It’s 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 multiple careers in lieu of holding a conventional 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 instructed CNBC.
Since taking the “leap of religion,” Chung has labored as a marriage cameraman and phonics instructor — however for now, he is chosen to focus on being a Taekwondo teacher and sports activities merchandise gross sales coach.
What is a ‘slashie’?
American creator Marci Alboher is usually credited for popularizing the time period “slash profession.” She wrote a e-book about folks who pursue multiple pursuits and earnings streams searching 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. Every day is totally different,” the 31-year-old instructed CNBC. “I’m so refreshed and motivated each day.”
The idea of being a slashie is considerably related to being a freelancer — but totally different, stated Vicki Fan, CEO {of professional} providers agency Mercer’s Hong Kong enterprise.
“Freelancers have a tendency to be … hour- or project-based, and they’re proud of sort of troughs and peaks by way of work,” she stated.
Being a slashie is “extra formalized,” she defined. “They can be making use of for related roles that full-time folks available in the market will likely be making use of for as properly.”
Growing development
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 stability.
“As a slashie … I’d assume that may be simpler to stability,” he stated, including that many individuals additionally need to be YouTubers/web influencers.
Ho, the private coach, stated technological developments enable folks to search totally different profession alternatives simply.
For slashie work tradition to be extra embedded, two enablers have to be in place, and that is from an employer’s perspective.
Vicki Fan
Mercer Hong Kong
According to Mercer’s Fan, there was a rise within the variety of slashies, particularly because of the pandemic.
However, she doesn’t see slashies changing the mainstream workforce.
“For slashie work tradition to be extra embedded, two enablers have to be in place, and that is from an employer’s perspective,” she stated.
The first is a redefinition of labor to focus extra on abilities or obligations, and fewer on working hours and processes. “Many firms’ current roles don’t work like that,” Fan stated.
Secondly, slashies want to have alternatives and entry to advantages resembling well being care. Otherwise, there’s probably to be a cap on the variety of folks prepared to be slashies.
Considerations for potential slashies
Chung is underneath no phantasm concerning the trade-offs between a conventional occupation and his personal unconventional profession selection, having given up a stable earnings and a job with medical health insurance to be a slashie.
“It’s fairly a giant threat,” he stated. “As a father of two, it is actually a … massive 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. At the identical time, the Taekwondo gymnasium the place he coaches additionally had to shut quickly, and lessons had been moved on-line.
We have been working so onerous, I’d say thrice as onerous, however incomes possibly half as a lot.
“We have been working so onerous — I’d say thrice as onerous, however incomes possibly half as a lot,” he stated.
It’s vital to be financially prepared for a drop in earnings, particularly at first, Chung stated.
“Once I give up my job to turn into a slashie, I believe I used to be incomes just one third of my (earlier) wage,” he stated. Slashies-to-be should even have good information of the roles they take up, be disciplined and have help from their households, he suggested.
Mercer’s Fan stated employers may additionally view slashies in a different way in the event that they apply for a full-time function.
Comparing the resumes of a slashie and a conventional worker, hiring managers might query whether or not a slashie may be devoted to the job.
No turning back
That’s unlikely to be a priority for Chung and Ho — each males say they don’t seem to be keen on going back to common 9-to-5 jobs.
Ho stated he would “undoubtedly not” return to a conventional full-time function.
“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 Yolande Chee contributed to this report.
