A side hustle in college never hurt anyone, and if you have the time for it, it can be remarkably beneficial. A little extra money can go towards your 7 a.m. coffees, drinks, or school supplies. Whatever you want to use the money for, it’s going to feel good to stop saying “I can’t, I don’t have enough money.” Below, we are going to talk about the best tips for making a little money on the side that are all legal and all attainable. You don’t have to go through college broke — let’s dive in so you can get some inspiration and start making some money.
Become a Teaching Assistant (TA)
Many intro-level classes and gen-ed classes have TA’s, so chances are good that you’ve had a TA. Teacher’s assistants help the professor during class, help students with assignments outside of class, and may even be tasked with teaching the class entirely (although this is typically reserved for graduate or PhD students).
Becoming a TA is a great way to get hands-on experience with teaching and the daily life of a professor. It can be great if you have a little extra time on your hands, as it does come with some time-consuming requirements, like grading worksheets or papers and helping build class lesson plans. If you are considering a job in academia, a TA position is great for showing you what life is like “behind the scenes.” In some cases, you can even get class credit for being a TA.
In order to get a TA position, however, it is best if you have some kind of relationship with the professor or have at least taken the class you will be TA-ing for (or at least know the subject matter extremely well). The best way to become a TA is to directly contact the professor you want to TA for and explain your qualifications as well as the value you will bring to the class.
Take Surveys Online and Get Paid for Them
Answering surveys from various paying survey sites is something that anyone can try. There are no qualifications to get started on these paying sites and usually the only thing you have to do is take a survey or share some feedback about new services or products.
All you need to do to get started is make an account or build a profile that lists your expertise and interests and the site can match you to surveys that fit you best. Your compensation may vary depending on the rates of the survey site and the total surveys you have completed with a period of time. These sites offer cash, gift cards, rewards, and other kinds of freebies. Before building a profile on any site, though, it is crucial that you read reviews first so you avoid scams.
Start a Blog or Website
If you really want to make money online, then you should definitely consider starting a blog or website. This will be your home-base for everything that you do online, and it, by itself, can turn into a profitable venture. To start, you’ll have to get a domain and webhosting for your site, one of the most popular being WordPress, which can be extremely cheap — less than $5 a month. You’ll have to get familiar with WordPress, or whatever site you end up choosing, and choose a theme for your site. This can be a lot of fun, but also take the most time.
The next step is creating the key pages that all websites must have, like a contact page, about page, resume, portfolio, blog, social media profiles page, press mentions (if applicable), and a “hire me” page, although this works best if you are looking for clients.
Once you have the essentials done, you are good to start writing blogs or creating ads that bring potential clients back to your site!
Work the Dorm Front Desk
If your university or college is large, then the dorms probably have a front desk where students can get their packages, report issues with their rooms, and get let into the building if they get locked out. Someone has to be at the desk 24/7, so there are usually plenty of jobs available. Working at the front desk can be great for getting your foot in the door if you want to be an RA.
There are no special qualifications for this job, although good people skills, and perhaps the ability to remain calm under pressure, are helpful. You will also have to be able to deal with long hours of sitting around and waiting for something to happen. While there will be responsibilities, it can be a laid-back job and give you time to get homework done, as long as you remain alert and help students promptly.
Become a Campus Tour Guide
If you’re outgoing, love to meet new people, and are passionate about your school, then consider becoming a campus tour guide. You’ll get to show prospective students around campus and tell them what you love about the school! You’ll probably even be able to tell a few funny stories (as long as they are appropriate, however).
Admissions officers also often need extra help with fielding queries from students and their families — it’s a great way to share your experience with other students looking to follow in your footsteps.
Off-Campus Jobs
Cafes or Restaurants
If you live in a college town or city, then the chances are good that there are many establishments or businesses that love to hire students and make a point to. Look for restaurants or cafes that allow you to maintain a flexible schedule and other jobs that provide hourly wages and tips.
Ridesharing
If you have a reliable car, you can also pick up jobs through sites like Uber and Lyft to make a little extra money in college. Typically, you’ll work as an independent contractor and have the freedom to set your own schedule. Plus, you can pick up extra hours during evenings and weekends when you aren’t in class.
Get an Internship
Consider doing an internship while you’re still in school, and make sure it’s a paid internship. An internship is a great way for you to build up your resume and gain work experience, which will enable you to have a competitive advantage when graduating from college and entering the workforce. Internships can sometimes lead to permanent positions post-graduation!
We hope you found this article helpful, and that you feel inspired to look for more opportunities on your own! Upper Crust Food Service is passionate about all-things college-related. If you would like to learn more about our college catering services, then reach out today! Our team provides fun, fresh, and nutritious meal plans for fraternities and sororities all over the country, and we would love to provide your organization with tasty meal plans too! Give us a call today to learn more.