Online Jobs for College Students: Beginner's Guide

Working is a good way to learn new skills, build connections, and grow your confidence.

Undergraduates who work up to 20 hours a week have higher GPAs than students who don't work at all (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). It can even improve your chances of landing a full-time position after college.

Find out how top jobs (like tutoring, freelance writing, and web development) compare.

1. Online Tutor

Is there a subject you're particularly passionate about? You can share your knowledge by starting your own tutoring business or offering peer tutoring for fellow college students.

Don't limit yourself to just academic topics. You can teach music, art, social media, marketing, fashion - you name it.

What you can earn as an online tutor:

• You usually set your own rates
  
• Online tutors make an average of $12 to $25/hour

How to get started:

1. Market your services on sites like Wyzant or Tutor.com
   
2. Consider creating online courses to sell through Skillshare or Udemy

2. Content Writer

If you're a lover of words, consider freelance writing. Freelancer writers typically work for more than one client and are paid per writing assignment.

You can gain exposure by writing for different websites, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and businesses. Plus, it's pretty cool to see your name in the byline of an article you worked on.

This gig is very flexible and you can make money even if you're studying abroad or visiting family. You don't need a specific degree or credentials, but English/humanities classes are helpful.

Popular types of writing jobs:

• Blog posts
  
• Press releases
  
• SEO
  
• Articles for websites
  
• Website pages
  
• Screenwriting for video games

What you can earn as a content writer:

• About $50 for 500-word articles
  
• Rates depend on subject, word count, subject difficulty, and your experience level
  
• Starting pay ranges $6 - $26/hour

How to get started:

1. Get some writing experience: Check student organizations, local newspapers, and alt-weeklies for freelance submission opportunities
   
2. Build a portfolio: Editors usually like to see at least three published writing samples to make sure you can tell a story
   
3. Pitch story ideas to websites and publications

3. Editor

Do you prefer reviewing articles rather than writing from scratch? You can parlay your shrewd sense of grammar into freelance editing.

Editors work for multiple clients on a project-by-project basis. You're your own boss and manage your schedule and rates.

Here are some of the things you'll do:

• Refine the author's voice
  
• Check facts, spelling, grammar, and punctuation
  
• Review story ideas
  
• Ensure that the material is clear to the audience
  
• Suggest headlines and titles

If you want to stick to just grammar instead of the overall content creation, look for copyediting jobs.

What you can earn as an editor:

• Beginning editors start at $12 - $20/hour
  
• Experienced content editors charge as much as $50 to $85/hour
  
• Experienced editors charge $25-$35/hour
  
• Rates depend on subject, word count, subject difficulty, and your experience level
  
• If you have a retainer deal with a client, you edit a set number of articles every month

How to get started:

1. Edit assignments, cover letters, and resumes for your friends
   
2. Work as an editor for the campus newspaper or literary magazine
   
3. Build a portfolio
   
4. Network and meet editors on LinkedIn and professional organizations (over time, editor friends might send you work that they don't have time to work on)
   
5. To get the basics down, try ProofreadAnywhere to land your first clients and make money while managing your class workload

4. Social Media Manager

Do you spend all your free time on Pinterest or Instagram? You can put your social media savvy to good use.

Most businesses know nothing about Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter, so they may hire you to engage with customers, build brand awareness, and increase sales.

If you can effectively manage a business' social media presence, you'll make decent money in this role.

You're in charge of:

• Creating content
  
• Scheduling shareable posts
  
• Running ads
  
• Engaging with followers
  
• Managing partnerships
  
• Promoting deals

The hours and tasks are usually pretty flexible. So you'll still be able to stay on top of extracurriculars and school as you work.

What you can earn as a social media manager:

• Social media freelancers earn $15 - $20/hour depending on experience

How to get started:

1. Understand how to use all the major social media platforms on "Business" or "Pro" accounts
   
2. If you're an expert on one particular platform, you can offer services as a specialist
   
3. Take communications or marketing courses
   
4. Build an online portfolio (focus on visual work, ad campaigns, blog content examples, and include any increases in sales)
   
5. Reach out to local businesses you already frequent (such as yoga studios, coffee shops, boutiques, and restaurants)
   
6. Post your services on Upwork, Flexjobs and Fiverr

5. Graphic Designer

If the visual side of marketing and advertising appeals to you, moonlight as a graphic designer.

Designers develop the overall look and production for advertisements, websites, and magazines.

Some of the things you'll work on:

• Emails
  
• Logos
  
• Digital banners
  
• Web pages
  
• Workbooks
  
• Retail windows and signage
  
• Business cards
  
• Flyers

What you can earn as a graphic designer:

• Newbies will likely start at $15/hour
  
• Intermediate graphic designers earn an average of $30/hour
  
• Can be more lucrative to bill by project instead of hour

How to get started:

1. You don't need a degree in graphic design, but you should know Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Spark like the back of your hand
   
2. Build a portfolio or website to showcase work samples
   
3. Advertise your services on 99designs, Upwork, Flexjobs and Fiverr
   
4. If you're new to graphic design but want to learn more, check out courses on LinkedIn and Skillshare

6. Web Developer

Web developers can have a variety of duties: They create and test websites for small businesses, work with graphic designers, and troubleshoot website problems, for example.

What you can earn as a web developer:

• Starting pay for web developers is $22 - $30/hour
  
• More lucrative to bill by project instead of hour (for example, charge a flat $500 for a WordPress site instead of hourly if it takes you 4 hours to create it)

How to get started:

1. Be proficient in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP and have experience in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
   
2. Build a portfolio (you can start by building free websites for friends)
   
3. Check out these job portals:
   
   • LinkedIn
     
   • StackOverflow
     
   • GitHub
     
   • CyberCoders

7. Video Editor

Video content is popular and makes up 80% of all internet traffic. If you know how to use footage, sound, and graphics to tell a story, you can get in on this.

Typical responsibilities:

• Manipulative and edit film pieces seamlessly
  
• Trim footage and put together the sequence of the video
  
• Integrate music, dialogues graphic, and effects
  
• Create rough and final cuts

What you can earn as a video editor:

• Beginners charge $20-$45/hour
  
• Professional video editing rates range from $75 to $150/hour
  
• Rates depend on your location and level of experience

How to get started:

1. Be proficient in editing tools such as Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, and After Effects
   
2. Build a portfolio (include free work for friends and family or personal short films)
   
3. Understand timing and continuity
   
4. Post your services on freelance sites like Upwork, Flexjobs and Fiverr

8. Photographer

Got an artistic eye and technical abilities? There are plenty of job opportunities for skilled photographers.

Photographers take pictures of people, places, landscapes, food, and more. They also often work weddings and other special events or sell their photos to commercial clients.

What you can earn as a photographer:

• Beginners make about $15/hour
  
• More experienced photographers charge around $25/hour
  
• Rates depend on experience, skill, and editing/post-production services

How to get started:

1. Learn how to take great photos with courses or YouTube videos
   
2. Practice, practice, practice
   
3. Using a professional camera can help (but the iPhone camera is also very high quality)
   
4. Put together a photo portfolio on your website
   
5. Pitch to friends and family and post services on freelance websites

9. Resume Writer

Everyone's thinking about gaining skills and landing internships. If you know how to make a resume stand out, you have a marketable skill.

Most people don't like bragging about themselves, so they'll pay to have someone hype up their work history. To make even more money, offer to optimize LinkedIn profiles and write cover letters.

What you can earn as a resume writer:

• $15-$25/hour

How to get started:

1. Take a course on resume writing and study good examples of professional resumes
   
2. Reach out to friends and classmates and ask them to spread the word
   
3. Apply to resume writing jobs on ResumeEdge and WriterBay

10. Virtual Assistant

Executive or administrative assistant jobs are a great foot-in-the-door to just about any industry.

Some days you'll schedule appointments and respond to emails/phone calls. Other times, you'll tackle business development, social media, and graphic design.

It's a good way to pick up a lot of different skills and learn how a business is run.

What you can earn as a virtual assistant:

• Ranges from $12-$18/hour
  
• For specific skills like email funnels or search engine marketing, you can charge a premium rate

How to get started:

1. Be a rock star with the Microsoft Office suite
   
2. Some knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop is useful
   
3. Have strong communication skills and attention to detail
   
4. If you go the freelance route, create an account on Upwork and Fiverr
   
5. You can also try Indeed, Zirtual, People Per Hour, and VA Networking

11. Audio/Video Transcriptionist

Transcriptionists listen to videos, podcasts, and audio recordings and convert them into text. You can work as much or as little as you please, all while being remote. The work itself is pretty easy but it requires a lot of attention to detail.

Video captioning requires a bit more skill as you have to sync the text with the audio frame.

What you can earn as a transcriber:

• Beginning transcriptionists start at $15/hour
  
• Advanced transcriptionists make around $25-$30/hour
  
• On Rev, most seasoned transcriptionists make about $1,495/month

How to get started:

1. Strong listening skills and ability to type accurately and quickly
   
2. Go to TranscribeMe, Rev, Scribie, Typists and TigerFish
   
3. Check general freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr
   
4. Job board sites like Rev require a transcription assessment before starting any work
   
5. Transcribe Anywhere also offers online courses on how to start a successful business as a newbie

12. Teach English

There's a global demand for English teachers. For example, VIPKid matches Chinese students and teachers with one-on-one personalized English lessons.

In many cases, you don't need to be a certified teacher to make money. Most platforms just require that you're a native speaker to start working.

If you want to take this side hustle to the next level, consider getting a TESOL or TEFL certificate to teach English.

TEFL, or Teaching English as a Foreign Language. You learn how to teach English in a country where English is not the primary language. (The most common and popular teaching certificate for people who teach English abroad.)

TESOL, or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. You learn how to teach English to someone whose native language is not English.

What you can earn as an English teacher:

• VIPKid pays an average of $20/hour
  
• Non-certified teachers usually make $15 to $25/hour

How to get started:

1. For flexible hours and a quick way to make money, check out VIPKid
   
2. To be a teacher instead of an online tutor, get the TOSEL or TEFL certificate through an accredited program

13. Teach a Foreign Language

If you're fluent in two or more languages, you have even more opportunities to earn.

Consider teaching a foreign language to English speakers. The most sought-after languages are Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and Arabic.

What you can earn as a foreign language teacher:

• Average rate is $18-$40/hour

How to get started:

1. Be fluent in the language you're teaching
   
2. Check freelance tutor marketplaces like iTalki
   
3. Pitch your services to classmates, friends, and on freelance sites like Fiverr and Upwork

14. Data Entry Clerk

If you're just starting out and don't have much experience, this is a good option.

Data entry clerks maintain databases by entering, compiling, and sorting information. Other duties may include transcribing handwritten paperwork into digital files.

Because you need to review records for accuracy, it helps to be detail-oriented and good with spreadsheets.

What you can earn as a data entry clerk:

• Average rate is $13/hour
  
• You can make double that if you're an Excel expert

How to get started:

1. High school diploma is required
   
2. Skilled in Microsoft Office Word and Excel (the more experience, the better)
   
3. Find work on Dion Data Solutions, Flexjobs, Ziprecruiter and Work At Home Jobs

15. Upload Compilation Videos on YouTube

Don't like being in front of a camera? No worries - you can still make money if you have video editing skills. Many YouTubers make a legit and legal living from compilation videos of existing media.

Once you get enough views, you can make revenue as a YouTube Ads Partner. Basically, you get paid for placing display ads on your channel.

What you can earn as a Youtuber:

• Ad revenue rates depend on the quality of your videos and the popularity of your channel
  
• Create high-quality videos and engage with your audience in the comments section to get more views
  
• Successful channels make thousands of dollars per month off YouTube ads
  
• You can even add in affiliate links to get more revenue

How to get started:

1. Find video footage online labeled with "Creative Commons reuse allowed" in the description field
   
2. Download the footage and add copyright-free music
   
3. Upload to YouTube
   
4. Build your viewership - you need a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months to join the YouTube Ads Partner program
   
5. Set up an AdSense account

16. Become an Influencer

Do you like to share tidbits about your day or teach a skill on social media? With enough followers, you can leverage your personal brand to offer sponsored posts or shares.

In time, you'll get paid for promoting a company's brand or service on your own website or social account.

Depending on your niche, you could focus on cooking, makeup, fashion, and more. For instance, the YouTube channel bestdressed chronicled her thrifted outfits and lifestyle to over 3.1 million subscribers while studying at UCLA.

What you can earn as an influencer:
Payout depends on your channel, popularity, and audience. Instagram influencers generally charge:

• 1 cent = 1 follower
  
• If you have 30,000 followers, you can start your rate at $300 per post or share

How to get started:

1. Find your niche
   
2. Polish multiple social media profiles with a consistent brand
   
3. Consistently post relevant content for your audience
   
4. Engage with your audience
   
5. Pitch your services to brands

17. Flip Amazon Deals

This is one of the more entrepreneurial ideas on the list. You can shop Amazon for cheap and then resell those items online for a profit.

Amazon's Today's Deals page features thousands of products that are up to 60% off for a period of 1 or 2 days.

It's pretty simple once you get the process down.

What you can earn as an Amazon seller:

• Pay depends on product and quantity
  
• If you're good at this, you can make at least a few hundred extra dollars a month

How to get started:

1. Head to Today's Deals on Amazon
   
2. Click on a discount
   
3. Search that same discount on eBay
   
4. Check the selling price
   
5. Copy and paste the photos and description from Amazon to create the same listing on eBay
   
6. Order a few items from the Amazon discount
   
7. Sell to an eBay buyer at a higher price

18. Search Engine Evaluator

Search engines are run by pretty reliable algorithms, but they're not always perfect.

There are a lot of nuances and nitty-gritty details that a computer can't catch. That's why Google needs humans to provide feedback.

The hours are flexible and you don't need to deal with other people. Besides Google, you can work with other search engines like Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo.

What you can earn as a search engine evaluator:

• $14/hour on average

How to get started:

1. High school diploma is required but a college degree is preferred
   
2. Pass qualifications exam
   
3. You should have cultural awareness for the country you're working out of
   
4. Check out Lionbridge

19. Start a Blog

If you're passionate about a specific topic and enjoy writing, consider starting a niche website.

You make money with affiliate marketing, paid advertisements, sponsored posts, and selling their own products or services.

Google AdSense Program can also pay you for displaying ads on your site. The more eyeballs on your site, the more you get paid.

Best of all? The reader even doesn't need to actually click on the ad for you to make money. Display ads are like billboards on the freeway - they focus on brand awareness rather than sales.

What you can earn as a blogger:

• You will start at $0/month for your own blog
  
• Once you have more followers, you can earn money from ad revenue, affiliate links, brand partnerships or your own products
  
• If you blog for other people, the average starting pay is $15/hour

How to get started:

1. Pick a topic or niche
   
2. Decide on a blog name
   
3. Register your blog on a web hosting platform
   
4. Write and publish articles consistently
   
5. Promote your blog and build a following
   
6. Make money with Google AdSense and Affiliate Marketing links

20. Voiceover

Students with a polished speaking voice can apply their talents to any variety of video or audio content.

Companies will hire voiceover artists to narrate audiobooks, documentaries, explainer videos, content for medical, business, and education, or act as audio tour guides.

What you can earn as a voiceover artist:

• Standard rates range between $20 and $300 per recording
  
• Average base pay is around $20/hour

How to get started:

1. Get a pair of headphones, basic microphone, and audio recording software
   
2. Offer your services on freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr

21. Translator

Bilingual (or trilingual) folks can still get paid even if they don't like teaching.

There's no shortage of companies that need freelancers to manage their translation projects. You might translate scripts, instruction manuals, and other documents. Fluent speakers in Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, or Japanese are very desirable.

What you can earn as a translator:

• Average rate is $26/hour
  
• Pay depends on how skilled you are and which languages you know
  
• Gengo pays $0.06 to $0.12 per word

How to get started:

1. Take a few foreign language classes at your university
   
2. College degree in the language you're working in is usually preferred
   
3. To find jobs, check out TextMaster and Gengo

22. PPC Marketer

Pay-per-click (PPC) marketing is everywhere. These ads show up in Google search results, on the side bars of articles, and on social media when you're scrolling Instagram or Facebook.

Creating and managing PPC ads can be a lucrative side job. This work is highly sought after and there's not a lot of qualified people who can do it.

Successful PPC marketers have strong math and analytical skills and are good with spreadsheets.

What you can earn as a PPC marketer:

• Pay can range from $10 to $500/hour

How to get started:

1. Consider taking the Google AdWords certification program
   
2. Pitch your services to local businesses near you and on Upwork and Fiverr

23. Music Producer

Are you inspired by cutting-edge sounds? Is there always a sick beat in your head?

If that's you, try selling your beats online. Many sound libraries pay money to work with music producers. And if your track makes it onto a commercial or TV show, that's a good source of passive income.

What you can earn as a music producer:

• Rates usually range from $25 to $300 per track (not including potential royalties)

How to get started:

1. Learn a DAW / Digital Audio Workstation (many producers work on Pro Tools, Abelton Live, and Logic Pro X.)
   
2. Create a website and SoundCloud account to showcase your music and gain a following
   
3. You can sell your music on your own website, AirBit, SoundCloud, and BeatStars

24. Sell T-Shirt Designs

This opportunity is perfect for artists and writers. If you've created a few clever taglines and designs over the years, you can turn them into T-shirts and make money off of it.

Just upload your original artwork to sell customized apparel to a third-party vendor. Once someone buys your design, the site will handle production and delivery.

What you can earn as a T-shirt designer:

• Pay depends on the platform you sell on
  
• CafePress' payout is 10% of the retail price paid by the buyer
  
• RedBubble's commission rate varies; artists earn an average margin of 17% of the retail price
  
• Zazzle gives designers 15% of the retail price per sale

How to get started:

1. Get a good grasp of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
   
2. Pitch your designs to CafePress, RedBubble, and Zazzle

25. Note Taker

Do you have countless workbooks full of notes from the last semester? Well, your summaries and study guides are worth money.

You can sell these in-depth notes on multiple platforms. This is an easy side hustle because you're getting paid for work you already did.

What you can earn as a notetaker:

• You set the price for each of your study notes on some marketplaces
  
• On StudySoup, the base pay is around $60 per class + commission for each set of notes and review guides you manage to sell

How to get started:

1. Set up an account on StudySoup
   
2. Search for eligible courses
   
3. Upload your notes and/or study guide
   
4. Cash out once you meet a minimum threshold of $50 through PayPal or direct deposit

26. Complete Small Tasks on Clickworker and TaskRabbit

Clickworker lets you work from home whenever you have spare time. For example, you'll get paid for creating or correcting texts, participating in surveys, data entry, proofreading and more. Sign up with your email address and fill out a profile about your skills. Then, you're offered assignments and paid on a weekly or monthly basis.

Do you prefer working with something physical instead of on the computer? Then check out TaskRabbit. You can get paid for completing small tasks like hanging pictures, assembling furniture, mounting TV, organizing closets, and everything in between. It's a flexible job for handy college students.

What you can earn on Clickworker and TaskRabbit:

• Clickworker: You will earn about $8 per hour on average. There is usually enough work available for 4+ hours per day
  
• TaskRabbit: You set your own rates and keep 100% of tips. The platform takes a service fee

How to get started:

1. Sign up at Clickworker. Then you must pass the English language and writing assessments. Better results gets you more jobs
   
2. Register online for TaskRabbit and attend an info session near you

27. Virtual Recruiter

Networking is more important than ever these days. And you can apply your skills and connections to connect companies with the right employees or freelancers.

What you can earn as a virtual recruiter:

• About $17-$28/hour

How to get started:

1. Get comfortable doing phone and video interviews
   
2. Take a course on resume writing
   
3. Check out jobs on Upwork, Freelancer, Ziprecruiter, Simply Hired, and CareerBuilder

28. Presentation Designer

Putting together presentation slides really is an artform. You need to keep it simple but informative. Nobody likes seeing a wall of text on the screen, especially when you're sitting 60 feet away.

Businesses and keynote speakers understand that and will pay good money to have someone format their presentations for them.

What you can earn as a presentation designer:

• $14-$31/hour

How to get started:

1. Master PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Illustrator
   
2. List your services on Upwork or Freelancer

29. Textbook Flipper

Textbooks are such a rip-off. Professors always make you get one of the newer versions so the price never goes down. And at the end of the semester, you sell it back to the campus bookstore for a fraction of what you originally paid.

There's a way to get back more than just a few measly dollars. Use buyback sites like Bookscouter.

What you can earn as a textbook flipper:

• Depends on the type of books you're selling and how many

How to get started:

1. Go to Bookscouter
   
2. Search for the best price on your textbooks from 30+ sellers
   
3. Compare prices and seller feedback
   
4. Ship for free to get paid

30. Genealogist

You can help others track down their family trees and get more in touch with their heritage.

Genealogists find out who your immigrant ancestors are and where they came from through historical records, oral interviews, and genetic analysis.

What you can earn as a genealogist :

• Around $34/hour

How to get started:

1. Study the subject in school
   
2. Explore local courthouses, libraries, and archives
   
3. Network with fellow genealogists, librarians, and archivists
   
4. Advertise your services on Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr

31. Sell Stuff Online

This is more of a side hustle rather than a job, but you can sell just about anything over the internet.

First, prioritize high resale value items, such as bicycles, furniture, Legos, video games, designer clothing, and Apple products. For local sales, only accept secure online payments or cash, always meet in public and never share personal information.

What you can earn selling stuff online:

• Depends on what you sell and quantity

How to get started:

1. Download the app(s) and start listing your items

32. Take Online Surveys

Want to get paid while you're waiting for your next class? With online survey sites, you can make money by answering questions, watching videos, playing games, and more.

The payout methods are either straight cash/check by mail or gift cards to popular retailers (think Amazon, Best Buy, and more).

What you can earn taking surveys:
Dollar-per-hour averages for popular survey sites:

• InboxDollars: $0.50 per hour
  
• Swagbucks: $0.90 per hour
  
• Survey Junkie: $1.50 per hour
  
• MyPoints: $1.00 per hour
  
• Opinion Outpost: $1.50 per hour

How to get started:

1. Sign up for a survey site (like Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, or InboxDollars)
   
2. Answer a few questions about yourself to see which surveys you're eligible for
   
3. Start earning right away

33. Website Tester

More and more brands are moving their business online. This means they need feedback on their website, logos and content to appeal to customers. This is where you come in: you can sign up as a tester, provide your opinions on a website or app and get paid per test. You might verbally express your thoughts as you record your screen or write a short review at the end.

What you can earn as a website tester:

• Each test generally lasts about 20 minutes and you are paid $10 per test

How to get started:

1. Sign up at UserTesting (must be 18+ to join)

34. Apple Support College Program

Do you FaceTime your parents to help troubleshoot their iPad, iPhone or laptops? You can leverage that useful skill and get hired by Apple. As an Apple Support College Advisor, you can provide technical support to Apple customers from your home.

According to Apple's website, the role is pretty flexible - "We'll train you to troubleshoot, give you an iMac, and let you work from where you live. We'll also work with you to accommodate your class schedule."

What you can earn as an Apple Support Advisor:

• Approximately $14/hour

How to get started:

1. Check out the full list of Apple student jobs and internships

35. Web Researcher

Most of us go down Wikipedia and Google rabbit holes on a daily basis. (Fun fact: What year did "Twin Peaks" end? 1991.)

If you're an excellent researcher with clear writing, consider becoming a Wonder research assistant. Lots of companies need detailed questions answered and you can get paid to research a topic and type up a response for them.

What you can earn as a Web Researcher:

• $5-$16 an hour

How to get started:

1. Complete an online application at Wonder
   
2. Show off your research skills with a simple online quiz and trial assignment
   
3. Visit the research dashboard when you're ready to start working and Wonder will assign you a work request

36. Earn Money Playing Games

There's nothing like the adrenaline rush of leveling up and battling against other players. If you love playing games, there are few ways for you to capitalize on this passion. You could play competitively and build a name for yourself as a Twitch streamer. Or you could earn money playing games online (most people choose this route).

What you can earn as a gamer:

• Some Twitch gamers make $100,000+ (depends on your skill level and subscriber count)
  
• Some Swagbucks users who play a few hours a day report earning between $50-$200 a month

How to get started:

1. Start a gaming blog or YouTube Channel
   
2. Become a beta tester (spot errors by test-playing games)
   
3. Join video game tournaments
   
4. Become a Twitch Streamer

These job opportunities can help college students earn money from home and kick start a career. Now find out ways to catch a recruiter's eye.

How to Make Your Resume Stand Out

Getting companies to notice you is tricky for any career-level. And it's even harder when you have a limited work experience.

But what do employers want to see on a college student's resume? Follow these best practices for impressing hiring managers.

1. Mention coursework relevant to the position you're applying for

2. Include attractive soft skills (like leadership or customer service)

3. Highlight clubs, student organizations and other extra curricular activities (such as sports, volunteering, community service, babysitting etc)

4. Use action verbs (words like led, created and developed are energetic and powerful)

5. Add metrics and numbers to quantify your contributions (for example, you tutored three students a week online or proofread 3 articles per day)

6. Edit, edit, edit and give it to someone else to proofread

7. Link to your personal portfolio/website and LinkedIn profile

There are a ton of great WFH jobs but you still have to look out for scams. Keep reading for red flags to avoid.

Safety Tips for Applying to Jobs

Not all remote work opportunities are legit. Here's how to protect yourself from fraudsters posing as recruiters:

1. Steer clear of job listings that ask you to:
   
   • Stuff envelopes or assemble products online
     
   • Cash checks/wire money
     
   • Engage in multilevel marketing
     
   • Forward emails or packages
   
   
2. Research the company to make sure it's real on Glassdoor, LinkedIn and the Better Business Bureau. Also, the Federal Trade Commission keeps a list of scam companies.

3. Never disclose your birth date or social security number until you've received a job offer.

4. Do not provide an upfront payment (even if it's for "training").

5. Avoid companies that promise unlimited passive income potential.

6. Make sure the interview is more than just an email, or social media or text chat.

What Experts Say

Having a part-time job or internship during college definitely helps with the cost of tuition and living on your own. But it can also set you up for success after graduation.

Here's what they said:

Bottom Line

Working online is a great money-making option for college students. Think about it: You can work from your parents' home during winter break or even in between classes.

In most cases, you just need a reliable internet connection, a laptop, and a few free hours a week. Oftentimes, the pay beats being a barista or a lot of campus jobs.

And if you stumble upon something you're passionate about, you can make your college side hustle into a full-time career.

Additional Resources

Financial Resources for Journalism