Young Chinese professionals are increasingly turning to side gigs to achieve financial security, pursue personal passions, and pave the way for future careers, Gui Qian reports.

Wang Yifei starts her day at 7 am, spending two hours on her side gig — writing and editing — before heading off to her full-time job. From 10 am to 7 pm, she works as a social media manager at a multinational company. After getting home at 8 pm, she returns to writing until she calls it a night around 11 or 12 pm.

This busy routine is typical for Wang, a 28-year-old from Huaibei, East China's Anhui province, now living in Shanghai.

Her days are almost entirely occupied by her main job and side hustle. She chooses such a demanding lifestyle because, as she puts it, she "can't bear staying idle". Moreover, the time and effort she invests in her side hustle not only yields financial rewards but also brings her closer to her ultimate career goal — becoming a screenwriter.

It is her passion for writing and the film industry that led her to pursue this side career. Two years ago, a friend introduced her to a part-time gig editing a serialized novel. This opportunity then allowed her to expand into other writing-related projects, such as composing WeChat articles, promotional material for brands, and scripts for online short dramas.

Her side job income now averages about one-third to half of her main job's salary. Although it's not a huge amount, it provides her with a significant sense of security and stability, serving as "preparation and buildup" for her future career.

"A side hustle gives you a plan B in life. You don't have to worry about suddenly losing your job and having no financial safety net. It also boosts your self-esteem," Wang said.

Additionally, her part-time gig has broadened her horizons. "It's opened up a whole new world for me. I've met many fascinating people with various side hustles, and it made me realize that everyone can have different choices in life," she said.

Wang has noticed a significant rise in friends taking on side jobs in recent years. She believes this is because young people are increasingly aware of the importance of leading diverse and fulfilling lives.

"Young people today, especially those born after 2000, want to experience different lifestyles and aren't content with just being confined to an office desk. They are also more open to changes in their work," Wang explained.

According to a 2023 survey by news website 36Kr, 44.7 percent of 1,941 young Chinese respondents have or are currently engaged in a part-time gig. Nearly 40 percent of these side gigs are related to their main jobs.

Expanding opportunities

Wang Yu, 31, is an example of someone who has successfully transferred his primary job skills to a side hustle.

Originally from Jingzhou in Central China's Hubei province, Wang Yu works as a programmer at an internet company in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. About seven years ago, shortly after starting his career, he began offering freelance coding and software development services through Xianyu, a secondhand trading platform.

He believes a good side job should ideally be in a promising industry. He also prefers remote side gigs over those requiring a physical presence, as they involve fewer time and location constraints and generally offer greater growth potential.

The 36Kr survey supports Wang Yu's views. It shows that nearly 80 percent of surveyed young people are engaged in online side hustles, with over 80 percent involved in creative and intellectual work, such as social media, e-commerce, writing, voice-over work, and tutoring.

Wang Yu emphasized that to make a side hustle thrive, self-promotion and personal branding are also important.

"Many people stereotype programmers as introverted and solely focused on their work, but whether you're a programmer or doing any other side jobs, you need to learn how to market yourself," he said. For example, he posts ads across various social platforms to showcase his skills and make it easier for potential clients to find him.

Zhang Junjie, a 28-year-old from Chizhou, Anhui, has navigated through three stages in marketing her side business: starting from WeChat Moments, moving to the lifestyle platform Xiaohongshu, and then to the podcast app Xiaoyuzhou.

Currently working in operations at an audio company in Shanghai, Zhang provides tarot card readings for friends and clients in her spare time as a side business.

Initially, she sought out readings from other tarot practitioners as an enthusiast. After numerous sessions, she began experimenting with online tarot card draws and interpretations. As her knowledge deepened, she started offering readings to friends and sharing her insights on WeChat Moments.

"The biggest challenge with a metaphysical side hustle is finding clients," Zhang explained, which is why she expanded from the private sphere of WeChat Moments to public social media platforms.

She has also appeared in several podcast episodes discussing metaphysical topics and even launched her own tarot podcast, where she systematically shares her views and experiences, attracting a significant number of potential clients.

One of her most popular podcast episodes brought her over 300 new clients within just two weeks.

Zhang has observed a growing interest among young people in various metaphysical practices, whether it's traditional Chinese methods like "BaZi" (Four Pillars of Destiny) and "Zi Wei Dou Shu" (Purple Star Astrology) or Western practices like tarot and astrology.

Most of her clients are between the ages of 20 and 35, and they often seek guidance on work and romantic relationships.

"Young people face many temptations and choices in life, which can lead to anxiety. My service provides them with a sense of certainty and emotional comfort, helping them feel more grounded," Zhang explained. "Some clients come to me for readings just to have someone to talk to."

New ventures

Whether driven by personal interests or future goals, more young people are creatively using their free time to explore side businesses that combine fun, diversity, and practicality. This exploration can unlock new possibilities in life.

Wang Yu's side hustle quickly took off. By the second year, he had more orders than he could handle alone, so he began recruiting other programmers and forming a team.

Today, his team has grown to over a dozen people, capable of managing five or six projects simultaneously. Wang Yu himself now focuses on negotiating deals, planning work schedules, and handling other leadership responsibilities. His side gig income has reached three to four times his salary from his main job.

That's why he believes it's crucial to do what you're good at — choosing the right side hustle is more important than just working hard.

"Many people think of setting up a street stall when they consider a side gig, but you should first think about what you want to achieve with it," he said. "If you're aiming for sustainable income growth and personal development, there might be better options than running a stall."