work - Nicholas Fainlight | Business Development Associate, Hartford, CT

It seems that every year, the marketplace becomes more amenable to side hustles. With the digital revolution democratizing many industries, you can make some money on the side without quitting your day job. This ability to pad your earnings without sacrificing your main source of income represents a truly irresistible opportunity. If you’re lucky, your side project could even become more lucrative than your current job, allowing you to focus on the new venture exclusively. You never know when an entrepreneurial venture could be the start of something truly special.

Launching a side hustle is an appealing option, but it certainly isn’t easy. Keep these tips in mind to maximize your chances of success.

Make Sure You Have A Profitable Idea

Before you actually start your business, you need to make sure your idea can actually make you money. Do some market research to see if the product or service you’ll offer is really in demand. Then, do a quick analysis to determine whether you’ll be able to consistently cover your expenses.

Identify Your Potential Customer Base

Once you’ve got your general idea in place, it’s time to determine who you customers will be. If you’re planning on running a food truck, determine what sorts of people would be most interested in your food. After you’ve developed a general buyer persona, you can build your marketing strategy accordingly.

Approach Potential Clients In A Professional Manner

When starting a business from scratch, you need to be aggressive about pursuing potential clients. If you hope to be a freelance writer, for example, you can’t simply wait for companies to reach out. You’re the unknown entity, so it’s up to you to initiate contact.

Don’t Fear Failure

Nothing paralyzes a new entrepreneur like the constant fear of failure. In order for your business to succeed, you’ll need to remain an optimist through thick and thin. Only by keeping your eyes on the prize will you overcome obstacles and resist the urge to quit.

Avoid Burnout

Starting a business is a lot of work, and it can be especially taxing when you’re working another job at the same time. Give yourself plenty of time to relax, and prioritize the maintenance of a proper work/life balance.

Graduating college is a joyful, but also daunting time. You’re ready to take a break from constant homework and stress, but you’ll miss your friends. You want to start being an adult, but you might also not really know how to. Often, the most stressful part of the end of college is finding a job. You know you need to have some kind of job, ideally one that pays all the bills and allows you to rent an apartment, travel, and do fun stuff with friends. Maybe your first job isn’t the best, but you need to start somewhere. For many, the job after graduation is the first professional, full-time job they’ll have. Instead of feeling nervous about finding a new job, follow these tips in order to make job hunting easier.

Be realistic

When you first begin searching for a job, you might feel excited and optimistic. You’ll want to retain this feeling for as long as possible, so it’s important that you don’t go into your search thinking you’ll land the perfect job in the perfect place right away. No job is perfect and you’ll need to build your way up from an entry level position. For some people, this isn’t that path the follow and they do get a fantastic job right away, so don’t completely lose hope. However, there’s also nothing wrong with getting an entry-level job. You need to work and you can make the most of it.

Focus

Searching for a job is like a full-time job. You need to constantly check job sites and company pages to look for openings, fill out applications, exchange emails, and schedule interviews. If you’re waiting to hear back from an interview, keep applying at other places! Even if it’s taking longer than you anticipated, stay focused on finding a job.

Update your resume

A mistake many people make is never updating their resume and then sending the same copy to dozens of potential employers. Before applying to any jobs, update your resume. Include internships, volunteer experience, and jobs you had in college. Then, feature the most pertinent information depending on what job you apply for, such as relevant classes or volunteer work.

Create an online presence

Employers love to see that you have some kind of professional, online presence. Do a purge of your social media and get rid of any posts that you wouldn’t want your boss to see, then make your accounts private, unless you want to use them for professional purposes. Create a LinkedIn account if you don’t already have one and consider creating a website to feature some professional blogs you write while job searching.

Network

Most professionals will tell you about the incredible power of networking. Always take advantage of opportunities to build your network and meet new people. You never know who might have a connection that could turn into a future job or some other great opportunity. Make sure to take advantage of any career services your college offers or the alumni network.

Enhance your skills

While you’re searching for a job, you’ll have some free time. Spend this time productively. Consider volunteering and working a part-time job, but also make sure you enhance your marketable skills. Learn something useful, such as some coding or educate yourself on a specific topic by reading and keeping up with industry news.

Nicholas Fainlight is an aspiring finance professional.

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