I recently had a commiseration session with a friend of mine over beers about the state of employment in this country. While the unemployment rate is low, about 4%, most TV reports don’t further elaborate on what kind of jobs most Americans are working. Most Americans are working part-time and seasonal jobs for minimum wage. In fact, the state of employment in the United States is giving rise to the telecommuting workforce.
Telecommuting is the business practice of employees working from home and delivering work from home. More Americans are turning to the online gig economy to make ends meet. Almost 37% of the American workforce telecommutes full-time, part-time, or just occasionally. Telecommuting is also slowly becoming good business for businesses. They are learning that employees are more productive at home. Over $2 trillion in business revenue is lost every year due to office politics, health issues, employee laziness, inability to focus, lateness, and more.
The ability to telecommute drives people to be more productive. When you are your own boss or at least have no one looking over your shoulder, you have more to gain from being productive. Instead of wallowing in pity, I challenged my friend to brainstorm how to make 300 dollars fast online. Here is a list of online work and money generating opportunities that we used.
Gigwalk
Operating research and consumer demographic statistics are vital information for a business to collect regularly. Such information is used to fine tune business practices and customer outreach. Gigwalk is a free business app that matches businesses that wants to verify it business data with people who can help them to do so.
Basically, you are matched with a business that wants proof that their product is available on the local retailer shelf. Or, they want to see that their product is correctly displayed in a store display. Businesses also want verification that their products are correctly priced for retail. Your job as a Gigwalker is to go to supermarkets, malls, retailers, and stores, and then take a pic of the product in question on your phone. You can make as much as $3 to $100 per gig, depending on the opportunity.
VIPKID
If you major in English or have one of those online TEFL or TESOL certificates, well, here is a chance to make the most of it. VIPKID is an online English language teaching and conversation platform. It is a company that is based in China that specializes in matching qualified Westerners with Chinese children who want to learn English. All work is done online and lessons rarely last longer than 25 minutes. You are provided a curriculum and most of your work may involve English conversation techniques more than straightforward English lessons.
VIPKID prefers native English speakers with North American accents. You should have a bachelor’s degree and some educational experience with children. If you have ever taught Sunday school, coached a youth-oriented sport, or were a tutor, you can qualify. You can make up to $22 an hour.
Unbabel
If you speak multiple languages, you should know that there are plenty of online opportunities for audio and document language translation. Unbabel is an online business service that matches people with online translation opportunities for almost 30 languages. You’ll have to undergo an evaluation and training period. If you are highly fluent in the non-native languages you speak, you can make $18-an-hour. Or, more.
Online Gigs Are There for the Taking
I regularly make about $250 a week with VIPKD and Gigwalk. My friend found a lot of work with Unbabel since he speaks three languages. How much money you make will be determined by your initiative. If you have an in-demand skill and are computer/smart device literate, there is no reason why you can’t make $300 in under a month. Or, a week.
Do you work online? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Allen Francis was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years with no money, no financial literacy, and no responsibility when he had money. To him, the phrase “personal finance,” contains the power that anyone has to grow their own wealth. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including focusing on your needs instead of your wants, asking for help when you need it, saving and investing in your own small business.