Should You Mention a Side Hustle on a Job Interview?

 It seems like everyone has a side hustle, or at least everyone is talking about them. So, if they are so popular should you mention them during your job interview?

Before we get into the reasons why you shouldn’t mention a side hustle, let’s just answer that question right now: No…Defiantly don’t mention your side hustle during a job interview.

Here’s the quick thing that you should realize. You might think it’s impressive, but it’s not going to leave a good impression with anyone else.

So, if you’re just looking for the takeaway for this article, it’s that you should not mention a side hustle on a job interview.

Now, if you want to know why you shouldn’t talk about a side hustle, then let’s review.

Everyone Loves an Entrepreneur, Except Your Boss

The idea that everyone needs to be an entrepreneur is a bit of  a media created sensation. In fact, most people who work as entrepreneurs are people who spend most of their time working on their company. While there are people who are  working as entrepreneurs who are their own boss, they trade off a lot to get that freedom.

In fact, recent studys from the Harvard Business Review suggest the statistics about people who run their own businesses are discouraging. It’s not as lamorous about you might think it would be if you only listened to media coverage.

Also, there is a marked difference between an entrepreneur and someone who is working a “side hustle”. These are two different things. A side hustle is not considered something that will sustain you financially.

The problem with discussing an entrepreneur style endeavor or a side hustle during an interview is that your boss doesn’t want to hear about it. The person who is doing the interview doesn’t want to hear about a work business that you are involved with outside of work.

The idea that working a side hustle is a benefit is a bit of a misconception. The way that a employer sees it, you are never going to be able to devote yourself full time to their tasks if you are also devoting some time to your side hustle. While this might not be true, you need to be aware of the impression that it gives to someone.

Also, it's very important that you realize the type of people who do interviews are the type who don't appreciate "side hustles". The typical Human Resources employee is not a motivated and ambitious person. They tend to value safe jobs and do not venture out and seek out grand projects and ideas. So, keep it simple when you are discussing your work history and ambitons with them.

Two Jobs Aren’t Better Than One

It’s a common misconception that working two jobs is better than working one. Some of this comes from the media and the influencer culture which suggest that everyone needs a hustle.

In truth, there are very few upsides to working two jobs.

The only people who make significant money from a side hustle are nurses. That’s because they can work per diem shifts and make excellent money. The other upside to nurses who work second and even third jobs is that these nursing jobs require no outside effot.

A nurse doesn’t have to spend time building a business or marketing or doing administrative work: all things which do occur in many “side hustles” that online entrepreneurs and influencers are always discussing.

Some side hustles don’t require extensive time, but they are also just that: a “side hustle”. Not something that is capable of supporting you. Think thinks like Uber, DoorDash, and Lyft.

If you need to make money using a side hustle, that’s fine. But it’s not something that you want to broadcast during an interview with your future employer.

You certainly should not list a side hustle on your resume.

You’re Not a Nurse: You Can’t Moonlight

Here’s the other thing to understand. If you are someone who is working a regular office job, or a labor job, it’s hard to work a second job that will provide any real income.

Again, we must turn to discussing nurses. They are one of the few professions that can work second jobs and moonlight and make money. There are a few reasons why nurses can so successfully make a money working a second job and that’s because they work only three days a week.

Normal people have to work 5 days a week. If you were to get into the nursing field, then you would be able to openly work a side hustle as most nurses work second jobs doing "per diem" work part time on their own schedule. But if you are working in a regular profeession, then you don't have that abiltty to openly work second jobs.

So, let’s get this out of your head right away. You can’t make a great deal of money working a second job moonlighting unless you are going to find an overnight job that lets you sleep on the job.

Keep It Simple: No Side Hustles Need Apply

If you are working a side hustle, such as delivering food for DoorDash or some other service, or working a private side hustle that involves your own part time business, then keep it off your resume.

There are very few positives that can come with informing your potential employer that you are someone who devotes their time to two jobs.

The issue is that your employer will see this as a downside because it will indicate that you are someone who is going to want to devote your time to multiple jobs.

The fear of your potential boss would be that you will take their job and devote much of your time to a second job. Why would they want to hire you when they could hire someone else who would devore all of their working time to a single job?

So, for most people the advice would be to stay on topic during a job interview and to keep the subject of your “side hustle” to someone else and focus on your interest in the job that they are discussing with you.

There’s nothing wrong with having a side hustle, just keep it simple and most importantly keep it private.