Everything’s a whole lot more expensive
without a scholarship. If you weren’t a wiz kid during your younger years, you
probably didn’t land a big scholarship that would help you pay for school and
offset your living expenses. As a college student, it’s hard to go out and find
a high paying job while devoting so much of your time and energy towards
college classes. Don’t feel discouraged. There are several simple ways that
students can make some money to pay for books and food that’s more nutritious
than instant noodles.
1. Tutoring
If you’re strong in a particular subject, start
tutoring it. You can start by tutoring students you attend college with or
tutor people anywhere in the world via the internet. You can tutor people in
academic subjects, or even help them develop other skills. If you’re an
excellent web designer, you can teach people your trade. Almost any knowledge
you have can be passed on to someone else for a profit. If you don’t have time
to provide live tutoring sessions, you can create and sell (or monetize)
tutorial video content to help others learn from you.
2. Freelance Writing
The gig
economy and the sharing economy have changed the way a lot of people work.
Freelancing is on the rise, and you can freelance too. Freelance writing is one
of the easiest jobs a college student can do. You’re already
used to writing papers and being held to a high standard. Think about what
you do for class every day, and start doing it for money. You can write
academic papers, advertising copy, or blog posts. If you’re good at it, you can
make as much as you would from a secure full time job.
3. Social Media Jobs
Brands love to hire college students to
manage their social media profiles. They want younger people who are familiar
with social media platforms and the kinds of technology used to keep them
running. One of the best things about social media jobs is that they’re
relatively easy to find. Businesses post openings on job boards all the time – you don’t
need to know someone who works at the company to land a position running their
Facebook or Instagram accounts.
4. Teaching English
The world can’t have enough English
teachers. In countries where English is not the primary language, it’s usually
one of the most popular secondary languages. People with international
businesses looking to expand and people who want excellent job opportunities
with those businesses need an English teacher. Some companies even help you
relocate abroad if you have a knack for teaching your native language. If you
want to travel
for your semester off, you might be able to do it for free if you’ve
developed an excellent reputation teaching English. You can do it from the
comfort of your own desk if school has you stuck in your home country.
5. Transcribing
Transcribing might come as second nature to
many college students. You’re used to taking notes at a rapid pace while your
educators are imparting knowledge upon you. Do the same thing with audio files
to make a few bucks with your laptop. Businesses often want marketing focus
groups or meetings transcribed. Video content creators are always looking for
people to transcribe their content for captions that assist the hearing
impaired. If you’re a good listener and a fast typist, you might be surprised
how much you can make.
Though many of the job opportunities are
unconventional, there’s always a way for college students to make enough money
to offset their expenses while they’re working towards building a brighter
career future.
About the author:
Sienna Walker is a staunch supporter of
constant self-improvement, and a great fan of motivational speeches. Having worked as an educator, Sienna
understand the challenges students all over the world face, and often spends
time online, sharing her tips and suggestions with them. Feel free to reach out
to her on @SiennaWalkerS.
