By Cara Siera
Working while going to university presents challenges, such as juggling class and work schedules, homework, projects, reports, sports, and extracurricular activities. However, for many students, having at least a part-time income is essential.
If you’re wondering where to look for a job with the flexibility you need as a student, this list was tailor-made for you. It includes many online jobs for students, as well as in-person jobs that can be done on your own schedule.
- Tutoring
As one currently being taught, a job teaching others is a natural fit. Ask university staff, or go to the academic support centre or student support services to find out if your school has any openings for tutors.
You can also tutor online. Cambly is an ideal platform if you haven’t yet obtained a bachelor’s degree. Often, native English speakers are needed to tutor adults or children in other countries. If you work with students in Asia or South America, for example, the time difference will allow you to do your tutoring in the early morning or evening, not interrupting your class schedule.
Tutoring also offers added benefits. It’s often been said that one of the best ways to know if you’ve mastered a subject is to teach it to someone else. If you can’t explain a concept simply, it may reveal a need to go back and study it yourself. The repetition of teaching another also sounds concepts deeply into your memory.
- Freelance Writing
You’re likely writing every day as a student—why not put those skills to work for you? Platforms like Textbroker can connect you with businesses in need of a content writer. You can also create your own website and work directly with clients.
- Photography
If you have a camera, photography can be a good option. Advertise event or portrait photography on social media. Contact local estate agents to inquire about their need for house staging and real estate photography. Ask local restaurants about food photography needs, or use websites like Ocus to access food photo shoots for Just Eat and Uber Eats. Sometimes, you even get to bring home the food!
- Graphic or Web Design
If your university training involves graphic design or web design, put those skills to work by freelancing. Websites like Fiverr can help you find clients, but social media, personal websites, and word-of-mouth advertising are also valuable.
- Pet Sitting
If you love animals, you might be able to make some extra money pet sitting or dog walking. During the week when you have class, schedule pet check-ins or walks in the morning or evening. On weekends, you may be able to house sit while watching the pets.
If you hope to travel during university holidays, house sitting can be a great way to score free accommodations. Signing up for Trusted House Sitters incurs a small fee, but you’ll gain access to pet sits around the world where you can stay at the residence for days, weeks, or months, caring for fur babies while the family is away. You don’t get paid per se, but the savings on accommodations can more than make up for it.
- Social Media Influencer
If you’ve already got a strong social media presence, you might try social media marketing. Many companies will pay for user-generated content (UGC) about their products. Reach out to companies you’re interested in, or use a platform like Stack Influence to help you get started.
You can also consider social media management—creating posts for another person’s or company’s social media accounts.
- Delivery Driver
If you own a car—or even a bike or scooter—consider working as a food and restaurant delivery driver. Platforms like Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat allow you to pick up delivery drops when it’s convenient for you.
- Event Staff
If there’s a stadium or other venue near you, consider working with the event staff. Events are usually held in the evenings or on weekends, so they won’t interfere with class. You might even get to see some of your favourite musicians or sports stars!
- Library Assistant
Working at the university library can be ideal because it’s right on campus. Your superiors will be willing to schedule work around your class schedule, and you might even find quiet moments for research or study between shelving books and assisting library patrons.
- Canine Yard Cleanup
It’s not glamorous work, but removing dog droppings from residential backyards can be lucrative and work around your schedule. Overhead is low—all you’ll need is a scooper and rubbish bags. Look for clients located close together so you can make the most of your time on the weekend or after class.
Key Takeaways
There are so many options for online or in-person part-time work for students. You can even mix and match, trying different jobs until you find what works best for you. If none of these is a perfect fit, apply the principles of coursework-related work and workspaces that are close by to find something that is.
