For virtually all of us, having a second income can be a good thing. Here we suggest five jobs that can be done almost exclusively online.
In most countries, and especially in the Caribbean, our incomes have not kept pace with the increase cost of living. As a result, it can be difficult to make ends meet, and if we can, our incomes are just covering the basics. There little left over for discretionary spending (for the odd splurge!), investing, or saving.
Unfortunately, things are unlikely to get better anytime soon, and so the onus is on us to improve our situation. Although the most desirable option is to try to secure a better paying job, we are competing with everyone else, for which this is also their go-to option! An alternative would be to secure a job on the side, to help improve our financial situation. We recommend five.
However, having worked at our main job, which might demand lengthy, or time-consuming, commutes and working for a fixed number of hours per day, or week, for the side hustles we are proposing, flexibility is a crucial consideration. The jobs can be executed from the comfort of your home, and to a considerable degree, we can control when, and at what times, they are performed.
1. Online tutor
Evidenced by the number of tutoring services available to help Caribbean students prepare for Common Entrance, the Grade Six Achievement Test, and the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate examinations, tutoring can be a lucrative business. Further, for people who are studying part-time or remotely, they might be eager for the added discipline and support that an online tutor can provide.
The sessions can be one-or-one, or for small groups, and may not require any sophisticated equipment or software. For example, a platform such as Skype could be used. However, even before advertising your services, it is important to be honest about your proficiency in the subject area in which you intend to offer your services.
2. Virtual assistant
For entrepreneurs and small business owners, who frequently have more on their plate than just managing their business, and are continually juggling cost and resources, having a virtual assistant can be invaluable. A virtual assistant can help by taking over some of the administrative tasks that can be quite time-consuming, such as basic book-keeping, attending to simple correspondence, and schedule/calendar management, thereby freeing us the owners’ time for more important activities that will grow their business.
The virtual assistant can decide to joggle multiple clients, who pay for an agreed number of hours of service, such as four, eight or 10 hours a week. Hence depending on how the business is arranged, it is again possible to do it on a flexible schedule.
3. Freelance writer
With websites, blogs and social media continuing to be on the upsurge, businesses are struggling to keep up with the content they need to generate to keep those platforms current and relevant. As a result, the thrust has been to outsource those requirements to those who can better create effective content more efficiently.
To be clear, to seriously consider being a freelance writer, you ought to be a competent and experienced writer. It is also important to be clear about the types of content and/or subject areas on which you feel comfortable writing, so again, the content can be generated efficiently, and be relevant to the clients’ needs.
4. Customer service representative
Similar to the virtual assistant sphere, and due to the fact that companies have been downsizing on their physical footprint, increasingly, they are embracing remote work, for which certain positions, such as customer service representatives, can be well suited. Additionally, and depending on the industry, some businesses are looking for experienced or more mature individuals to provide the needed support services – not the usual 18 to 24 year olds who typically, end up working in call centres.
5. Graphic designer and website developer
Similar to freelance writing, you ought to possess the skills to market yourself as a graphic designer and/or a website developer, and be clear about your areas of expertise. Further, you would need to have access to the requisite software and platforms, in order to execute the projects secured.
Again, there is a lot of work available, as more businesses and individuals seek to establish a presence online, and develop graphics that represent their brand. Additionally, many businesses cannot afford to hire website and graphic designers full time; hence this an area that is frequently outsourced to freelancers, who in turn can pick the projects they want to work on, set their hours, and their price.
Image credit: Negative Space (Pexels)
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