5 Part-Time Jobs to Earn an Extra $500-$1000/Month

If you’re looking for a realistic article about some side hustle ideas and part-time jobs without the purpose of selling you courses on how to get rich, you’re in the right place. Most of the content you see online talks about various side hustle options and then comes to the conclusion that side hustle X is the best option and it’s going to make you rich. Therefore, you should buy their course; otherwise, you’re going to miss out on your last opportunity to get rich, but this article will focus on genuine part-time jobs that can help you earn extra income.

This article won’t try to sell you a course. Instead, it will share honest opinions because the goal isn’t to make money telling other people how to make money online. So, let’s dive into the first side hustle idea: video editing, especially short-form video editing, which is one of the best part-time jobs you can look into.

The demand for video editing is super high, and there are very few good editors. If you want to make a living out of editing, you should be really good. That’s a fact. But if your goal is to make some extra side money, then you don’t have to be the best editor in the world. Obviously, some level of skill is required, but so is every side hustle, and video editing is no exception when it comes to part-time jobs.

The most important thing is your communication skills and whether you know how to pitch yourself to creators. As a creator with a substantial following, they get dozens of emails and DMs every single day from people offering editing services, but they rarely reply. The reason is not because they’re rude, but because many creators, including themselves, don’t have much time to go through each message they get.

So, what you need to do is prove that your message is worth someone’s time opening, reading, and replying. One of the biggest mistakes seen again and again is talking without any proof. It basically goes like this: “Hey, you’re leaving money on the table. You’re missing out. Short-form content is super important, and I’m a really good editor. Therefore, you should hire me. Here are some of my past works. Let’s hop on a call if you’re interested.”

We strongly recommend that you check out our guide on how to take advantage of AI in today’s passive income economy.

Mistakes to Avoid When Pitching Your Video Editing Services

First of all, you might actually be a good editor. That’s not being doubted. But talk is cheap, so you need to show your skills with actions. Your past work might not be the best way to measure your skill since everyone has a different style and preference.

What you should do is re-edit a couple of the creator’s long-form videos into short-form content with various styles and showcase your skill set and ability to do different styles and be creative. You shouldn’t be sending the same email copy-pasted to everyone. You need to show some effort.

Instead of suggesting, “Let’s hop on a call,” which might just lead to a back-and-forth email exchange to find a good time (which is quite time-consuming, especially when dealing with different time zones), why not send a Calendly link? That way, the creator could easily book a time that fits both of your schedules. It saves time for both of you and is much more productive.

Also, don’t leave questions on the table. Tell them your delivery time, rate, how you work, and whether you’re open to negotiation in the same email so that it’s easier for the other person to book a call if they’re interested.

If you have good communication skills and some decent editing skills, you’re good to go. And don’t worry, there are plenty of free and good resources to learn how to edit. You’ve got this!

Social Media Manager: Learn the Ropes While Earning

Even though being a big advocate of starting your own platform, sometimes you don’t have the time to start a social media account because it takes a lot of time investment and effort, especially in the beginning, to figure out your voice, style, and what you want to share.

If you don’t have the time freedom to start your own account, one of the best ways to learn the backside is to be a social media manager. This is another excellent option for part-time jobs that can help you earn an extra income.

There are tons of benefits to being a social media manager:

1. The demand is super high
2. You can do it remotely
3. It gives you the chance to see the backstage of what it looks like to run a social media account

So, you can make money while learning how things work. Maybe in the future, if you’re interested, you can start your own account. Let me tell you, there will be such a big difference between being a total beginner and having some experience in the social media world.

What Do Social Media Managers Usually Do?

There isn’t necessarily a specific definition since every creator might request something different, but some of the common tasks can be:

• Answering emails
• Reaching out to brands to sign partnerships
• Managing content calendars
• Helping with the creator’s schedule
• Basically, helping the creator out

Just like being a video editor, it’s super important to know how to pitch. If you were starting over and had no experience and knowledge about social media and how to make money online, you should definitely reach out to your favorite 50 to 100 creators on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or maybe TikTok to help them out. This way, you can learn while you make money, build relationships with brands, and connect with other creators.

The Importance of a Professional Website

Whether you’re interested in editing short-form content or managing social media as a side hustle, having a professional website to showcase who you are is essential when pitching to potential clients to show how legit you are.

However, building a website can be quite daunting. It may require coding skills, technical knowledge, or even hiring someone to do it for you, which can cost thousands of dollars. To solve this issue, there are AI-powered website builders that can help you create a unique website in just a few minutes.

With plans starting at an affordable price per month, you can get a free domain, email, and the ability to create multiple websites under a single account. These website builders often come with tools like AI writer, AI page generator, AI blog generator, AI heatmap, and AI logo maker. They also provide 24/7 expert support from their in-house customer success team.

Notion Templates: A Lucrative Side Hustle

Another interesting side hustle is building Notion templates. Some creators make millions selling Notion templates, and oftentimes, the paid ones are quite complicated and take time to create from scratch.

If you go on platforms like Fiverr, there are a bunch of people offering Notion template building as a service. You don’t necessarily need to know how to code to create Notion templates. You can use AI-powered tools to help you with each step, from coding to fixing errors.

If you decide to pick Notion templates as a side hustle, the first thing you should do is build some cool templates, make a video explaining how to create them on various social media platforms, and give them away for free in exchange for people’s email addresses.

Once you have people’s emails, you can send them follow-up emails about your services and paid Notion templates, showcasing how you can help them. You can also pick a couple of your favorite creators, create some simple version draft templates that they can potentially sell, and send them a video walkthrough. Ask them to say yes if they want the template for free. Once they like your Notion template, you can offer services to build them more advanced versions.

The good thing about picking Notion templates as a niche to talk about on social media is that it’s a very specific topic. You don’t necessarily need to get tons of views to make decent money. For example, some creators have abandoned their main channels with millions of subscribers for a smaller Notion channel because it makes more money. There are also people making over six figures with under 100K subscribers. So, you definitely don’t need a huge following if you’re patient and put in the work. You can make $1,000 a month with Notion templates. It’s a really good side hustle.

Lecture Notes and Slides: Solving a Common Problem

This side hustle idea isn’t necessarily something you can do from home, but it’s included because it’s a genius idea. Business and making money are essentially about solving other people’s problems, right?

What’s the biggest issue people have in lectures in college? Actually listening to the professor and taking notes. Boom, problem identified. Now it’s time to solve it.

Some people online record the whole lecture with a voice recorder, transcribe it with online tools, and then turn it into nice notes and slides using AI-powered tools. Although it will depend on the laws of your state and the university you attend, if it’s allowed and completely legal, it’s a good way to make money as a student. It will motivate you to go to lectures, and you’ll be able to earn some money on the side.

One important note is that while you’re taking a voice recording, it’s important to listen to the lecture yourself and take notes so that afterward, you can check for any errors.

Rather than selling the slides and notes without any edits, it’s necessary to highlight the important parts and potential questions that can be asked on exams to provide extra value. This way, your customers (your classmates) will keep coming back.

Just a second warning: check the laws before you do this because some universities don’t allow recording anything. Don’t get in trouble. And if you’re a classmate watching this, please do it and sell the notes because they’re needed!

Thumbnail Creation and Photoshop as a Service

On YouTube, everyone knows that title and thumbnail are the most important elements to pay attention to if you want to get views. We’ve already talked about this so many times.

Guess what you need to do to create a good thumbnail? First, you need to come up with a good idea. Second, you need to take some pictures. Third, you need to edit the pictures and do some Photoshop if necessary.

Guess what most creators want to outsource? Step one (idea generation) and step three (editing). Personally, some creators aren’t a big fan of hiring someone to come up with ideas because they feel like the thumbnails won’t have their personal touch. But some people outsource it, and it works completely fine for them, so it’s not a big issue.

Many creators have been outsourcing the editing part of their thumbnails recently because it saves so much time. Whenever they want to get creative, their brain is really good at coming up with ideas but not executing them because they don’t know how to use Photoshop.

The good thing about this side hustle is that you work based on a project, and people usually charge between $100 to $150 per thumbnail with unlimited revisions. If you learn how to do Photoshop, depending on the thumbnail style, you can create it in a couple of hours.

If you’re not looking for a full-time freelancing option, thumbnail design is a pretty good choice for part-time jobs. The way to find thumbnail editing work is by searching on YouTube about thumbnail editing. Look for tutorials that are easy to follow, even if they only have a couple thousand views.

If you really like a tutorial, reach out to the creator by email (usually found in the description) and start working together. This is also the way to recommend people to showcase their work and promote their services.

If you want to do thumbnail design, recreate some creators’ thumbnails, post them on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, etc., and even if the actual creator doesn’t see it, someone will. There is a high chance that they will hire you if they like your work.

It’s also a good idea to put all the thumbnails you’ve created in the past on your website to showcase the range of your skills. There are plenty of free resources on YouTube and other platforms like Skillshare to get started with Photoshop, which are highly recommended if you’re interested in becoming a thumbnail designer.

Embrace the Creator Economy

Obviously, since the author is a creator, all the side hustle ideas and part-time jobs mentioned are somewhat related to content creation and the creator economy. But it’s a growing industry, and day by day, the valuation is going higher too. It’s the future of media, and there are plenty of opportunities for part-time jobs in this field.

It’s understandable why people dislike social media creators because of some creators and the reputation issue. But the creator economy is genuinely life-changing, and working with freelancers is enjoyable.

If this article has inspired you to start your own side hustle or explore part-time jobs, you might have the chance to work together with the author in the future. Imagine how cool it would be if you started because of this article, and a year later, you’re working together. It sounds pretty amazing.

The author promises to be a good employer and not a bad person. Enough rambling, and see you soon!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the minimum time you should stay at a part-time job?

There is no set minimum time you should stay at a part-time job, as it depends on various factors such as your career goals, financial situation, and the nature of the job. However, it’s generally recommended to stay at a part-time job for at least six months to a year to demonstrate commitment and reliability to future employers.

Staying at a part-time job for a shorter period may raise questions about your work ethic or ability to commit to a position. Additionally, some employers may hesitate to invest time and resources in training you if they believe you’ll leave shortly after being hired.

That being said, there are situations where leaving a part-time job sooner may be necessary or justified, such as if you’ve found a better opportunity, the work environment is toxic, or your personal circumstances have changed.

How to answer “Tell me about yourself” for a part-time job?

When answering the question “Tell me about yourself” in a part-time job interview, focus on highlighting your relevant skills, experiences, and qualities that make you a strong candidate for the position. Here’s a general structure you can follow:

1. Start with a brief introduction, including your current situation (e.g., student, recent graduate, or looking for a career change).
2. Mention your relevant educational background, certifications, or training.
3. Discuss your previous work experience, emphasizing skills and accomplishments that relate to the part-time job you’re applying for.
4. Highlight your strengths and qualities that make you a good fit for the role, such as reliability, teamwork, or customer service skills.
5. Express your enthusiasm for the opportunity and explain why you’re interested in the part-time position.

Remember to keep your answer concise, focusing on the most relevant information, and avoid discussing personal matters unrelated to the job.

How short is a part-time job?

The duration of a part-time job can vary depending on the employer, industry, and the specific role. Some part-time jobs may be short-term or seasonal, lasting a few weeks to a few months. Examples include holiday retail positions, summer camp counselors, or event staff.

Other part-time jobs may be ongoing, with no specified end date. These positions can last for several months or even years, depending on the employee’s performance and the company’s needs. Examples of ongoing part-time jobs include retail associates, restaurant servers, or office assistants.

In terms of weekly hours, part-time jobs typically involve working fewer than 30-35 hours per week, although the exact number can vary. Some part-time positions may offer a consistent schedule, while others may have more flexible or varying hours depending on the employer’s needs.

It’s essential to discuss the expected duration and weekly hours of a part-time job with the employer during the hiring process to ensure that the arrangement aligns with your availability and expectations.

We strongly recommend that you check out our guide on how to take advantage of AI in today’s passive income economy.