Dan Strakal

Dan Strakal has been an expert on the changing workplace, job transition, and career development for nearly 20 years. He acts as a trusted client advisor and consultant within the corporate sector, government agencies, civic organizations, small businesses, and educational institutions. He also provides business, executive and career consulting, coaching and workshops for individual clients and is the coauthor of and contributor to two books, Better Job Search in 3 Easy Steps and Better Job Skills in 3 Easy Steps. Dan is often called upon by the national and international media as an expert and has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Self Magazine, SmartMoney.com, Computerworld, Diversity Inc. Magazine, Chief Information Officer (Australia’s Magazine for Information Executives), the Radio America Program: News You Can Use, KBS Radio Canada and many other media outlets. He is on the Board of Directors of the Career Planning and Adult Development Network and is a Platinum Member of the Career Masters Institute. More info at http://www.capable-consulting.com

Published on 11/28/2005

Turn Your Workplace Know-How Into Outside Income

Do you have a hobby or particular passion inside or outside of the workplace? What is the expertise necessary to be successful at your hobby? What do you know that others don’t? Why not take this interest and passion and teach it to others? There are thousands of continuing and community education centers across the country. Each one of them is always looking for new topics, new approaches to old topics and new instructors to teach these topics. Many of these continuing education centers pay fairly well. And, if you already have the source material, it doesn’t take long to convert it into teachable form. And once you have developed your first class, you now only have to teach it over and over (with a few updates over time). This can be a really effective use of your time and energy and can generate quite a bit of extra income. And what a bonus if your topic is something you really enjoy!

First, you need to determine your topic area(s). Don’t forget, you can also take what you do at work and apply it here as well. Are you an effective communicator, a great sales person, an excellent manager? Do you enjoy woodcarving, painting, astrology, sculpting, carpentry, working on engines, working in the garden, golfing, leatherworkâ€¦? As you can see, the list is virtually endless. You can find these topics and many, many others in any continuing education catalog. And don’t worry, since most continuing education programs are not degree-related and are intended for community interest, you don’t necessarily need a teaching degree or credentials.

Once you have decided on a topic or two, go online and/or pick up a hardcover catalog of courses and then contact the Directors of Continuing Education at your local high schools, technical/community colleges, and universities. Ask their advice on how to best learn what is necessary to become an instructor at their facility. It will help if you have a preliminary outline of what you want to teach, the proposed hours, and the type of setting. For example, do you plan to cover the subject matter in a full-day workshop or a 2-hour evening session? Be persistent and continue to follow up. You will be surprised how easy it is to become a faculty member at various continuing education centers.

This is an excellent way to leverage what you already know and enjoy into increased income.

Dr.