• Home
  • Services
    • Resume Writing & Coaching
    • Courses and E-Books
    • Corporate & Group Services
    • Free Resources
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • FAQ
    • Contact
  • Blog
Hollywood Resumes
  • Home
  • Services
    • Resume Writing & Coaching
    • Courses and E-Books
    • Corporate & Group Services
    • Free Resources
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • FAQ
    • Contact
  • Blog

Should you include your side hustle on your resume?

3/9/2017

 
Picture
Because assistant salaries are notoriously low, many entry-level professionals have a side hustle to make some extra cash. And some people who are further along in their careers also have side ventures to capitalize on available business opportunities or pursue a passion project. But does a side hustle belong on your resume? First, remember that your resume is a marketing document explaining who you are and why you can do the job you’re applying for. It’s not a biography or a background check and doesn’t need to include every detail of your personal and professional history. Instead, it should showcase the information that is most relevant at the present moment. A good resume tells a story -- so when it comes to the issue of including side gigs, the real question is: Is it part of your “A” story or “B” story?

If you’re applying to work in development or production and have a production company on the side that produces web series, it’s probably worth including on your resume, since it supports your ultimate career goals. Same goes if you’re a script reader looking for development jobs. But what about skills and experience that aren't so industry specific? Maybe you are a talented coder or graphic designer, so you build websites. These are useful skills, especially at digital companies or for marketing positions, but if you're looking for work in development, production, or representation, including them in your timeline may distract employers from other recognizable companies you’ve worked for or cause your more pertinent skills to get lost. Unless you need to fill space or believe these experiences are key selling points, you should move the these extra endeavors down into the skills or interests section of your resume.

If your side hustle is totally unrelated to the industry -- Uber driver, Nordstrom salesperson, nanny -- leave it off. The only exceptions are if you’re a recent college grad without much professional or extracurricular experience or if you need to fill gaps in your resume timeline. In these cases, you can include the position, but make sure you highlight transferable skills, like customer service.
​

--Angela Silak & Cindy Kaplan


Comments are closed.

    Hollywood Resumes

    ​Welcome to our career tips blog!  To receive our updates via email, sign up for our weekly newsletter.  You'll also get access to exclusive discounts, offers, and resources! 

    Sign up now!

    Categories

    All
    ASK HR
    Assistant Life
    Bios
    Career Coaching
    Cover Letters
    Industry Spotlight
    Internships
    Job Applications
    Job Interviews
    Job Search Tips
    LinkedIn
    Networking
    Personal Statement
    Professional Development
    References
    Resume Help
    Salary
    Script Coverage
    Social Media
    Thank You Notes
    Work Life

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    RSS Feed

Sign up for our FREE weekly newsletter to receive career tips, discounts, and access to our resource library!
SUBSCRIBE
Photos used under Creative Commons from Jimmy Benson, 401(K) 2013, christiaan_008, televisione, Dai Lygad, MarkMoz12, Krists Luhaers, Nguyen Vu Hung (vuhung), Hollywood_PR, State Farm, Joe The Goat Farmer, HandsLive, Glyn Lowe Photoworks., thedailyenglishshow, dno1967b, flazingo_photos, jmrodri, cliff1066™, Joe The Goat Farmer, flazingo_photos, starmanseries, anitakhart, jimmiehomeschoolmom, Glyn Lowe Photoworks., hfb, gminguzzi, thedailyenglishshow, Visual Content, mkhmarketing, Peat Bakke, Visual Content, vlauria, flazingo_photos, flazingo_photos, cafecredit, StockMonkeys.com
  • Home
  • Services
    • Resume Writing & Coaching
    • Courses and E-Books
    • Corporate & Group Services
    • Free Resources
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • FAQ
    • Contact
  • Blog