Latest / The Resume Room with Fexingo: Resume Writing, Cover Letters, and Application Strategy / How to Turn Your Side Hustle Into a Resume Asset
Transcript
- Lucas: So Luna, we get a lot of questions about gaps and career changes, but one that's been popping up more and more lately is the side hustle. How do you put a profitable side business on your resume without it looking like a distraction? Luna: Oh, I love this. I actually had a listener, Priya from Austin, write in. She runs an Etsy shop selling custom wedding stationery and she's made real money, like twenty thousand dollars last year. But she's worried it might make her look less committed to her day job. Lucas: And that's the crux. The fear that hiring managers will see it as a conflict or a sign you're not fully engaged. But honestly, in 2026, that's an outdated view. A side hustle can be a strong signal of initiative, time management, and commercial instinct, if you frame it right. Luna: And before we dive in, you know what, a quick thought. This is exactly the kind of episode where I'm glad we don't run ads. It's just us, talking through real problems. If you find these conversations useful, and you want to keep them free, you can support the show at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. No pressure, just an option. Lucas: Yeah, and we mean that. We're not trying to sell you anything. Alright, so Priya's question is perfect because it's so common. Let's break down the three biggest mistakes people make when they add a side hustle to their resume. Luna: Give me the first one. Lucas: Mistake number one is burying it in a hobbies or interests section. If it's generating significant income, it's not a hobby. It's a business. Treat it like one. Luna: Right. If you made twenty grand, that's real revenue. You wouldn't put your full-time job under 'interests'. So why would you hide a profitable venture there? Lucas: Exactly. The second mistake is overstating the time commitment. You don't want to say you spend thirty hours a week on it if you actually spend eight. That raises a red flag about your availability or your ability to focus on the job you're applying for. Luna: So it's about being honest but also strategic. You want to highlight the outcome, not the hours. Lucas: Precisely. And the third mistake is using a generic title like 'Owner' or 'Founder'. That tells the hiring manager nothing. You need a title that signals the actual skills you used, like 'Creative Director' or 'Operations Manager' or 'Marketing Consultant'. Luna: Okay, so let's get practical. How would Priya actually format this on her resume? Lucas: Great question. I'd suggest a separate section titled 'Selected Projects' or 'Side Ventures' placed after your professional experience. That way it's visible but clearly distinct from your main employment history. Luna: And what if she's applying for a marketing role? Because her Etsy shop is basically a marketing operation. Lucas: That's the beauty. She can tailor it. For a marketing position, she'd highlight the customer acquisition side: how she grew Instagram followers, ran targeted ads, built an email list. For a project management role, she'd emphasize how she coordinated with printers and vendors, managed timelines, delivered on budget. Luna: So instead of just listing the shop, she should have three or four bullet points that mirror the job description's keywords. Lucas: Exactly. And you want to quantify everything. Not just 'sold custom stationery' but 'grew Etsy revenue from zero to twenty thousand dollars annually in two years'. That's a metric that pops. Luna: I love that. And what about the job title? Should she literally write 'Owner, Etsy Shop' or something more creative? Lucas: I'd go with 'Founder, Paper & Ink Studio' or 'Creative Director, Custom Stationery Business'. But you have to be comfortable explaining it in an interview. If they ask, you say, 'I started a small business to explore my design skills and learn about e-commerce. It grew faster than expected.' Luna: That's a great narrative. It shows initiative and learning, not just a side gig. Lucas: Now, there's a nuance. If the side hustle is in a completely different field, like you're an accountant who makes pottery, you might not want to give it a lot of space. But even then, it can demonstrate creativity and a growth mindset. Luna: So it's about relevance. If it's not directly related, maybe just one line under 'Additional Experience'. Lucas: Right. And here's where the conversation gets interesting. In the last year, I've seen more employers actually ask about side projects in interviews. It's no longer a red flag; it's a talking point. They want to see that you can manage multiple priorities and have a passion beyond your nine-to-five. Luna: Has that changed since we last talked about this? I remember a few years ago, it was seen as a liability. Lucas: It has shifted. Partly because the gig economy became more normalized, and partly because remote work blurred the lines between personal and professional. But you still have to be smart about positioning. Luna: So what's the best way to bring it up in an interview without seeming like you're bragging? Lucas: I'd say, when they ask about a time you showed initiative or solved a problem, you can weave it in naturally. 'Actually, in my side business, I faced a similar challenge...' It shows you're not just doing it for the money, but you're genuinely applying your skills. Luna: That makes sense. And what about the cover letter? Should she mention it there too? Lucas: Only if it's directly relevant. If she's applying for an e-commerce role, absolutely. But if it's a traditional corporate job, maybe just a passing mention. The cover letter should focus on how you fit the role, not every side project you have. Luna: Good point. Now, let's talk about the potential downsides. What if the side hustle is in a similar industry and the employer might see you as a flight risk? Lucas: That's a valid concern. In that case, you need to emphasize that your side hustle is a complement, not a competitor. You can say, 'I value the stability of my current role, and my side project allows me to explore creative avenues that also benefit my main work.' Luna: So it's all about framing. You're not hiding it, but you're controlling the narrative. Lucas: Exactly. And I want to give a concrete example. I had a client named Sarah, a marketing coordinator at a mid-sized tech firm. She spent weekends selling handmade candles online. She was worried it looked unprofessional. We put it on her resume as 'Founder, Ember & Oak Candles' with bullet points like 'Launched an e-commerce store from scratch, growing monthly revenue to five thousand dollars within eighteen months' and 'Developed a social media strategy that amassed ten thousand followers organically'. She landed a senior marketing role within two months. Luna: That's a great success story. And it shows that the side hustle wasn't just a hobby, it was a demonstration of real skills. Lucas: And that's the key takeaway. Don't think of your side hustle as a footnote. Think of it as a piece of evidence that you're a self-starter, a problem-solver, and a results-oriented professional. If you frame it with numbers and relevant skills, it can actually set you apart from other candidates. Luna: I love that. So for Priya, and for anyone listening who runs a side business, the advice is: give it a proper job title, put it in its own section, quantify your achievements, and tailor the bullet points to the job you want. Lucas: And don't forget to be honest about the time commitment. You don't want to overpromise. But you also don't want to sell yourself short. Luna: Alright, I think we've covered a lot. Any final thoughts? Lucas: Just this. The resume is not a list of job duties. It's a marketing document for the most important product you'll ever sell: yourself. And your side hustle is proof that you can do more than what's on your job description. So use it. Luna: Well said, Lucas. And if you have a question about your own resume, whether it's side hustles, gaps, or anything else, write to us. We'd love to feature your question in a future episode.