Pass on What You Know to Those Looking to Learn
Pass on What You Know to Those Looking to Learn
Some employers may not encourage, or even allow their licensed professionals to moonlight. Despite this, many find a way to share their skills and talents and earn a few dollars along the way.
Whether for financial security or simply to better handle unexpected expenses—maybe even just to start a “fun money” fund—a side gig can be a great way to share talent, boost creativity, and feel more fulfilled.
Because side gigs or moonlighting as a licensed professional is restricted or entirely prohibited by many employers, engineers often opt to pursue interests completely separate from the professional activities they execute during the workday. This could include tinkering and repairing old equipment; helping others in your professional community to become better project managers; writing the next great novel; or offering gardening advice on YouTube.
If this sounds appealing, be sure to avoid one thing. “People who are serious about starting something on their own don’t make excuses—they just go and do it,” explained Alex Isidro, a mechanical engineer and online entrepreneur based in Fairfax, Va.
Have a hankering to turn your passion to income? Follow these tips from Isidro to make your side hustle successful right out of the gate:
Isidro calls himself “a 10 p.m. entrepreneur.” That time of night is after he has eaten dinner with his family, his young daughter has gone to bed, and he and his wife have cleaned up the house and hung out a bit. Sometimes he gets back to business first thing in the morning, before his daughter wakes up, and he steals a couple of hours during naptime on the weekends.
“There’s no question about whether you have the time,” he said. “You have the time. The point is you're going to make time for the things that are important to you.”
YouTube is a great place to start, he added, given that people flock there for answers to all sorts of obstacles. And be sure to include a call to action at the end of the video, along with contact information, to urge viewers to connect you.
Not everyone is comfortable in front of a camera, so find the platform that best fits your personality.
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Think of specific questions your someone might ask, then answer those questions on social media. “This is the biggest way to find [people who need you] organically, with zero up-front investment,” Isidro said. “Your tribe will find you.”
“If you’re a little bit introverted and like to take time to think on your own—sharing your thoughts behind a screen or on paper—then writing would be an amazing way to share your knowledge,” Isidro said.
You can share what you know or what you are passionate about on X, Reddit, or the text-based conversation app Threads.
“As engineers, many times we think we need to be the world’s best at something in order to help someone else,” he said. “We undermine ourselves. There’s a lot of imposter syndrome going on, and it’s holding us back. Break out of that engineering shell and make yourself a little more free.”
And be prepared for an inevitable learning curve.
Isidro summed up his advice this way: “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that in the beginning you throw a bunch of spaghetti at the wall and some of it will stick—and you just keep doing what sticks.”
When it comes to passing on your skills to others, think outside the box. Teach what you know. There are engineers who teach others how to manage projects or how to develop their soft skills such as dealing with clients, networking, or the best way to hone leadership skills.
“If you’re good at golfing, teach people how to play golf,” Isidro said. “There’s nothing holding you back, and you probably have other hobbies and passions you can leverage.”
If you do not intend on staying in your day job, perhaps do what Isidro did and start with one-on-one consulting. He started by helping entry-level engineers get jobs and stay on top of industry trends to earn promotions, and he grew from there.
“After your third or fifth client, you start to find similarities and overlaps, and the same questions come up,” Isidro explained. “You develop a process for addressing all of those challenges, and nothing is stopping you from one day organizing all of that information into an online course.”
Robin Flanigan is an independent writer in Rochester, N.Y.
Because side gigs or moonlighting as a licensed professional is restricted or entirely prohibited by many employers, engineers often opt to pursue interests completely separate from the professional activities they execute during the workday. This could include tinkering and repairing old equipment; helping others in your professional community to become better project managers; writing the next great novel; or offering gardening advice on YouTube.
If this sounds appealing, be sure to avoid one thing. “People who are serious about starting something on their own don’t make excuses—they just go and do it,” explained Alex Isidro, a mechanical engineer and online entrepreneur based in Fairfax, Va.
Have a hankering to turn your passion to income? Follow these tips from Isidro to make your side hustle successful right out of the gate:
Manage your time
Isidro calls himself “a 10 p.m. entrepreneur.” That time of night is after he has eaten dinner with his family, his young daughter has gone to bed, and he and his wife have cleaned up the house and hung out a bit. Sometimes he gets back to business first thing in the morning, before his daughter wakes up, and he steals a couple of hours during naptime on the weekends.
“There’s no question about whether you have the time,” he said. “You have the time. The point is you're going to make time for the things that are important to you.”
Find those who need you
YouTube is a great place to start, he added, given that people flock there for answers to all sorts of obstacles. And be sure to include a call to action at the end of the video, along with contact information, to urge viewers to connect you.
Not everyone is comfortable in front of a camera, so find the platform that best fits your personality.
Discover the Benefits of ASME Membership
Think of specific questions your someone might ask, then answer those questions on social media. “This is the biggest way to find [people who need you] organically, with zero up-front investment,” Isidro said. “Your tribe will find you.”
“If you’re a little bit introverted and like to take time to think on your own—sharing your thoughts behind a screen or on paper—then writing would be an amazing way to share your knowledge,” Isidro said.
You can share what you know or what you are passionate about on X, Reddit, or the text-based conversation app Threads.
Believe in yourself
“As engineers, many times we think we need to be the world’s best at something in order to help someone else,” he said. “We undermine ourselves. There’s a lot of imposter syndrome going on, and it’s holding us back. Break out of that engineering shell and make yourself a little more free.”
And be prepared for an inevitable learning curve.
Isidro summed up his advice this way: “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that in the beginning you throw a bunch of spaghetti at the wall and some of it will stick—and you just keep doing what sticks.”
Tutor or coach
When it comes to passing on your skills to others, think outside the box. Teach what you know. There are engineers who teach others how to manage projects or how to develop their soft skills such as dealing with clients, networking, or the best way to hone leadership skills.
“If you’re good at golfing, teach people how to play golf,” Isidro said. “There’s nothing holding you back, and you probably have other hobbies and passions you can leverage.”
If you do not intend on staying in your day job, perhaps do what Isidro did and start with one-on-one consulting. He started by helping entry-level engineers get jobs and stay on top of industry trends to earn promotions, and he grew from there.
“After your third or fifth client, you start to find similarities and overlaps, and the same questions come up,” Isidro explained. “You develop a process for addressing all of those challenges, and nothing is stopping you from one day organizing all of that information into an online course.”
Robin Flanigan is an independent writer in Rochester, N.Y.
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