As a software engineer, you are likely familiar with the concept of a “side hustle,” or a job outside of your main employment which provides extra income and additional opportunities for growth. Side hustles are becoming increasingly popular within the software engineering industry, with many engineers balancing a career in the industry with a variety of different projects and freelance work. In this blog post, we will explore the advantages and challenges of pursuing a software engineer side hustle, as well as provide practical advice to help you make the most of your side hustle. We will also provide an overview of various types of side hustles available to software engineers, and explain how to find and successfully manage a side hustle. So, if you’re looking to take the leap and take on a software engineering side hustle, this blog post is for you.
Software engineer side hustles
If you’re interested in a side job in software engineering, consider opportunities that could enhance or complement your current qualifications. There are numerous opportunities available regardless of your area of expertise, including:
A game designer’s main responsibilities are to create games for fun or education. They create characters, rules, or settings to serve as the game’s framework using coding expertise and design principles. Prior to releasing their games on the market, game designers may review their creations through focus groups or user testing to identify any areas that could use updates or improvements.
A technical support specialist’s main responsibilities include archiving computer system data, assessing potential updates, and making recommendations for fixes. By conducting tests or system evaluations, they gather data to identify potential updates or solutions. They might also troubleshoot day-to-day technology issues.
Primary duties: A programming specialist helps coordinate and manage programs. This could entail reviewing user needs and procedures or updating current systems. Programming experts may also offer instructions on how to use programs most effectively for a client’s particular needs.
A social media manager’s main responsibilities include creating, implementing, and overseeing a client’s social media presence. Social media strategists frequently create social media plans to increase engagement and raise brand awareness. Examples of these could be advice on how to create content that social media platforms’ algorithms want.
Primary duties: A web designer develops and designs engaging websites. Back-end and front-end coding, as well as visual design or interactivity, could all be used in this process. Web designers are aware of best practices for websites and enhance the design for improved user experience. For instance, they could make the design more appealing visually for both desktop and mobile applications.
An SEO consultant’s main responsibilities are to plan, carry out, and oversee a client’s strategy. Web analytics, content planning, and keyword strategy are frequently used as guidelines by SEO consultants. Additionally, they could offer clients detailed optimization plans with specific SEO objectives.
The main responsibilities of a copywriter are to create engaging and clear text that will increase traffic or brand awareness. B2B (business-to-business) copywriting, which focuses on promoting technology software or programs to businesses, may present opportunities for software engineers. This may include research, writing and editing.
Primary duties: A QA tester reviews and analyzes system specifications. This might entail creating test strategies and plans or assessing product code and recording outcomes. Making sure that operations and applications are consistent is another responsibility of QAs.
Primary duties: A statistical analyst collects, organizes and presents data. Data collection may involve research methods like surveys or data analysis. They do a good job of making the statistical analysis data understandable and interesting. This information helps decision-makers make informed business strategies.
A digital designer’s main responsibilities are to produce digital content for multimedia projects. These digital assets could be social media posts, emails, or animations. In order to improve the usability or engagement of software or programs, digital designers may also develop visual components for them.
Primary duties: A web developer builds, tests and maintains websites. Additionally, a web developer may update dated coding with regular development updates.
Primary duties: A data analyst collects and interprets data. This information may come from sales figures, social media analytics, or website analytics. Data analysts are responsible for spotting trends, patterns, and important figures so that a client can make well-informed decisions about solutions.
Primary duties: A mobile developer produces mobile applications. Software, programs, games, or e-commerce platforms that are optimized for mobile interactions are all examples of mobile applications. It may be necessary to write code, modify code, or oversee user testing for accessibility when creating these.
A UX designer’s main responsibilities include conducting user research and competitor analysis to create user personas and journeys. User personas and journeys then help them create user-centered designs. They might create prototypes or wireframes during this process for usability and experience testing.
Benefits of side jobs for software engineers
Side jobs have many potential benefits for software engineers, including:
Work flexibility
Side jobs in software engineering offer flexibility and frequently fit into your current schedule. As long as you meet the deadlines, you can complete tasks or assignments for side jobs whenever it is convenient for you. Additionally, side jobs in software engineering let you decide when to take on additional work. For instance, you can select long-term or short-term side jobs in software engineering.
Skill development and growth
Utilizing side jobs in software engineering is a fantastic way to advance your current skills. Every time you take a side job, you have the opportunity to improve and broaden your current skill set. For instance, if you worked as a web developer on the side, you could pick up new programming skills that might help you in your current position or with potential future endeavors.
Measurable and marketable results
Jobs as a social media manager or data analyst could produce quantifiable results that are marketable and demonstrate how you improved a function or process for a client or organization. For example, you could add to your resume that you increased traffic to a companys social media site by 23% in six months Your current employer or potential employers may be drawn to the strong growth or efficiency numbers.
5 Side Hustles For Software Engineers (in 2022)
FAQ
Can you do software engineering as a side hustle?
Even though working in software engineering can be demanding, there are many opportunities to use your skills to earn extra money or turn your interests into a side business. For software engineers, there are many side businesses they can engage in to earn some extra money.
What is a good side hustle for an engineer?
You can perform minor engineering work, design engineering courses online, virtual tutor individuals, consult with individuals and businesses, offer engineering problem-solving advice, sell your engineering creations, and even sell crafts. Engineering side hustle opportunities are virtually limitless.
How can software engineers make more money?
- They know a niche language. The demand for those specialized skills increases as the number of people who speak a language decreases.
- Live in a tech hub. Location clearly matters. …
- Work for one of the big tech names. This is pretty obvious.
- Gain a lot of experience. …
- Start their own company.
What is the highest paid side hustle?
- Online Tutoring. …
- Personal Training. …
- Managing Social Media and Digital Operations for SMEs. …
- Freelance Graphic Designing. …
- Party Planning. …
- Driving for Uber. …
- Freelancing on Upwork. …
- Photography.
