Sharon Kim says that the money she made on social media helped her and her brother buy a $750,000 house soon after they graduated from Parsons School of Design in 2023.
She does say, though, that the idea of making money by writing content “is a lot more glamorized” than it really is.
The 24-year-old tells CNBC Make It, “It is up to you to be your own boss and get sponsors, affiliates, contracts, and other things like that.”
In 2018, when she was in high school, she began her YouTube account. She talks about things like how she got into Parsons and why she changed her mind about a job in fashion and is now working in tech.
Even though she made about $162,000 from the channel in 2022 and 2023, Kim chose to become a UX designer in a company for one main reason: security.
She says, “I made six figures from social media, but besides that, money can come in and out of the day, and it might not be worth it in the long run.” When I had a great year one year, I do not want to think that the next year will be the same.
Kim works as a UX designer in New York City and makes about $94,000 a year. On the side, she runs her YouTube account.
Along with her 9-to-5 job, she sometimes has to work late to keep up with her social media pages. However, she gains from both.
Kim says, “Independent work gives me a sense of freedom that corporate work doesn’t.” “It is more work, but I feel like I have the best of both worlds, and I do not have to worry about money because I have the stability of corporate.”
How to manage a content creation side hustle
People with 9-to-5 jobs who want to start making content also should listen to Kim’s two pieces of advice: Begin with little things.
She says, “Do not put all of your work into making content.” “I would give it a try for at least a year to see if you can stick with it and get the results you want.”
Aside from that, if you work for a company, check your boss’s rules on how to use social media and make sure you are not sharing private company information, she says.
Kim says that is one reason she only posts lifestyle posts and lessons. It helps her stay out of trouble with the law.
She says, “It does not even have to be a tutorial on how to build this thing. It could be what you wish you knew before you went into finance or a day in the life of an intern.”
Kim says that if you want to be a content creator while having a corporate job, you should hang out with people who share your goals and can support you.
She says, “Just by putting myself out there, I met so many other friends.” It can be very upsetting to do it by yourself, so try to meet as many people as you can.