SIDE HUSTLES: FOUR NIGERIANS ON JUGGLING MULTIPLE JOBS

Have you visited the CareerBuddy blog to read the posts; finding and launching your side hustles, how to start a side hustle on Instagram or 7 steps to starting a side hustle? If you have; cool, let’s move. If you haven’t, now would be a good time to check them out. Or perhaps, after reading this collection of stories from young people across the country who are juggling two or more jobs to grow their income, you would be geared to double-up on your plan for side hustles. 

Their stories are resonant of the typical young Nigerian’s verve when it comes to building a career and making money at the same time. Frankly, those two factors could be mutually exclusive sometimes.

Building a lasting career in an industry you’re passionate about might deny you the chance to be heavy on profit from the onset. Hence, rather than switch job roles completely, many young people take on side jobs to make money, while still grooming their career ambitions. 

Like Adetoun*, a lawyer by day and freelance writer by night… 

“Try to make money off your side hustles now if you know that your main job would eventually not allow you to take on side hustles”

Adetoun writes legal and general content for clients via Upwork when she’s not busy with her 9-5, and she manages both without hassle. 

“I have days when the court does not sit, and I am less busy. On those days, I put in the energy to do my side jobs. But there are also days when I’m busy with my 9-5 and I have pending deadlines to meet. So what I do is after my main job, I put all my extra time into my freelance. Most of the time, I have law jobs I take home to do, but when I have urgent side gigs to do, I respect the fact that my 9-5 is closed and I have to give time to my gigs. 

There’s a client I work for who gives me five topics to write on, and I am supposed to submit one topic per week. So, on days when I’m free, I try to do more than one topic in a week so I have time later to face my law job. Honestly, it can be stressful and overwhelming, but then, I do it. I think the key is just planning my time well. 

I should also mention that I do not bite more than I can chew. I do not take on more than one project at a time. I have my 9-5 which I love to do, so once I’m done with a project, I take a rest, read up on my job, and take a course, before going to apply for another gig. 

For my 9-5, I earn 65k flat, while from my sides, I get an average of between $250 and $500 (without deducting Upwork’s deductions) in a month”. 

Adetoun would rather drop her gigs if there’s going to be a need to, “But I’m convinced I cannot drop any of it”, she said, “...because writing helps me do well in my law job. I write legal articles and do content creation, and it helps my intellect. However, if there would be a need to drop one of my hustles, it cannot be my main job. Of course, I took up writing because I wanted to increase my income, but I also wanted to offer value, not just about the money.

For anyone not to be found in that tricky position, try to make money off your side hustle now if you know that your main job would eventually not allow you to take on side hustles. I aspire to reach the peak of my legal career, and I know someday I won’t have time for my side hustles. But presently, I’m trying to make as much as I can, so when that time comes, I can pull out, focus on law and write for myself”. 

Unlike her, Oluwakorede would rather drop his main job and stick to his side hustles, if there was a need to.

“To be honest, I'd rather stick to my side hustles and freelance from home as a digital marketer earning dollars, and have my free time than getting tied to a job that would take my time”

While Oluwakorede works in a bank as an Auditor, he does affiliate marketing in his free time and runs a laundromat at night and on weekends. 

“I got inspired to do laundry seeing the need to give back to the society before I got my 9-5 job. Electricity tariff is on the high side in Nigeria now and I just want to help the working class like myself and other people ease the stress that comes from that. I enjoy washing and ironing, it gives me the joy to see people looking sharp and smart in their outfits (you know the gator thing). 

I run my laundry business from home, where I have a washing machine and iron to use. Although I have a collection room(shop), most of my work is mostly from home. I started affiliate marketing with my phone after I registered on Learnoflix Affiliate Platform (LAP)

Joggling it hasn't been so easy but it's fun. I do my 9-5 Auditor work at the bank, and due to the proximity of my workplace to my house, once I get home by 5:30-6:00, I open my collection room, and by 8 pm, I close. I press customers’ clothes through the night till say 4 am, and get ready for work by 6 am every morning. Sometimes if I see it's really much, I move pressing clothes to weekends.

Affiliate marketing happens when I have free time at work or so; reading, learning and implementing. The fun part is applying the skills to my physical business. While my laundry business pays sometimes 5-10k/week, affiliate marketing sometimes gets me an extra $250/month depending on the frequency at which I reach out to people.

If I'd be dropping anyone, maybe it would be the 9-5 (main job) once I'm stable enough, I'd focus on my laundry business and digital marketing. To be honest, I'd rather freelance from home as a digital marketer earning dollars and have my free time than getting tied to a job that would take my time”

“I chose these side jobs because they can easily be combined with my work”

Sam’s choice of side jobs comes from the flexibility of being a social media representative, while he writes and teaches by the side. 

“I chose these side jobs because they can easily be combined with my work. My work is flexible and it avails me the opportunity to add other jobs and would still be productive with proper time management. 

I had always been doing writing and teaching so when I got the social media rep role, I still had to continue writing and teaching because, in this Nigeria, a single income isn't really sufficient anymore. 

My main work is from 9-5, Mondays to Saturdays, while I fix lessons at a time I would be off work. That's how I have been juggling all. I allocate time to everything I do. 

On average, I make what covers my living expenses for the month. Thankfully, I reside in a part of Nigeria where things are not that costly. 

My main job is like a fixed income, and If I have to drop one for another, it would be one of the side hustles. And that will be because of time and productivity”

On the other hand, Oluwadamilola may not be making as much as he wants with his numerous side hustles, but he’s not backing down. 

“Right now, I just want to improve on my side jobs and get to the level where I no longer trade my time for money but trade money for my time”

Oluwadamilola juggles painting & paint production, event decoration, teaching, and internet marketing, making less than 50k monthly, “I consider teaching my main hustle for now because I go there almost every day. For my other jobs, I pick contracts based on convenience and appointment. You'll have to inform me early enough for me to work for you because it can get stressful.

But there are several ways to cool off; eat good food, have good sleep, and go on medication if it gets worse. Right now, I just want to improve on my side hustles and get to the level where I no longer trade my time for money but trade money for my time. I really wish to develop everything I do to a stage where I won’t be the one doing it all myself because I'm sure life can be busy at times. And I'm not stopping at these ones only; I'll keep trying more new things”. 

Having multiple streams of income is the new craze and a necessary one at that, considering the nation’s economic conditions. Thankfully, there are tons of side hustles to choose from, and you can have a story to share too. If you have one already, how’s it going? Let’s talk in the comment section.