Side jobs are spreading in various occupations, not limited to engineers. Not only can you convert your private time into income, but there are many benefits such as improving your skills and contributing to society.
With the spread of crowdsourcing, side jobs are now available in many fields. Among them, engineers are considered to be suitable for side jobs because they have specialized skills and have a large number of projects in crowdsourcing.
Here, I would like to properly explain how to find a job when an engineer has a side job, as well as points to note that are often overlooked.
What an engineer needs to start a side job
Now, let’s start a side job as an engineer… I’d like to introduce two points that you should check before you start. Both are important, so hold them tight.
Confirmation of work rules
If you want to start a side business, first check the employment regulations at your place of employment. Some companies prohibit side jobs. So check your employment contract carefully. Also, even if it is OK according to the regulations, you may need your boss’s permission, so be careful.
In addition, be sure to obtain permission from the company before starting a side job. To that end, it is important to create a situation where the company can say OK.
set a goal
To be successful in your side business, it is recommended that you have a clear goal in mind. Don’t start “just vaguely”, but start by clarifying “what you want to do”, such as skills, money, and social contribution.
For example, if you “want money anyway” and want to acquire skills that are a little off the labor-intensive type, such as maintenance and operation, you may receive a commissioned development project that you have never done before.
In this way, by firmly defining the purpose, you can clearly understand the side job that you should do, so there will be no waste in selecting projects.
What are the recommended side jobs for engineers?
So, what kind of side jobs are there for engineers? Let’s go through them in order.
Commissioned development
Many people probably think of entrusted development first when they hear about the side job of an engineer. We will receive orders and develop systems etc. on crowdsourcing sites.
There are various levels of projects, so not only can you make use of your existing technical skills, but you can also try jobs that are a little more difficult. Therefore, you can acquire new skills through side jobs, so you may be able to acquire skills that will lead to your main job.
Conservation and application
In addition to outsourced development, there is also a demand for entrusting the maintenance and operation of existing systems, blogs, and sites. This kind of project is not very expensive, but it is characterized by a high possibility of stable earnings in the long term.
Furthermore, if you have solid know-how and skills, you may be able to earn a stable income even if you do not work for a long time. If one project is stable, you can add another project, so it is recommended for those who want to earn income continuously.
Build your own site/app
People who are confident in their skills and have planning ability can create their sites and apps and aim for advertising income. Some engineers distribute really useful apps and earn money from advertising and subscriptions. In addition, some engineers collect technical articles on blogs and collect many views, earning income from advertisements posted.
Since you can do everything at your discretion, you can develop as you like and it is also ideal for improving your skills. If you can release a hit app or an article that spreads on SNS, you may be able to earn more money than you expected.
The disadvantage of doing a side job on your site or app is that if you don’t have a good sense or if you can’t meet the demand, you may not earn any income at all.
school teacher
It may not be remote work, but in the sense of a side job using skills, there is also a job teaching programming as a school lecturer. There is always a certain amount of demand for instructors, and you can earn a stable income because salaries are paid on an hourly or unit basis.
The disadvantage of doing a side job as a school lecturer is that you cannot expect much in terms of acquiring cutting-edge skills and growing.
How to find a job that an engineer can do as a side job
There are several ways to find a side job, including crowdsourcing. Each method has its pros and cons, so make sure you know which method is right for you.
Search by crowdsourcing
As of 2020, crowdsourcing is the easiest way for engineers to find projects they can do on the side. Especially for those who are not good at sales, it is recommended to do a side job centered on crowdsourcing.
Crowdsourcing has a mechanism in which the work is evaluated by the client and displayed as numerical values and word of mouth. The ability to receive orders will also increase. Engineers who are highly rated and have accumulated a track record of many projects are sometimes approached directly by clients.
Since all projects that have been worked on in the past are recorded as achievements, it is easy for clients to understand what kind of achievements and abilities they have. Therefore, the more work you do, the easier it will be to do the next one.
As a disadvantage of doing a side job with crowdsourcing, there are extremely cheap jobs in crowdsourcing, and unintentionally doing business with people who are complaints who ask for strange things in the contract. etc.
Get introduced by someone you know
For those who have some sales ability, there is a way to get a client introduced by a work-related acquaintance. Since it is a project through a person who understands the personality, I can feel secure about getting a side job, but I need to negotiate price negotiations, delivery dates, contract relationships, etc. directly with the client.
In addition, if a problem occurs at work, trust will be lost and interpersonal relationships will be adversely affected.
make sales
As a way to get a job as a side job, many people think mainly about crowdsourcing and the introduction of acquaintances. However, it is also an effective way to sell to the company by yourself.
For example, one way to do this is for the engineer to do business, such as sending an email to a company that operates a WordPress site saying, “We will operate it at a low price.”
Running a business is not easy. However, by experiencing it as a side job, you may be able to learn know-how that you can use in your main business, so let’s try it once.
Things engineers should be aware of when doing side jobs
Engineers are suitable for side jobs, but there are some points to be aware of when continuing a side job.
The risk of engineers having a side job
Since the side business is to work directly with the client without being protected by the company, it is necessary to understand the contract properly. In particular, it is necessary to pay attention to defects in the warranty (liability for non-compliance with the contract), license violations, and copyrights. In the unlikely event of a lawsuit or compensation being sought, you will have to hire a lawyer yourself to deal with it, so the burden will be very heavy.
Also, if you don’t have a solid contract in addition to making it, when it comes to the payment stage, you may be dissatisfied with the results, and you may be asked to reduce the amount, or you may not be able to collect it due to being cut off from contact.
A final tax return is required for an engineer’s side job
If you have a side job, you will need to file a final tax return. If you receive a salary from more than one source, if the total amount of salary income that has not been adjusted at the end of the year and various income amounts (excluding salary income and retirement income) exceeds 200,000 yen, you must file a tax return. to hold.
It takes time, so you have to prepare in advance. If the amount is small, you can file the tax return yourself, but if the income from your side business is large, such as when the app you released is a hit, or when you are involved in a large-scale project, you may need to rely on external resources such as a tax accountant.
Self-management is important for engineers to do side jobs
This is the most important thing to keep in mind when doing a side job. Above all, for health management, you must be careful not to overwork. If you don’t take time off and stay healthy, it will be difficult for you to maintain a consistent side job.
Also, you need to manage yourself properly so that the adverse effects of doing a side job do not affect your main job.
The engineer’s side job is recommended! Once you have decided on a goal, actively try your hand at a side job.
For engineers, having a side job not only increases their income, but also has many benefits, such as being able to take on projects in fields that they cannot experience at the company, and expect to improve their technical skills and interpersonal skills. On the other hand, since you deal directly with clients and work, you may get into trouble without the protection of the company, so you need to be careful.
When you start a side business, get permission from the company properly and make adjustments so that you can do it comfortably. You can maximize the benefits by doing a side job without taking unnecessary risks while doing your main job. Engineering is a job that is very suitable for a side job, so please actively try it.
Visit the Facebook page Xtreme Techy if you’re ever interested in corresponding topics.
Related Articles>> [How is it different from freelance? ] Advantages and disadvantages of engineers working as nomads
