Side Hustling Through a Layoff with Gertrude Nonterah | Ep. 32

• After moving from Philadelphia to San Diego for a postdoc at UC San Diego, Gertrude realized the high cost of living required additional income. She leveraged her social media skills to become a social media manager.

I decided one day, I just decided to become a social media manager as my side hustle.

• She responded to a Craigslist ad and landed her first client for $300/month, growing to $1,200/month within three months through referrals.

• Tiffany emphasizes researching cost of living differences before accepting a job that requires relocation. She also advises negotiating moving expenses before accepting an offer, as you have more leverage before starting.

Don't be afraid to ask for moving expenses, help with moving and things like that. Because that's another thing that often goes underutilized or under negotiated for.

• When Gertrude's postdoc ended due to grant funding running out, she was prepared because of her established side hustle. She smiled when told about the layoff because it meant more time to focus on her freelance writing business.

Nothing really is permanent. And so it's really important for you to start building a side hustle long before you need it.

• Both hosts emphasize that in freelancing and side hustles, clients care about results, not credentials. Gertrude notes that no client has ever asked for her PhD, and Tiffany shares that her soap-making business requires no formal education.

They care that you can execute. They care that you can give them results.