Let’s be real: it’s difficult to make ends meet right now. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve had to adjust in ways that prevent us from living much more comfortably. This is for the students: those currently in school who want to take up more responsibility, develop new skills, and earn some cash on the side.
There are all kinds of different ways for students to make money. In this article, I’ll be outlining some job positions that both high school and college students can try out. There will also be different links to websites and platforms that you can try out to see what field fits you best!
Here are 16 ways for students to make money:
How can students make money?
Become a freelancer
Freelancing is a career path that can be pursued by anyone. It’s when you provide your services to any business or company without being employed under their name. There are all kinds of types of freelancers, and all kinds of platforms that will help you land jobs.
- Freelance writer
A freelance writer is someone who makes different types of content for employers. If you have a passion or some experience in writing, you can try it out! This is one of the most common ways for college students to make money.
Freelance writers are especially in demand in the digital age. Companies are usually looking for article writers for different topics; copywriters who help create advertisements; and ghostwriters to create lengthier content. This doesn’t even begin to cover the topics that you can write about.
- Freelance graphic designer
If there are freelance writers, there are also freelance graphic designers who jazz up the digital platforms companies have. Freelance graphic designers make all kinds of creative original content. These can range from logos, posters, publicity materials, videos, animations, and more.
The content will have to reflect the company’s visions and branding, so there will be a lot of communication involved to satisfy the employer. However, if you play your cards right, you can make a lot of money fast, even if you’re just a student.
- Freelance virtual assistant
Say that you’re not that experienced in writing or creating visual content. That’s alright! If you’re better at organization, administrative work, and you’re fond of talking to other people, you can try becoming a freelance virtual assistant!
A virtual assistant is someone who helps executives or employees with different tasks. These usually include writing and sending emails, scheduling meetings, organizing documents, and more. There are different virtual jobs that require particular skills. Usually, this is needed for law firms, medical clinics or companies, and the like. But generally, once you have a feel of what tasks to do, becoming a freelance virtual assistant is a smart way to start making money as a student.
Before becoming a virtual assistant, workshops and trainings are usually provided to ensure that you are ready to handle the tasks that the company will be handing over.
- Freelance transcriber
A transcriber basically turns audio content into written text. This is usually used to caption videos, read out speeches, or document important events. Transcribing is a straightforward job, but it requires skills in the listening and typing department. If you want to become a transcriber, you’ll most likely be required to have good to excellent typing skill, which is measured by WPM (words per minute).
Just like freelance writing, certain employers may also be looking for transcribers who have experience in the field of law, medicine, finance, and the like.
- Freelance editor and proofreader
If you want to separate yourself from writing, but you still have the skills of a seasoned writer, you can try being a freelance editor and proofreader. Instead of writing content, you can polish other people’s works.
Besides knowing your way around grammar and syntax, it’s also good if you have experience critiquing written content.
There are so many sites that are dedicated for freelancers. The best ones to start on are Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer.com, and Flexjobs. These sites have different systems for helping you land jobs and connect with employers. Be sure to check out reviews of each site and decide what works best for you.
Do easy tasks online
If you’re not into freelancing, there are sites that focus on paying you to do microtasks such as identifying photos and tracing patterns. The pay is relatively smaller, but if you’re consistent with your work, you can make money, even while in college. You can use websites likes Remotasks and Microworkers to get started.
Complete paid surveys and browse the internet
This is another famous way for students to make money. Sites like Swagbucks and Toluna offer you money to complete surveys for different companies. Besides cash, these platforms also pay through gift vouchers to your favorite websites and shops.
Find a part-time job
If you want to stray away from online methods of making money, try looking for job openings at your local restaurants, cafes, and retail stores. Even as a high school student, shoot your shot and try to land a position as an employee.
Be sure to prepare a resume before applying to any company or business. Dedicate yourself to the trainings that will prepare you for the job.
Become a tutor
Some of your fellow schoolmates may need help with their homework. If you’re excellent at your studies, consider becoming a tutor to make some money. You can assist in giving them practice exams and teaching them different lessons to guide them through their topics.
Become a dogsitter or babysitter
Fond of taking care of babies or pets? Try starting a dogsitting or babysitting service! For a certain price, people can pay you to take care of their loved ones for a certain amount of time. Dogsitting will require you to go on a lot of walks. Babysitting requires a bit more interaction and work with cleaning diapers, playing with them, and even watching videos or TV.
This is a good way to introduce a stable income into your life because you’ll be able to set a schedule with your clients.
Start your own business
Becoming an entrepreneur and business owner is a dream for many people. As young as you may be now, it’s good to start developing and applying those business-savvy skills to make money while in school or college.
- Start your own bakeshop
Baked goods are the way to everyone’s heart. If you’re fond of baking cookies, cakes, and other kinds of desserts or pastries, you can consider starting your own baking business.
You can sell and deliver your goods through online orders, or you can sell them right outside your doorstep!
- Sell your old clothing
Along with food, clothing and style is other fundamental part of life. If you’re a fashionista, or you simply have a lot of clothes, you can sell your clothes to other people.
There are platforms like Depop, Poshmark, and even Etsy, where you can sell your second-hand clothing. If you like making clothing or accessories as well, you can make a business out of it. - Help out in your family business
If you already come from a family that owns and handles their own business, you can try to take up positions to help out with profits. This can help develop your entrepreneurial skills, while also helping you earn a bit more allowance on the side.
Become a content creator
YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitch: you name it, there’s a famous content creator on it. If you’re passionate about making videos and content about your interests, you can think about posting them online! Through this, you can build a community and make money through sponsorships and brand deals with different companies.
Sell your old textbooks and school supplies
Being a student is costly. In order to study, you will have to buy countless textbooks, school supplies, and learning materials that will end up piling up as you graduate each year. Don’t throw those books and papers away just yet! You can sell them to other students from your school or university for a better price to earn back your money again.
Apply for scholarship money
You don’t have to go through job application after job application to earn money. You can look for different scholarships or programs that will provide you an allowance for doing well in your studies.
Some of these scholarships can also provide you with internship or job opportunities in the future, as long as you maintain your performance in school.
What to know before making money
It’s important to first establish your niche. Figure out what are your best skills and assets, as this will be the key to helping you find a good job opportunity. Remember: you can’t do everything. Establishing your niche will help set you among the rest of your possible competitors.
It’s also important to balance your work and studies. Though it’s very tempting to want to focus on making money, and making money fast, you must be sure to dedicate to your studies equally.
Lastly, remember that making money does not come quickly. Though some of these jobs may require more effort than others, none of them guarantee quick money.
We’ve listed down quite a lot of ways on how you can make money as a student, but feel free to think outside the box. There are so many more ways to make money, so don’t feel limited by your age and knowledge: go for it!
Real ways to make money from home for free
Making money from home for free is a dream many people have. Fortunately, there are several legitimate ways to do so. Here are some of the best options available:
1. Start a Blog – Starting your own blog can be an excellent way to make money from home for free. You don’t need any technical skills or experience; all you need is passion and dedication! With blogging, you can write about anything that interests you and monetize it with affiliate links, adsense revenue, sponsored posts etc.
Also check out these real ways to make money from home for free.
2. Become an Online Tutor – If you’re knowledgeable in certain subjects such as math or science then consider becoming an online tutor! There are plenty of websites out there that offer tutoring services and they often pay quite well too! All you need is a computer with internet access and some teaching experience (not necessarily formal).
3. Freelance Writing – Another great way to make money from home for free is by freelance writing on sites like Upwork or Fiverr where clients post jobs looking for writers who can complete tasks within specific deadlines at competitive rates per word/article/project etc.. This option requires good writing skills but if done right it could be very lucrative indeed!
4 . Take Surveys – Taking surveys online has become increasingly popular over the years as companies look to get feedback on their products & services directly from consumers themselves in order to improve them further down the line . Many survey sites will reward users with points which can later be redeemed into cash rewards , gift cards , coupons & more !
