Tests, tools and methods · 7 min read
How to use a side project to test a new career
A useful side project is the smallest real version of the work you want, with a real person waiting for it and a deadline. Design one in an afternoon.
The short answer
A side project tests a new career when it uses the core tasks of that work, has a real person who will use or judge the result, and has a deadline of a few weeks. Design it by listing the main tasks of the target role, choosing one or two you have never done, and finding a small real problem to apply them to. At the end, you have evidence about whether you enjoy the work, and something to show employers.
On this page 8 sections
Three ingredients
- Real tasks: the work you would do in the target role, not a course exercise.
- A real person: someone who will use, read or judge the result.
- A deadline: a date when you will show it to them.
Design it in an afternoon
- Write the five main tasks of the target role, using job postings or occupation profiles.
- Circle one or two you have never done and feel unsure about. Those are what you need to test.
- Find a small real problem: a friend's business, a local club, a charity, your own team.
- Define a result you can finish in two to six weeks.
- Set the date you will show it to the person.
Examples by direction (illustrative)
| Direction | Project | Real person |
|---|---|---|
| Data analysis | Analyse a club's membership data to explain who drops out | Club committee |
| UX design | Redesign a confusing sign-up form and test it with three people | Organisation that runs the form |
| Project management | Plan and run a small community event with a budget and timeline | Event volunteers |
| Copywriting | Rewrite a small business's homepage and track enquiries | Business owner |
| Teaching | Run three tutoring sessions with a measurable goal | The learner |
Reflect at the end
Write a page: what you did, what the person thought, which tasks you enjoyed, which you avoided, and what you would do differently. The avoided tasks matter. If you procrastinated on the core task of the role, that is important evidence.
Scoping the project so you finish it
Most side projects fail by growing. Before starting, write three lines: what is in scope, what is out of scope, and what done looks like. For example: in scope, a redesigned sign-up form and a test with three people; out of scope, rebuilding the website; done, a one-page write-up shared with the club secretary.
If the project starts to grow, write the new idea down under “next time” and finish the original.
A worked example (illustrative)
Illustrative example: a retail supervisor curious about data analysis offers to help a local food bank understand which days are busiest. In scope: three months of visit counts the food bank already records, without names. Out of scope: any personal data or changes to how they record visits. Done: a one-page summary with a chart and two recommendations, presented to the coordinator.
The supervisor finds the cleaning frustrating, the pattern-finding exciting and the presentation nerve-wracking but rewarding. The food bank adjusts its volunteer rota. Both the experience and the result are concrete enough to discuss in an interview.
Keep data and confidentiality in mind
If your project involves anyone's information, ask for the minimum, remove names, and agree how it will be stored and deleted. Do not use your employer's data or tools for a side project without permission.
Questions people ask
- What makes a good side project for a career change?
- It uses the real core tasks of the target work, has a real user or audience, is finishable in a few weeks, and produces something you can show.
- How much time should a side project take?
- Somewhere between ten and thirty hours spread over two to six weeks is enough to learn a lot without burning out alongside a job.
- Do employers care about side projects?
- Many do, especially when changing careers, because a project shows you can do the work and understand its problems. Explain your decisions, not just the result.
- Should I charge for a side project?
- Not necessarily at first. A small paid project can add realism, but make sure you can deliver what you promise and check any employment contract terms.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
Sources
- Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career · Herminia Ibarra
How this page is written
Sources support the factual background, not a guarantee that an exercise predicts career fit. Fictional practice material is labelled. Dates record content updates; no independent expert review is implied. More about OffLadder.