Working in College: Land Part-Time Jobs or Online Gigs

College is the transition to adulthood, providing new experiences, one of which is becoming a player in the job market. You can blend in work with your studies (prioritizing the latter), but beating the competition and getting hired is challenging, especially if this is your first job. 

Luckily, we have some recommendations for landing positions; many might not require extensive interviews or experience!

Low-entry gig options

Not all positions require experience or an extensive list of skills. Instead, go for simple gigs, such as: 

• Tutoring children or fellow college students.
• Pet-sitting or walking. 
• House-cleaning services.
• Food-delivery or ride-hailing services.
• Babysitting.

Your college offers students hiring opportunities. So, check out options for teaching assistants, tour guides, photographers, event organizers, or library assistants. A helpful trick is to inquire of your professors about potential paid gigs. For example, if you're studying to become a translator, ask whether any events need simultaneous interpretation services. 

Look for paid internships

Internships, when you get to experience office life and practice with professionals, provide excellent perks (and hopefully income). Yet, landing a paid internship is tricky, as these positions get snatched incredibly fast, especially since many companies hire via recommendations from their employees. Yet, we have some suggestions for breaking these barriers and getting noticed: 

• Check different job marketplaces to find new positions. Sign up for reminders to receive info about new positions (in your preferred fields or with selected keywords).
• Find companies specializing in your field and make a list with their contact information. Then, email companies directly asking about internship opportunities by including your determination and current skill set. Also, don’t forget to mention why a particular company piqued your interest. 
• Colleges frequently organize career fairs, where you can directly communicate with company representatives. 
• Accept unpaid internships as well. While a salary would be preferable, companies might offer benefits, such as being hired after graduation. 

Getting creative with skills and possessions

Sometimes, students can start earning without getting hired by a company or person. It relates to selling items you create, thrift, or simply do not use. In other cases, it can relate to simple skills or interests. For example: 

• It pays to be skilled at creating arts and crafts, as many people wish to decorate their homes or gift unique creations. Try selling your designs, and don’t forget the potential of thrifting and reselling the gems you uncover.
• Look for opportunities to become an extra in movies or TV shows. You can earn money and explore a real movie set!
• Offer services to fellow college students to proofread, edit, or consult them on writing papers. It might also include tutoring sessions that help them write the content.

Be open to online earning opportunities

Online earning options can include freelancing, participation in market research, answering surveys, providing translation services, or creating digital products. Here are a few more ideas: 

• Create online courses, publish ebooks, design logos or templates, and start writing a blog. You can make money from direct sales (such as people buying your course) or see profits from monetization strategies (such as ads in a blog).
• You can sign up for different rewards or microtasking platforms that supply different assignments. Essentially, these services partner with companies that need help testing, developing, and reviewing products. You can even get paid to play games on your phone or watch videos. The assignments offer different rewards, usually in points you can redeem for gift cards or money.
• Remote work is also an option; college students are great for junior positions. Some fields are college-student-friendly, meaning companies hire them for customer support, data entry, virtual assistants, and QA testing.

Conclusion

Maintaining grades and a job is no picnic, but always prioritize your studies. Yet, part-time jobs on your college campus, remote positions, and online opportunities make it easier to balance it all.