What freelancing can a student do while in school?
From writing and editing to digital marketing, here are 11 answers to, “What freelancing can a student do while in school?”
- Writing and Editing
- Art Commissions
- Book Reviews
- Transcription
- Graphic Design
- Video Editing
- Game Testing
- Virtual Assistants
- Data Entry
- Tutoring
- Digital Marketing
Writing and Editing
As a student, one of the first gigs I picked up was freelance writing. There are plenty of niches you can establish yourself within from SEO content writing to editing essays. This gig highly depends on where your skill set lies, as those who aren’t naturally inclined to the written word may struggle.
However, those who are going to school for marketing, communications, or a similar field will find that freelance writing and editing will complement their studies and look good on any resume. It can even result in giving you samples to use for your portfolio, depending on your career path.
The best way to get started is through an agency or content mill. The pay is often not great to start, but as you build up a portfolio and establish yourself as a writer or editor, you’ll be able to land more highly paid gigs. My favorite thing about freelance writing and editing is the ability to dip into it as a source of side income throughout your career.
Morgan Rash, Content Strategist, She’s Got Plans
Art Commissions
Taking on art commissions is a great freelancing option for creative students because it can be done in their free time without interfering with school. When people commission artwork like a sketch of their pet or a portrait of a loved one, they can use the money to pay off bills or save up for school. Moreover, students can open or close their commissions whenever they want, so it’s a great way to make money while in school.
Damar Kusumawardani, Writer, Explainerd
Book Reviews
Offering a book reviewing service while in school is an ideal form of freelancing. The venture is both lucrative and highly beneficial to a student’s literacy health. The student gets to explore new content and learn new information, all while earning from the reviews they give of the books provided. It’s a venture which doesn’t demand too much from the student in that the student can comfortably balance between studying and book reviewing.
Yongming Song, CEO, Live Polls
Transcription
Transcription can be a good fit for school students. This often involves turning audio recordings into written transcriptions. Transcriptionists are responsible for transcribing accurate data and providing relevant high-quality results every time they work.
Consider freelance transcriptionists as a profession if you have an affinity for learning, have a strong command of grammar, and are interested in a wide variety of topics. As a transcriptionist, you’ll likely find that paying attention to detail will help improve your knowledge of how to use different style formats.
One of the best benefits of being a transcriptionist is that you are in control and decide how much or how little you work. According to PayScale, the salary for a transcriptionist is $16.59 per hour.
Mahesh Kumar, Spokesperson, Transcription Certification Institute
Graphic Design
Students who are studying graphic design can easily start freelancing while they’re in school. There are many social media agencies that are looking for graphic designers to create enticing visuals for Instagram or Facebook. They can use their skills to freelance part-time while attending school full-time. It’s a great opportunity that they can add to their resume or bulk up their portfolio before they graduate.
Randee Machina, Director of Marketing, Simpli Pleasures
Video Editing
One freelance job a student can do while in school is in video editing. All that’s required to get started is to download and learn how to use premiere pro, master editing on the software and edit peoples videos in your free time. This is a great skill to have later for anyone looking to be a content creator. It’s also a job that’s in constant demand, with sites like Fiverr that make conducting business smooth for Freelancers.
Lionel Mora, CEO, Neoplants
Game Testing
Various communities allow freelancers to earn decent money by testing their games. It seems a perfect career choice for a student while in school. No fixed-time schedule and remote work make it possible to combine freelancing alongside earning an education. What’s more, the tasks involved are exciting, so you’re unlikely to experience a professional burnout.
Many students play online games in their free time, anyway. Why not monetize the hobby, then? Last, but not least. Game testing sounds fun, but it’s also a solid and needed job in the digital era.
Agata Szczepanek, Community Manager, LiveCareer
Virtual Assistants
For students, there are numerous benefits to working as a virtual assistant, including flexible working hours and low-cost but important service. Virtual assistants have the advantage of being able to work from anywhere and on their schedule. You can deal with small firms, clients, and entrepreneurs while having the option of firing any client you don’t like. The only things required are a laptop, internet, and a phone.
This profession has several career opportunities and a diverse range of activities. The specific responsibility is to keep the task, duties, assignments, and some common obligations up to date. It has limitless earning potential, and you can set your rate and pick whether you want to work for hourly wages or a salary.
Janie Doyle, Marketing Director, SC Vehicle Hire
Data Entry
We can’t pretend there’s an exciting world of data entry to be had no matter where you fall in your professional career, but this can still be a great job for a student. The reason is actually quite simple; it’s unexciting. A data entry job will most likely be asking for a chunk of your time and attention, but not often your creativity or critical thinking skills.
While that can be monotonous, it frees up your thinking power for your school work. You run much less risk of running dry of your creative juices if you don’t need to part with them for work. So, while data entry may not be the most exciting job, it makes for an excellent job for those who need to spare their more complex thinking for class work.
Neel Shah, Founder, EZ Newswire
Tutoring
One freelancing activity that a student can do while in school is to offer tutoring or teaching services in a subject area where they excel. Many students have a strong background in particular subjects, such as math, science, or a foreign language, and can use their knowledge and expertise to help others who are struggling or looking to improve their skills in these areas.
Tutoring or teaching can be a flexible and rewarding way for a student to earn money on their own schedule, and it can also be a valuable experience that helps them develop their communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities. Additionally, offering tutoring or teaching services can be a great way for a student to build their portfolio, gain references, and make connections that can benefit their future career prospects.
Mfon Ekene, Team Lead, TargetTrend
Digital Marketing
Social Media Marketing is a great way to freelance while in school. Many companies with more traditional marketing methods are not taking advantage of social media. And many students are in their prime when it comes to knowing the ins and outs of posting on social media.
Whether you go door to door asking companies if they need help managing their social presence, or you use a freelancing website like Upwork, there are a ton of opportunities to help with a company’s online presence and social profiles even with very limited corporate experience.
Kristina Ramos, Reverse Recruiter, Find My Profession
Submit Your Answer
Would you like to submit an alternate answer to the question, What freelancing can a student do while in school?