6 Ways To Make Extra Money For Your Career Change |

Knowing I could find work on the side helped to ease the fear of no longer having a steady income.”

Take action:

• What can you rent out or offer to make some extra money for your career change? What can you free up easily?
• There are loads of places to start. Whether it’s renting out your car on Turo (UK, USA and Canada) or a spare room on Airbnb (worlwide), Homestay (available in 176 countries), or SpareRoom (UK).

4. Explore the intersection

You’re standing in a new space. The intersection between your old and new career. While this feels uncertain, it gives you the power to reach both ways to earn extra money.

For example, Natalie left the BBC to retrain as a midwife.

She continued working as a journalist to help fund her shift. But she also used the job opportunities available to her as a student:

“When it comes to earning extra money, I work as a student ambassador for De Montfort University as well as [doing] some journalism work.”

Take action:

• List the skills you have from your old (and new) career routes. 
• Which of those skills can you use right now to earn extra cash? If you’re registered to work freelance, try sites such as Fiverr, Freelancer and Upwork (available from multiple countries).

5. Go “backward” to go forward

Are you prepared to take a step “backwards” to make extra money for your career change? For some, this meant moving back in with loved ones:

“I moved back home for a year to take financial pressure off of myself in the early stages of building the business. That was definitely helpful and allowed me to take smart risks that ended up paying off.” – SaVonne

During this time, SaVonne was able to build up her business and she now employs a team. Her move was a temporary step backwards in order to leap forwards.

There is no perfect time to do this. For example, Holly (and her husband), moved in with her mum just after they got married:

“I got married and moved back in with my mum so had no rent for a year.  

Although it’s the last thing you want to do as a newly married couple, and the lack of money was frustrating at times, we got round it – and it really was worth it.” – Holly

With reduced costs, Holly could work fewer hours as a nurse and build her charity Indigo Volunteers. 

Alternatively, your version of going “backwards” might be using skills from the industry you want to leave behind:

“I did some part-time project management work on a freelance basis. That felt like a backslide at first, but it helped me pay the bills as I worked on my shift.” – Ross

Take action:

• What are you prepared to go “backwards” on to help your finances? 
• How long are you prepared to do this for, and what would you gain as a result?

6. Create a fund map

Your new career might have funding routes for you to earn as you study. When making the shift into teaching, Samantha used the support available to her:

“As a chemistry trainee teacher, I received a government bursary of £26k (approx $36k), tax-free, to train. As a single mother, I was also able to apply for a student loan and maintenance loan to ensure that I could manage my finances.”

However, you can also create your own map to a funded shift. For example, Susie wanted to move away from law, and start her own jewellery line. So she worked for an entrepreneur to build up cash and learn more about running a business:  

“I took on part-time work for an entrepreneur.