3 Ways to Leverage Your Side Hustle and Make a Career Transition

You don’t necessarily need to have to be fully immersed in a field or role to gain valuable experience and skills. A part time job, side business or consulting stint can offer plenty of opportunity that you can leverage in your job search.

Your side hustle or passion project is absolutely valid experience and demonstrates a commitment to learning, a willingness to take initiative, and an ability to learn new things.

Here are three ways to leverage your side hustle if you want to make a career transition.

Get clear on your most relevant skills and experience

Take a look at job postings that interest or excite you and scroll down to the qualifications section. What specific skills and experience are required? Instead of focusing on the breadth of your side hustle experience, hone in on the most relevant experience - and then make sure that experience is super clear on your resume!

Build those relationships

Your side hustle can help you make connections. Even if those connections don’t result in a career change right away (they rarely do!), use your side hustle as an opportunity to make connections, learn from others in the field, and share your long term goals with people you trust. Being consistent is key. Learn to be a contributor, show up and keep in touch with the people you meet along the way!

Learn to confidently talk about your interests

Working full time and having a side hustle that’s a little different from your day job can leave you feeling like explaining your expertise and skills is unclear and overwhelming. Get comfortable talking about what you’re doing and why. Practice sharing your story, out loud and in writing, so that you communicate your expertise and evolution like a total pro.

Just because you are pursuing something part time doesn’t mean that it can’t have real impact on your career. Make sure that you give yourself credit for that learning, development and work and take advantage of the opportunities that come your way!

For more job search tips, grab a free copy of our Uncomplicate Your Job Search Workbook and learn how our clients set themselves up for success and put their best foot forward in their search!

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Jenn Walker Wall writes a monthly career advice column called #AskJUGs for JustUsGalsBos.com and is the founder of Work Wonders Coaching + Consulting. You can follow her on Twitter: @JennWalkerWall and for more career tips and advice - or to ask questions about your cover letter, follow her on Instagram.