Having a side hustle can allow you to make some money, provide career opportunities and expand your CV. However, to get the most out of your student side hustle, it’s important to plan ahead and be prepared so you can minimise the risk of running into issues and facing burnout.
Choose a Side Hustle That Matches Your Skills or Interests
If you’re passionate about the project you choose, then you’re more likely to put time and energy into it. It’s also important to consider what you’re good at and what your strengths are. For example, if you love getting creative, you might design something like jewellery or fridge magnets to sell online. If you’re a fan of writing, you might offer to create written content for businesses, like newsletters or a piece to go on their website.
Explore Local Earning Opportunities
If you’re not sure what local earning opportunities there are, social media can help. For example, if you want to walk people’s dogs as your side hustle, ask in your town’s local Facebook group if anyone needs your service. If you wanted to be more specific in this situation, you could ask in a local social media group dedicated to dogs. This is a great way to find local clients who may also be willing to spread the word about what you do.
Many people look out for employment opportunities for their side hustle, such as delivery driving (which is often flexible). To find opportunities like this, look through apps which advertise jobs, like Indeed and LinkedIn. Check shop windows for posters about new jobs, and don’t be afraid to go into places and hand out your CV!
Start With Just One Hustle
University life can be busy, so it’s best to stick to one side hustle at first. If you try to do two at once, then you’ll quickly overwhelm yourself. Sticking to one project means you can dedicate more time and perfect it.
Fit Your Side Hustle Around Your Uni Schedule
Note down which days you have lectures, when you have exams, assignment due dates, when half terms are and any other commitments. If you have a lot of lectures and an assignment due the same week, then it’s probably fair to say you may have less spare time that week. Looking at your schedule will show you the days and weeks when you can commit time to your hustle. You can then plan accordingly to make sure you’re prepared. For example, if you want to create social media content to promote your side hustle, you could create it in bulk if you have a free weekend. On days when you’re busier, you can put just five minutes aside to post a video which you made and edited days before.
Promote Yourself Professionally
One of the aims of having a side hustle is to bring in an extra stream of income. In order to successfully make money and find potential clients, you have to be professional. A great place to start is by creating an account on LinkedIn. This is a professional social media platform where you can network with others and promote what you do. If your side hustle is related to your university course, this looks amazing on a LinkedIn profile as it acts as work experience and shows your passion for the type of job you want to go into in the future. As well as this, there are other things you can do, such as create a business email and make a website that includes examples of your work.
Track Your Income and Understand the Basics of Tax
It’s important to make yourself familiar with the different laws surrounding businesses and the specific industry you’re working in. For example, if you’re a sole trader and earn more than £1,000 in a tax year (from April 6th to April 5th the next year), then you legally have to register as a sole trader with HMRC. It’s important to track your income so you can ensure you’re following this law.
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