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It has been seven years since Gary Chung left his job in finance and product administration.
The 44-year-old is now a self-professed “slashie” — somebody who pursues a number of careers in lieu of holding a standard full-time job.
“I made a decision to be a slashie as a result of … working in Hong Kong, the time beyond regulation work, the depth — I could not stand it for fairly a very long time,” he informed CNBC.
Since taking the “leap of religion,” Chung has labored as a marriage cameraman and phonics trainer — however for now, he is chosen to concentrate on being a Taekwondo teacher and sports activities merchandise gross sales coach.
What’s a ‘slashie’?
American creator Marci Alboher is usually credited for popularizing the time period “slash profession.” She wrote a e book about individuals who pursue a number of pursuits and earnings streams looking for a satisfying work life.
One different instance is Hugo Ho — a private coach/social entrepreneur/monetary planner who lives in Hong Kong.
“I do not do the identical factor day in and day trip. Each day is totally different,” the 31-year-old informed CNBC. “I’m so refreshed and motivated day-after-day.”
The idea of being a slashie is considerably much like being a freelancer — but totally different, stated Vicki Fan, CEO {of professional} companies agency Mercer’s Hong Kong enterprise.
“Freelancers are typically … hour- or project-based, and they’re pleased with sort of troughs and peaks when it comes to work,” she stated.
Being a slashie is “extra formalized,” she defined. “They’d be making use of for comparable roles that full-time individuals available in the market will probably be making use of for as effectively.”
Rising pattern
Anecdotally, this path appears to be more and more widespread in Hong Kong and around the globe.
Chung, the Taekwondo teacher/sports activities merchandise gross sales coach, stated lots of people need good work-life steadiness.
“As a slashie … I’d assume that will be simpler to steadiness,” he stated, including that many individuals additionally wish to be YouTubers/web influencers.
Ho, the non-public coach, stated technological developments permit individuals to hunt totally different profession alternatives simply.
For slashie work tradition to be extra embedded, two enablers need to be in place, and that is from an employer’s perspective.
Vicki Fan
Mercer Hong Kong
In response to Mercer’s Fan, there was a rise within the variety of slashies, particularly because of the pandemic.
Nevertheless, she doesn’t see slashies changing the mainstream workforce.
“For slashie work tradition to be extra embedded, two enablers need to be in place, and that is from an employer’s perspective,” she stated.
The primary is a redefinition of labor to focus extra on abilities or tasks, and fewer on working hours and processes. “Many corporations’ present roles don’t work like that,” Fan stated.
Secondly, slashies must have alternatives and entry to advantages equivalent to well being care. In any other case, there’s prone to be a cap on the variety of individuals prepared to be slashies.
Concerns for potential slashies
Chung is below no phantasm in regards to the trade-offs between a standard occupation and his personal unconventional profession alternative, having given up a steady earnings and a job with medical insurance to be a slashie.
“It is fairly a giant danger,” he stated. “As a father of two, it is actually a … large leap of religion.”
The coronavirus disaster additionally hit him. With retail companies struggling, he didn’t get a lot work as a gross sales coach. On the similar time, the Taekwondo gymnasium the place he coaches additionally needed to shut quickly, and courses had been moved on-line.
We now have been working so arduous, I’d say thrice as arduous, however incomes possibly half as a lot.
“We now have been working so arduous — I’d say thrice as arduous, however incomes possibly half as a lot,” he stated.
It is vital to be financially prepared for a drop in earnings, particularly in the beginning, Chung stated.
“As soon as I give up my job to grow to be a slashie, I feel I used to be incomes just one third of my (earlier) wage,” he stated. Slashies-to-be should even have good data of the roles they take up, be disciplined and have assist from their households, he suggested.
Mercer’s Fan stated employers may additionally view slashies in another way in the event that they apply for a full-time position.
Evaluating the resumes of a slashie and a standard worker, hiring managers might query whether or not a slashie may be devoted to the job.
No turning again
That is unlikely to be a priority for Chung and Ho — each males say they are not desirous about going again to common 9-to-5 jobs.
Ho stated he would “undoubtedly not” return to a standard full-time position.
“I get pleasure from being a slashie as a result of I can have my flexibility,” he stated.
Chung stated he now earns greater than he used to and enjoys what he does.
“I actually love what I do now,” he stated. “As a slashie, as a Taekwondo coach, I haven’t got to work a lot, so … I can spend extra time with my household.”
— CNBC’s Vivian Kam contributed to this report.
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