The USA is a land of opportunity – but sometimes it’s an opportunity we have to go looking for, with significant emphasis on ‘have’ given the current state of the economy. More and more Americans are taking on second jobs, whether to help afford the basics or to drum up a little extra spending money.
If you haven’t already considered it, the new year could be a good time for you to jump on the side hustle bandwagon, making extra money and building on something you love in the process. But what might your options be?
Copywriter
It is many people’s dream to become a writer – though that dream tends to revolve around the writing of a masterpiece novel. Still, it is possible to make writing pay. Not only that, but it is possible to make writing pay from home, too. Copywriters are always in high demand, between private clients looking for ghostwriters and ad agencies looking for help with digital outreach. A portfolio and appropriate resume can go a long way to helping you secure these gigs, but all you need is a handful of good writing samples to get started!
Graphic Designer
If words aren’t quite your thing, you might instead have a penchant for the visual. Even if you don’t have a formal qualification in art or graphic design, you could seek to monetize your eye for visual detail as a freelance graphic designer. Sites like Behance are a great place to build a digital portfolio of your work, while many sites offer you the opportunity to advertise your services on a gig-by-gig basis.
Handyman
Of course, there is nothing to say that your side hustles need to remain in the digital sphere. Indeed, you might be looking for an opportunity or excuse to stretch your legs and get some much-needed exercise outside of your traditional 9-5. Landscaping work can be a thankless task but can pay very well – particularly if you are both handy and green-fingered. Many will also pay handsomely for carpentry work if only to avoid doing it themselves!
To get started, you first need access to a solid set of tools and equipment. A larger supplier like RS Americas will have everything you need to get started, reducing set-up time significantly. From here, you would start with small jobs to build a portfolio – and build some positive word-of-mouth buzz, too. Before you know it you’ll be cutting your work hours to take more lucrative handy work on.
Courier
For those less willing to create their side hustle empire from scratch, there is a much simpler way to make a little extra scratch: couriering. The explosive success of gig economy platforms like Uber has revivified once-niche professions such as couriering. Now, simply activating a rider account with a food delivery or couriering app can allow you to access jobs at your leisure – giving you infrastructure and access to clients without needing to worry about losing your freedom in the process.
