How to Turn your Hobby Into a Career

What is a hobby? 

In simple terms, a hobby is something that you enjoy doing in your own spare time. The hobbies that people enjoy doing will vary from person to person, and you might find that different generations tend to partake in different activities. 

Popular hobbies include: 

• Sports such as football, cricket, badminton or tennis 
• Video games 
• Drawing 
• Knitting 
• Gardening 
• Reading 
• Baking 

For a lot of people, a hobby is a hobby – they don’t want it to be anything else. But for others, expanding on the skills learnt from a hobby and turning it into a job can be a dream come true. 

Identifying Your Passion 

Before you can turn your hobby into a career, it’s crucial to identify what truly excites you. Ask yourself: 

• What activities do I lose track of time doing? 
• What do I look forward to in my free time? 
• What do people compliment me on or ask for help with? 

For most people, you’ll already have a good understanding of what you’re passionate about doing. But if you’re not and you’re looking to move forward into a career based around your hobby, it’s worth taking the time to truly decide what works for you. 

Understanding your passion is the first step towards turning your hobby into a viable career. 

Researching the Market 

Once you’ve identified your passion, the next step is to research the market. Look into: 

• Demand: Is there a demand for your hobby in the market? For instance, if you enjoy baking, is there a demand for custom cakes or baked goods in your area? 
• Competition: Who are your competitors? What do they offer, and how can you differentiate yourself? 
• Job Market: Is there demand in the job market for people with your skills looking to work with your hobby? How can you stand out against a sea of other applicants? 
  

Building Your Skills 

Turning a hobby into a career often requires honing your skills to a professional level. This might involve: 

• Taking Courses: Enrol in courses or workshops to improve your skills. The AIM Group’s online qualifications hub features 100’s of online courses perfect to help you gain new skills. 
• Practicing Regularly: Dedicate time each day or week to practice. 
• Seeking Feedback: Ask for feedback from friends, family, or online communities to improve. 
  

Should I start my own business? 

A lot of people looking to work with their hobby will opt to start their own business, meaning they get to be their own boss and set up their own work. This can be particularly beneficial for certain hobbies like baking, cooking, and decorating where becoming self-employed and starting your own business is more common.  

It can be difficult to start your own business, but it’s a great way to utilise your skills in a way that free’s yourself from outside constraints. We do have a free online level 2 course around creating a business start up. This course gives you the necessary skills to understand the marketing, legal and financial side of creating a business as well as learning how to develop a business plan. 

Becoming employed in your hobby 

If you’re not looking to start your own business, it’s more likely that you’ll be looking to move into an employed role based around your hobby. 

If you’ve researched into the job market and can see that there are roles available that suit you, now could be the perfect time to turn your hobby in your career.  

Update your CV to highlight your skills, network and make connections with people in similar roles, and start applying for roles that speak to you. 

Whether you’re looking to become a video editor at a studio, a chef in a restaurant, or a data analyst in a small business – it’s important to develop your skills to the best of your ability. This can be done through online courses, in-person mentoring, video tutorials and more. 

Explore our full online qualifications hub today: theaimgroup.co.uk