Where to look for side jobs – Best Places to Find side Jobs Nearby and Online
People are freelancing more and more on the side to make extra money, improve their skills, and maybe even start their own businesses. Whether you just want to make a little extra money on the side or want to go out on your own, there are a lot of websites and marketplaces that can help you find clients.
But where to look for side jobs the most? What you do will depend on your skills and knowledge, as well as what you want to get out of your side job.Do you want to make a few extra bucks this weekend, or do you think this is something you could do for a while and make a lot of money?
Here are some of the best places to look for your first side job, and each one has its own strategy and approach. Check out the list and decide where it makes the most sense for you to set up shop.
Toptal
Toptal.com is one of the best places to find freelance developers, designers, and finance experts, but it is only for those who work in those fields. With its strict and thorough screening process, clients can be sure that only the top 3% of applicants in a given field will be sent to them. (The name “Toptal” means “top talent.”)
Top-talent contractors do most of their work from home (you can turn down jobs that don’t work with your schedule) and get paid a lot. This platform is for you if you’re sure of your skills and want to work on challenging projects with fast-growing startups and big-name clients.
In a nutshell:
- Tech-focused
- It is completely free to sign up.
- Get paid a lot (think hundreds of dollars a week, even for part-time).
Craigslist Gigs
Did you know that tucked away in a corner of Craigslist is a section just for side jobs? It’s called “Gigs,” and inside you can find everything from moving or landscaping jobs to graphic design gigs and jobs as a brand ambassador for local events.
Just by looking around for a few minutes, I saw ads for writers, photographers, models, house cleaners, and tutors. Obviously, you should stay away from jobs that sound too good to be true, and you should do your research before meeting a stranger.
In a nutshell:
- Great for getting yourself known in your area.
- It’s good for one-time jobs or easy part-time jobs to make extra money.
- To find real gigs, you have to weed through some scams.
TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit might be like Craigslist Gigs, but it seems more organized and legit. The company specializes in putting “taskers” together with people and businesses who need short-term help (you). Most of the jobs are in your area and require you to show up in person, but you can also find jobs that you can do from home. As a customer, I used the platform to find a local handyman. He told me that he usually does three to four jobs a day and makes a good living from it.
My handyman charged $75 per hour, but other TaskRabbit workers might start at $15 to $25 per hour. As your TaskRabbit reputation and work improve, you can raise your rates.
In a nutshell:
- Good for real jobs in the area
- Revenue can grow as you do more jobs.
- Joining is free. Click here to find out more and sign up today.
Upwork
Upwork is one of the biggest places to find freelance work, which can make it a very competitive place. Still, I’ve heard from a few members that this is where they got the idea for their side business. A freelance web designer named Chris Misterek suggested that you think about your ideal client and go above and beyond in your bids for those clients. You can ignore all the other job postings for now. As your profile and portfolio get bigger, Upwork will start showcasing you to more potential clients.
GigSalad
You should know about GigSalad if you are a musician, comedian, magician, DJ, photographer, bartender, or other entertainment professional. This popular online market helps you connect with people who are throwing parties, weddings, or corporate events. It costs between $140 and $170 per quarter to join the site and make a profile.
Helen Pritchard said on The Side Hustle Show that LinkedIn is “the only platform in the world where you can choose your audience by hand.” Her plan was to make your profile so appealing that your ideal client couldn’t say no. That usually means focusing on a very specific type of service, like “helping bankers lose weight” or “PR for female entrepreneurs.”
Then, she will send connection requests to these target prospects on her own. (She said to send 10 every day of the week to slowly build up your LinkedIn audience.) Publish content on LinkedIn that will appeal to this target audience at the same time. Include a call-to-action every so often to let your connections know you’re ready to do business.
Peopleperhour.com
Peopleperhour.com is another popular site for finding freelance jobs you can do from home. The site seems to be more popular in Europe, and most of the gigs have to do with graphic design, writing, SEO, coding, and other things.
As a freelancer, you can bid on jobs that have already been posted or you can make your own “hourlie,” which is a small package of what you’ll do for a set price. Even though the prices are still competitive, they are often higher here than on Fiverr for similar packages.
In a nutshell:
- Good for working on the computer
- You can bid on jobs or make your own list of services.
- It is completely free to join.
Specialty Marketplaces
If you have a particular skill or service in mind, there’s a good chance there’s a marketplace just for that. For instance, you might think about:
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- Care.com or Sittercity can help you find a babysitter or child care.
- Dolly.com for help with moving.
- VIPKid is an online English school.
- Wyzant for pet sitting tutoring Rover.
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