Fifteen Part-Time Jobs While Completing Your Degree

Here are 15 jobs worth checking out:

• Web Designer: If you have design skills, you can work part-time as a freelancer or with a company in need of someone with your skills. The average web designer can make $20 – $100 per hour based on experience and skillset, and freelancing often lets you work where you want, and when you want, so you can work around school.

• Social Media Expert: Nearly every business has some kind of social media strategy, and if they don’t, they’re probably looking for someone to come up with one. You don’t have to have a degree in communications in order to run Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook accounts like a pro (but those degrees will come in handy eventually!). You also have an advantage others may not — you’re young and understand how social media works!

• Social Media Influencer: This is a relatively new category that students can tap into and potentially make good money doing. Influencers know how to grow social media followers and can rake in thousands per month when they partner with the right companies. Keeping an influential social account alive for the next ten years might not be feasible, but building one from the ground up may show future recruiters that you’re a true entrepreneur.

• Banking Advisor: If you’re looking for a way to demonstrate your people skills while also moving toward a career in banking or finance, consider applying for a part-time banking advisor position. You’ll handle customer relations, develop problem-solving expertise, enjoy great benefits, and work in a team-oriented environment.

• Translator: Can you speak more than one language fluently? If you’re linguistically gifted, you can find work with companies, individuals, startups, and even publishing houses. And similar to web designing, you may also have the freedom to work from home on your own schedule. In Quebec, you will need to obtain a certificate from the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council, which you can obtain by enrolling in the “Certification by Mentorship” program (a 6-month internship with a seasoned translator) or by demonstrating two-years of translation experience.

• Digital Marketing: A number of companies seek and hire entry-level marketing experts to help with content strategy, client relations, and overall marketing tactics. If you think you’d like to try a career in marketing, working with a small company as a digital marketer may be a great way to get your foot in the door.

• Personal Assistant: Are you detail-oriented or have a knack for filing, sorting, and scheduling? Authors, CEOs, celebrities, and other busy professionals often hire personal assistants to help with day-to-day logistics. This might also be a part-time job that you can do from the comfort of your couch or local cafe, and can get you in the door in the professional world. At the very least, you might get a high-profile reference out of it.

• Research Assistant: Writers, journalists, authors, academics, and companies all hire researchers. If you can demonstrate your research skills, and enjoy spending time scrolling through journal articles, this might be a great part-time option that can turn into a full-time career.

• Tutor or Classroom Assistant: Thinking about a career in education? Not sure if working with kids is a good fit for you? Consider picking up a part-time job at a tutoring center, day-care, or nearby school.

• Event Planner/Fundraiser: Those with the gift of gab or fundraising skills can often find part-time work raising funds for schools, charities, and organizations. This job requires a lot of talking, outgoingness, and time on the phone, but it can turn into a very lucrative career if you happen to have great communication skills and a personality that shines.

• Team or Youth Counsellor: Spending time working with kids cam help you develop emotional intelligence skills like problem-solving, creativity, and flexibility — a good fit if you’re considering a career in social work. The Emploi Quebec website lists various places that hire student interns, and some charities such as Fusion Jeunesse offer employment options for undergrads.

• Personal Trainer: If you have a few extra hours and a penchant for fitness, you can take a personal training course online in your spare time and start working part-time with clients at a local gym. Not only will you gain a certification that you can use at any point in your life, but you’ll also quickly discern whether or not you want to work in a gym environment.

• Nanny: Becoming a nanny (or manny) can help you develop your skills and make money if you’re considering a career in childcare. A number of student nannies go on to study pediatrics, work in preschools, or join other kid-centric careers.

• Dental Assistant: Are you curious about working in a dental office? While there is no regulation in Quebec for dental assistants, most job opportunities require the completion of a certification program in addition to job experience. Obtaining an internship with a dentist may give you a head start.

• Medical Assistant: Before you jump into medical school (which takes a considerable amount of time, money, and education), consider spending some time working in a hospital or doctor’s office as a medical assistant. You may find that the life of a doctor isn’t for you, but you might also love everything about helping people in need of medical attention.

A recent LinkedIn poll found that the top three non-technical skills companies look for are leadership, communication, and collaboration. These are all skills that you can develop by picking up a part-time job aligned with your career aspirations — and they’re great life skills to develop anyway. You’ll also gain a steady salary to help pay for your studies and grow your professional network while starting to build a stellar résumé.

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