Nowadays, having a side job has become more of a necessity rather than just another way of earning extra bucks. As the global economy tries to rebound from the ill effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still people who are struggling to make ends meet.
Enter side jobs. While the term suggests that you do them alongside your full-time work, some people have turned them into their main bread and butter, allowing them to earn as much as they can.
In a recent study conducted by Upwork, it was revealed that 32% percent of first-time freelancers started freelancing right after finishing college, while 22% got into it after losing or being laid off from their job because of the pandemic in 2020.
This only goes to show that freelancing or getting a side job isn’t just for skilled individuals who already have full-time jobs but also for those who are starting or restarting their careers.
Let’s go over some profitable side hustles that you might want to consider.
Online Tutor
Tutoring has long been a popular side hustle for a lot of college students and professors. In fact, online tutoring has been around longer than the recent shift to online classes. There are already a number of platforms where people can sign up and find a tutoring gig.
A great example of a tutoring job is teaching language online. If you apply to work for Preply.com, all you really need is knowledge and expertise in a specific language. Apart from English, they have teachers offering Spanish, French, German, and Italian language classes.
Content Writer
If you have experience or skills in writing, or if you’re a fresh graduate who is used to churning out papers on a weekly basis, then content writing might be the perfect side hustle for you. As a content writer, you’ll do a variety of web content for companies spanning different industries.
To launch your writing career, it may be a great time to put together your previous works that can reflect your skills, as some companies do look for a portfolio in order to apply.
Graphic Designer
If you have a keen eye for the arts and are passionate about creating graphics, there are a lot of websites and platforms out there to help you monetize graphic design skills. Who knows you could be designing website banners or infomercials for multinational corporations!
Just like content writing, putting together a portfolio would be your first step if you want to enter this kind of side hustle.
Ride-share Driver
Now, not all the best side hustles out there are online or internet-related. There are still some that you can do outside your home, more so on your way home, or to work or anywhere really.
Ride-share applications have been godsent for people who want to economize on their transportation costs.
Earnings from ride-sharing depend on the application that you will sign up for and the type of service and vehicle you can offer. On estimate, if a driver works 15 hours a week then they will earn somewhere near 17$ an hour. Not bad if you’re just sitting at home, or on your way back home and not in a hurry!
Virtual Assistant
As baffling as it may sound for those who have worked all their life inside an office, yes, a virtual assistant is a real job. With a lot of people shifting to a work-from-home setup, the line between work and home has been a blur, and most desk job workers who are now at home might need an extra hand.
Virtual assistants are no different from your “normal” assistants in the office. Being a “VA” entails doing a lot of tasks, from answering emails and entertaining clients to booking hotels and flights and even ordering groceries. You’re essentially being your boss’ assistant from the comforts of your own home or workspace.
Overall, if you’re looking into getting a side job or joining the hustle culture, all you need is a huge trove of skills up your sleeve, as there are a lot of companies just waiting for you to lend your hand. Go and try these side jobs out!