What is a Hunter vs. Gatherer in the Workplace?

“Hunters'' tend to be individuals motivated by the “chase”, eager to make a splash no matter the odds. This type of person tends to lean towards more entrepreneurial work, pursuing freedom within their work by starting their own business, becoming an influencer..etc and chasing their dream no matter the cost.

"Gatherers" tend to be more motivated by consistent praise from management, and cautious about taking risk without the assurance of reward. They enjoy a more stable lifestyle and income. They tend to not be looking to ‘grind’ or live the hustle life mentality lifestyle.

However, like almost anything there is always a spectrum. You may not be a ‘hunter’ or a ‘gatherer’ through and through just like most people aren't 100% introverted or 100% extroverted. There is a large in between and a lot of different ways to identify. Perhaps you enjoy a stable income but also have a side hustle to fulfill your personal passions.

Related article: How Entrepreneurs Boost Productivity Using Shift

Is the Old Way of Work Dead?

According to a Microsoft Work Trend Report, the 9-to-5 workday is disappearing, as the increase in remote work has allowed for more flexible hours. For many when they were faced with working from home it gave them time to rethink their career paths. Especially for recent graduates, a traditional nine-to-five job wasn’t the answer. According to CNBC many entrepreneurial students looked at the accelerated adoption of digital technologies, and the flexibility of remote work and saw opportunities to create their own businesses straying away from more traditional work opportunities. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research 2020 and 2021 had an unprecedented surge in new business applications. It’s not surprising that many of those were created by young entrepreneurs: More than half of Gen Zers (under 25 years old) said they hoped to own their own business in the next 10 years, according to a recent EY study.

Is Gen Z a generation of ‘hunters'? What do you think?

Am I the Only One Without a Side Hustle in 2022?

According to the 2022 Side Hustle Statistics and Survey side hustles are more popular than ever, and they believe there are two driving factors behind the trend:

1. Proactive desire and unprecedented ability to make extra money — fueled by technology and social media
2. Economic necessity

Many people value creating a side hustle that is a passion project for them that adds value to their life. While others may start a side hustle out of financial necessity. Meaning not everyone that has a side hustle, or a second job is trying to be a ‘hunter’ they may financially not have the choice to work only one job 9-5. According to Bankrate 45% of working Americans report having a side hustle. That amounts to roughly 70 million people. Among millennials, that statistic rises to 50%.

Find Your Personal Fit

More than ever we are seeing a push through social media platforms such as Instagram and Titkok to live a more entrepreneurial lifestyle, with influencers pushing their followers to quit their jobs and chase their dreams. However, the reality is a lot of people aren’t cut out to be entrepreneurs nor do they want to be. ‘Gatherers’ prefer not to take on the risk and have to deal with the responsibilities of actually running a company. Sometimes, entrepreneurship can be over-glorified and made to believe that it’s all sunshine and rainbows, when in reality it is extremely hard work. Not a fit for everyone but for the right person- a true ‘hunter’ it can be an extremely fulfilling career path.

An entrepreneur's pay can vary wildly, with the sky being the limit but also the possibility of nothing. You could work 5 hours in a month and make the same as some do in an annual salary, or you could work 80+ hours a week and be making practically nothing. Which is exciting to many and stressful to others! On the other hand you could work a 9-5 job for 40 hours for the same pay every month. And there is no right or wrong, just personal preference.

Which do you prefer? Are you more of a hunter or a gatherer in the world of work?