8 min read

Should You Put Side Hustles on Resume?

Deciding whether to put side hustles on resume documents is a common question for many workers today. You might run a small shop online or do freelance writing on the weekends. You want to show your hard work without looking like you are not focused on a full-time job. Refhub helps you decide how to present these extra jobs to hiring managers in a way that helps your career.

Key Takeaways

Side gigs can show that you are a hard worker.
Only include extra work if it relates to the job you want.
Use side work to fill gaps in your work history.
Focus on the results you achieved in your small business.
Make sure your extra work does not look like a conflict of interest.

Why Side Gigs Matter

Many people have extra jobs to earn more money or learn new things. These jobs are more than just a way to pay bills. They show that you have a strong work ethic. When you add side hustles on resume pages, you show that you take initiative.

You should consider adding your side work if:

It helped you learn a new tool or software.
It shows you can manage your time well.
It fills a time when you were not working a main job.
It matches the skills listed in the job description.

Showing Entrepreneurial Skills

Running your own project requires many entrepreneurial skills. Employers like to see these traits because they show you can think for yourself. You do not always need a boss to tell you what to do.

When you list a side gig, you can highlight these abilities:

Budgeting: You managed the money for your own project.
Marketing: You found ways to tell people about your service.
Customer Service: You talked to clients and solved their problems.
Problem Solving: You fixed issues that came up without help.
Growth: You grew your business from nothing to something bigger.

These skills are helpful in almost any office. They show that you understand how a business works from the ground up. You can use skill assessments to see how your side work has improved your abilities. This helps you know which parts of your side gig are the most valuable to a new boss.

The Role of the Gig Economy

The gig economy has changed how people think about work. It is now very common to have multiple sources of income. Most hiring managers understand that a "gig" is a real job. It is no longer seen as just a hobby.

In this new market, having a side hustle can make you stand out. It shows you are active and engaged with the modern way of working. However, you must be smart about how you talk about it. You want to look like a professional who is ready for a new role, not someone who is too busy with other things.

Protecting Your Professional Image

Your professional image is how people see you in the business market. You want to look steady and reliable. If you list too many small, unrelated side jobs, you might look like you cannot pick a path.

To keep a strong image, follow these rules:

Only list gigs that show you are good at your career.
Use professional language to describe your tasks.
Do not list jobs that might make a new boss worry about your time.
Make sure your side work does not compete with the company where you are applying.

A clean CV helps people see your value quickly. If a side job helps that image, keep it. If it makes you look like a "jack of all trades" with no main focus, you might want to leave it off.

When Gigs Become a Distraction

There are times when your freelance work or small business is just a distraction. You must be honest with yourself about what adds value. If your side job takes away from your main story, it should not be there.

Do not include your side hustle if:

It is a very basic task like walking dogs (unless you are applying for a pet care job).
It takes up forty hours a week and makes a boss think you will be tired.
It has nothing to do with the skills needed for the new role.
It was a one-time event that did not lead to any lasting results.

Hiring managers spend very little time looking at each CV. If they spend that time reading about your hobby, they might miss your main achievements. You want every word on the page to help you get the interview.

How to Format Your CV

If you decide to include your extra work, you must format it correctly. You do not want it to look messy. There are two main ways to do this.

Create a "Freelance Experience" Section

This is a good choice if you have done many small projects. You can group them under one heading.

Title: Freelance Consultant or Small Business Owner.
Dates: Show the total time you have been doing this work.
Bullet Points: List the main things you did and the results you got.

List it Under "Professional Experience"

This works best if the side hustle was a major part of your life or lasted a long time.

Use the name of your business as the company name.
Give yourself a clear title like "Project Manager" or "Lead Developer."
Use numbers to show your success, such as "Increased sales by 20%."
Mention the specific tools you used that are also used in the new job.

Focus on Results

Instead of just saying what you did, say what happened because of your work.

Use: "Managed social media for three clients" instead of "Did social media."
Use: "Built a website that gets 1,000 hits a month" instead of "Made a website."

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I list a side hustle if I am still doing it?

Yes, if it adds value to your profile. Just make sure to state that it is a part-time or weekend project. This helps a new boss know it will not get in the way of your main work hours.

What if my side hustle is in a different industry?

If the skills do not match the new job, it is usually best to leave it off. However, if the side hustle shows growth or leadership, you can keep it. For example, leading a team in a volunteer group shows management skills even if the industry is different.

Can a side hustle explain a gap in my resume?

Yes, this is one of the best reasons to include it. If you were not working a full-time job for six months, showing that you were freelancing proves you stayed busy. It shows you kept your skills fresh and did not just take a break.

Will a boss think I will quit to do my side hustle full-time?

This is a risk. To avoid this, focus on why you want the full-time job. In your interview, explain that your side hustle is a way to stay creative or learn, but your main goal is a career with their company.

Final Thoughts

Adding side hustles on resume documents can be a great move. It highlights your drive and your ability to learn new things. It gives you a chance to talk about your extra skills and how you handle the gig economy.

The key is to be picky. Only include the work that makes you look like the best person for the specific job. By focusing on your professional image and the results you achieved, you can turn a small gig into a big advantage. Refhub is here to help you make these choices as you grow in your career. Keep your CV clean, focus on your strengths, and show your future boss that you are a hard worker who brings extra value to the team.

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