,
    Alan

  10. Tashana Says:

    Great article. I am a firm believer in side hustles and back-up plans. This economy is to unstable not to have a plan A, B, C and even D. I try and keep several balls in the air at a time for those ‘just in case’ moments.

    Some of my side hustles include:

    1. being a faculty member for the University of Phoenix teaching HR and management courses.

    2. writing on pay sites like Examiner.com, Demandstudios.com, How.com, etc.

    3. grant writing for non-profits in my area. (I wrote a grant for over $600k and we won the bid.)

    4. working on a non-fiction eBook on HR/Employee Engagement (no money for this yet, but energy burned is money earned – lol).

    5. networking like crazy. Now, networking in and of itself doesn’t pay, however the benefits of the contacts is immeasurable.

    6. Resume writing & career coaching

    7. and lastly my husband and I are getting ready to go into a very lucrative business where the market possibilities are literally infinite and it is virtually untapped. (and no it is not a get rich quick,multilevel marketing. It is actually a viable business in a niche market). This makes me very excited.

    And with all of this, I’m still able to give my employer my 100% on their time and the rest of that belongs to me and my goals and aspirations :-) .

    Thanks again Alan and keep these nuggets of gold coming. I love it!

  11. admin Says:

    @Tashana – a double WOW! Thanks for sharing all your sidehustles with us – it’s great to have so many tangible examples. I appreciate your sharing the resources in #2…those are excellent as well for who like to write and want to leverage those skills beyond their HR day job.

    I’m blown away by your grantwriting accomplishment – congratulations!! And, I wish you and your husband much success as you pursue your business opportunity…sounds exciting!

    thanks,
    Alan

  12. Tanagra Weaver Says:

    This article was so “on time” for me. Over the years I’ve had temporary side hustles to pay for overseas vacations. I’m a bit of an amateur photographer and was thinking about turning that into a side hustle. Your article has been the “kick in the pants” for me to register for a photography class that will give me a stronger skill base to get started “working” my hobby.

    Thanks so much.

  13. Annie Kavanagh Says:

    Thanks for this article. I agree wholeheartedly, Alan!

    I have been building a “side hustle” with residual income for years – through HR ups and downs and even a serious illness. Everyone needs a Plan B!

    And lifelong, reliable income from helping people is perfect for many HR folks!

  14. HRLadyATL Says:

    I have been bartending for the last 10 years. No one at my jobs has known. I have a MBA and SPHR. The side hustle gives me great money but it really helps to keep me grounded and the work environment is SO DIFFERENT !!!!!!!!!! The money is also very good :)

  15. HRLadyATL Says:

    I did forget to add that I am looking for something more professional and Tashana give some great ideas.

  16. Prathibha Says:

    Hi Alan,

    I was searching something for this kind of side hustles.Thanks for your great ideas. I read all your “Fresh articles” Thanks Alan.

  17. Logan Says:

    I was in charge of staffing/employment at a for-profit company. I became extremely unhappy & decided to take a nonprofit position (I had some experience from the past). Although I liked my new nonprofit job, the culture was not too fitting & as I was going through having doubts about the move I had made, I got laid off. I was devastated. I was sure I had ruined my life by making the move in the first place.

    I decided to get my masters while looking for another job & started my own consulting company with no clients! The week classes started, another nonprofit asked me to consult for them PT, developing a fee-for-service program. The week after that I was offered, at another nonprofit, a FT position as their HR Director. It was beyond a juggling for quite awhile! I don’t think I got a good night sleep for months but I loved it. Every time I was disappointed with one job, I’d have the other to think about. I did this for 8 months.

    I’ve just been offered a FT job with the original PT consulting gig. While the base is about the same the potential to grow the income is about twice what I’m making now. The FT job has asked me to remain PT with them. So now, HR will be my side hustle! Side hustle can turn into a career – so never under-estimate a “side hustle”.

  18. admin Says:

    All — I can’t tell you how blown away I am by all the sidehustle ideas, stories and inspirations everyone is providing. Keep ‘em coming..they are immensely helpful!

    best,
    Alan

  19. Alejandro Delobelle Says:

    Hi Alan,
    Mine was re-styling others boring powerpoints, making them more visually impacting, adding animations to them, wow pics and enriching with more current HR contents. For local and international customers, in English and Spanish, at very good prices. That was when I was with my ‘main hustle’ but now, that I’m on my own, that’s part of my unique selling proposition, and a differential part of my business as consultant, facilitator and speaker. Thank you.
    Alejandro Delobelle

  20. Carla Says:

    Although it is the sign of the times, I think it is very sad that we have to “sidehustle” after completing a bachelor’s and master’s degree, HR certification, and devoting 110% of my life to a 50+ hour a week job. I have been “sidehustling” by teaching and consulting for the last several years and, quite frankly, I am tired.

  21. 20 Kick-Ass HR Career Goals for 2011… | Success in HR Says:

    [...] the iPhone app they can design for you.  It’s more affordable than you think and may become your new HR sidehustle. Like I said, [...]

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