The Allure of the Side Hustle
In the fast-paced world of technology, the idea of part-time consulting is incredibly appealing. It’s a chance to tackle new challenges, expand your skillset, and boost your income—all while maintaining the security of a full-time job. But as many of us discover, it’s a demanding balancing act. How do you give your best to your primary role, your clients, and still have time for yourself?
As a full-time DevOps & SRE professional at BetVictor, driven by a deep-seated passion for continuous learning and tackling complex challenges, I also run a part-time consultancy specializing in cloud infrastructure, backend systems, and data pipelines. This dual role has taught me crucial lessons in the art of the juggle. In this post, I’ll share my personal strategies for not just surviving, but thriving, as a part-time tech consultant.
1. Master Your Time: The Art of Ruthless Prioritization
When you have two jobs, time becomes your most valuable asset. Without a solid system, you risk dropping the ball at work, with clients, or in your personal life.
- Time Blocking is Non-Negotiable: I live by my calendar. I block out dedicated “focus time” for my full-time job, specific hours for client work (usually evenings and other parts of the weekend), and—most importantly—personal time for rest and hobbies, with my Friday evenings specifically ring-fenced for this. This creates clear boundaries and protects my energy.
- The Power of a To-Do List: A simple to-do list for each role helps me track tasks and prioritize what’s most urgent and important. This prevents context-switching overload and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
- Be Realistic: You can’t do everything. I’ve learned to be realistic about the number of freelance projects I can take on. It’s better to deliver impeccable, high-quality work for one client—reflecting a commitment to correctness and excellence—than to spread oneself too thin and deliver mediocre results for three.
2. Set Crystal-Clear Boundaries
Burnout is the biggest risk in this lifestyle. The only way to prevent it is by setting and enforcing firm boundaries from day one.
- With Your Clients: Be upfront about your availability. My clients know I have a full-time job and that my response times will be different from a full-time freelancer. I define my working hours for consultancy in my contracts and stick to them.
- With Your Full-Time Employer: My consultancy work never interferes with my responsibilities at BetVictor. I use my own equipment, work on my own time, and ensure there is no conflict of interest. This clear separation is a cornerstone of my professional ethic, ensuring honesty and integrity in all my commitments.
- With Yourself: It’s tempting to work every spare minute, but it’s a recipe for disaster. Schedule downtime, exercise, and time with family and friends. Protecting your well-being isn’t a luxury; it’s essential for sustaining the high level of energy and focus required to consistently produce top-tier work in both demanding roles.
3. Communicate with Clarity and Proactiveness
Clear, proactive communication can prevent most potential issues.
- Manage Client Expectations: From the initial proposal, I clearly outline the scope of work, deliverables, and timelines. I provide regular updates, even if it’s just to say, “I’m on track and will deliver by the agreed date.”
- Be Transparent: If a project is taking longer than expected or if I’m facing a blocker, I communicate it early. Clients appreciate honesty far more than missed deadlines and silence.
- Under-Promise and Over-Deliver: This is a classic for a reason. I build buffers into my timelines to account for the unexpected. Delivering a project ahead of schedule, born from meticulous planning and a dedication to exceeding expectations, is a powerful way to build trust and earn repeat business—a testament to true professionalism.
4. Landing Your First Client: A Proactive Approach
Getting that first consulting gig can feel like the biggest hurdle. While technical skills are essential, landing opportunities often hinges on proactively building your credibility and showcasing your passion. Here’s what I’ve found to be most impactful:
- Build a Reputation for Integrity: This is paramount. Cultivate an unwavering commitment to delivering your absolute best work. Be meticulous in every detail, operate with transparent honesty, and always prioritize correctness. This foundational reputation becomes your most valuable asset, often preceding you, opening doors to new opportunities, and attracting the kind of high-quality engagements you seek.
- Showcase Your Skills with Personal Projects: Don’t wait for paid work to build a portfolio; proactively create it. Start your own projects. These endeavors not only hone your technical skills to a fine edge but also serve as tangible proof of your capabilities and, crucially, as a testament to your initiative, passion, and dedication to your craft. They speak volumes before you even have a conversation.
- Engage with Your Community: Participate in online forums, local meetups, and industry discussions. Share your projects, listen actively to others, and offer your help where you can. Networking isn’t just about collecting contacts; it’s about building genuine relationships and demonstrating your expertise and value.
- Deliver Excellence on Your First Project: Your first project is crucial. Building on the reputation you’ve cultivated and the skills showcased in your projects, aim to impress. If you succeed, the odds of them re-engaging you for future work, or recommending you to others, increase dramatically. Word-of-mouth, fueled by exceptional delivery, is incredibly powerful in consulting.
- Be Prepared to Seize Opportunities: Sometimes, luck plays a part. An unexpected conversation or a referral can lead to a project. The key is to be prepared to grab these opportunities when they appear. This means having your portfolio (especially those personal projects!) ready and being clear about the services you offer.
- Embrace Continuous Learning: The journey doesn’t end once you land a client. Each project is a learning experience. Stay curious, and be open to acquiring new technical skills, improving your communication, and refining your project management approach. The learning process is not just ongoing; it’s a core professional ethic, a relentless pursuit. This dedication to continuous improvement is vital not only for long-term success but for consistently delivering cutting-edge, correct, and impactful solutions.
5. The “Why”: Your Motivation Matters
Juggling two jobs is tough. On a late night when you’re debugging a client’s code after a long day at your primary job, you need a strong reason to keep going. For me, it’s the profound passion for unraveling diverse and complex problems, the intellectual thrill of architecting robust and correct systems, and the drive to master new technologies like Azure and Kafka. This not only keeps my skills at the forefront but allows me to deliver innovative solutions, leading to the immense satisfaction of genuinely helping another company achieve its goals.
Know your “why.” Whether it’s financial goals, skill development, or pure passion, it will be the fuel that keeps you going.
Is It Worth It?
Absolutely. Part-time consulting has been an incredible accelerator for my career. It’s challenging, but the rewards—both professional and personal—are immense. With the right strategies for time management, boundaries, and communication, you can successfully navigate the juggling act and build a thriving side career. If you’re considering this path, understand that its rich rewards are built on a foundation of careful planning, unwavering discipline, a dedication to hard work, a relentless pursuit of learning, and an unshakeable commitment to professional integrity. Embrace these principles, and the journey can indeed be exceptionally worthwhile.