Latest / The Side Hustle Career Podcast with Fexingo: Second Income, Freelancing While Employed / How a Recruiter Built a 15K Monthly Side Hustle in Interview Coaching
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've covered a lot of side hustles on this show, from accounting to cybersecurity. But today we're looking at something that's probably closer to home for a lot of our listeners, especially if you've ever sat through a job interview and thought, there's got to be a better way to do this. Luna: Yeah, we all have that story. The one where you blank on a question or completely undersell yourself. Lucas: Exactly. And that pain point is exactly what today's guest tapped into. She's a corporate recruiter by day, and on the side, she runs an interview coaching practice that brings in about fifteen thousand dollars a month. Luna: Fifteen thousand. That's not a small side hustle. That's like a full-time income for a lot of people. Lucas: It is. And what's interesting is how she got started. She didn't have a huge following or a fancy website. She basically just started offering mock interviews to friends and former colleagues, and it snowballed from there. Luna: So it's all word of mouth? That's pretty impressive. Lucas: Mostly. She told me that after a few months, she had more referrals than she could handle, and she had to actually start a waitlist. And that's when she realized she could charge more. She was undercharging initially, which is a classic mistake. Luna: I feel like that's the story of every freelancer at the beginning. We've all been there. Lucas: But what's really clever is how she leverages her day job. As a recruiter, she knows exactly what hiring managers are looking for. She does mock interviews, she breaks down job descriptions, and she coaches people on salary negotiation, which is a huge pain point. Luna: Salary negotiation is something that so many people struggle with. And having a recruiter's perspective is invaluable. You know exactly what the range is, what's realistic. Lucas: Right. She's not just guessing. She'll pull salary data from her own hiring experience and industry benchmarks. That's the kind of specific value that clients are willing to pay a premium for. Luna: There's a trust factor too. I mean, if you're a recruiter, you've seen hundreds of candidates, you've sat on both sides of the table. That's credibility you can't fake. Lucas: Exactly. And she's careful to avoid any conflict of interest. She doesn't coach people who are applying to roles at her own company. She'll actually turn them down and refer them to another coach. Luna: That's a smart ethical line to draw. Keeps her reputation clean, and it's better for her clients too. Lucas: It's also, frankly, good business. Referrals from people she turns away have brought her new clients. So it's a long game. Luna: That's a nice segue to something we've been thinking about. We actually keep this podcast ad-free, thanks to listeners who support us. If you've gotten value from this show, maybe it helped you think through a career move or a side gig idea, you can support us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It's a small way to keep the episodes coming. Lucas: And it genuinely makes a difference. We're not a big network, we're just two people making the show we wish existed. Luna: So back to the interview coaching. She also does personal branding, which is a service that's growing fast. Helping people clean up their LinkedIn, craft a narrative that stands out. Lucas: And that's a big part of her package. She offers a one-hour session where she reviews their online presence and gives them a clear action plan. It's not just about the interview itself, it's the whole job search. Luna: How does she market herself? I mean, she's a recruiter, so she can't exactly use her work email to promote her side business. Lucas: She keeps it clean. She has a simple website, she posts a few tips on LinkedIn, and she's active in a couple of career-focused Facebook groups. She says most of her clients come from referrals anyway. Luna: It sounds like she's not trying to be a full-time influencer. She's just leveraging her expertise in a focused way. Lucas: Exactly. And the numbers are interesting. She charges like two hundred dollars for a single mock interview and feedback. And for a full package, including a resume review, two mock interviews, and a salary negotiation session, it's around six hundred dollars. Luna: So she doesn't need that many clients to hit fifteen grand. If she has like twenty-five full-package clients a month, that's fifteen thousand right there. Lucas: Right. And she probably has a mix. Some people just want the mock interview, some want the whole thing. But it's manageable alongside her day job because most sessions are in the evenings and weekends. Luna: Is there a downside? I'm thinking about burnout, because coaching can be emotionally draining. You're dealing with people's fears and anxieties around job hunting. Lucas: She admitted that it can be. She limits herself to a certain number of clients per week, and she's cut back on the one-off mock interviews because they're lower value. She's focusing on the packages now, which are more sustainable. Luna: That's a good lesson. It's not just about getting clients, it's about designing the business to fit your life. Lucas: And that's why this works as a side hustle. She's not trying to replace her day job. She enjoys recruiting, and the side hustle lets her explore a different aspect of the field. Luna: So what would you say to someone who's listening and thinks, I could do this? What's the first step? Lucas: Start with one mock interview for a friend. Don't charge, just do it, get feedback, and then ask them to refer you. That's exactly how she started. And once you have a few testimonials, you can start charging. Luna: And don't forget to set boundaries with your day job. You don't want to use work resources or time for your side hustle, because that's a slippery slope. Lucas: Absolutely. She's very careful about that. She uses her own laptop, her own calendar, and she never discusses her side business with candidates at her own company. It's a clean separation. Luna: I think that's a good note to end on. If you're thinking about turning your professional expertise into a side income, this is a great example of how to do it ethically and sustainably. Lucas: And remember, the demand is out there. Job hunting is stressful, and people are willing to pay for help. If you have the knowledge, there's a market for it. Luna: Thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time.