Elena Prokopets
If you’ve spent the last several months unemployed, or underemployed due to Covid-19, you aren’t alone. Many workers are feeling the economic pinch of the lockdown today. According to McKinsey analysis, some 53 million US jobs became vulnerable — meaning that employees faced permanent layoffs, temporary furloughs, or reductions in hours and pay. Now, the holiday season is just around the corner! How do you come up for air, and ensure you’ve got enough cash to enjoy the onslaught of parties? This could be the perfect time to browse some weekend jobs.
Not long ago, someone working a weekend job found themselves waiting tables, washing dishes, or working at a convenience store. All for a bit of side cash. Now, there are so many more options, and many of them are quite lucrative. Get started on your job search today by checking out these six best weekend jobs we lined up for you (+companies hiring)!
1. Become a Microtasker
Let’s face it, most of us spend quite a bit of time during our weekends online. Why not use some of it to make extra cash? Today, you can get paid for:
- Taking surveys for market research and political consultancy firms.
- Participating in academic research.
- Doing micro tasks such as validating receipts, evaluating audio and video clips, or annotating pictures.
- Testings websites for usability, design inconsistencies, or compliance.
- Signing up for special offers or rewards clubs.
You can find such micro-gigs at websites such as:
- Mechanical Turk — menial web tasks.
- Prolific — paid survey participation.
- DScout — paid participation in consumer research
Note: Be sure to read the fine print before you start. You’ll want answers to the following questions:
- Is there a minimum payout amount?
- Do they accept PayPal, or do I need a bank account?
- Is this available in my country?
- Am I okay being paid with gift cards?
- What’s the average hourly rate I can earn?
2. Double as a Mystery Shopper
Here’s another weekend pastime that you can use to turn a profit — your regular shopping trips. Pocket extra cash by doubling as a mystery shopper as you run your errands.
When you are hired for such gigs, your job is to test if the store staff is customer-friendly, and that products are being displayed as they should be. During a typical mystery shop tour, you may be asked to:
- Take pictures of products and displays
- Ask questions or make requests of staff members
- Observe the general cleanliness of the store
- Double-check prices
A mystery shop can take as little as 15 minutes to complete, or a couple of hours. In some cases, you may be asked to follow a specific script. Sometimes, you’ll be asked to videotape your encounters. The more lucrative jobs often require you to complete a brief, online training course.
You can find weekend mystery shopping jobs at Market Force or BestMark.
3. Work as a Delivery Driver
At this point, most of us know about ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft. Did you know that you can also make money delivering various parcels and packages? It’s true!
You can spend your spare weekend hours making quick food or goods deliveries around town. Check out services like Uber Eats, and Roadie.
Are you an entrepreneur at heart? Reach out to local small businesses directly and offer them your wheels for hire. Many would love to pay somebody to do their running for them!
4. Become a Flipper
No, you don’t have to deal with the real estate to be a flipper. You can flip anything of value. Although, it can help to have some know-how. You’ll have to improve items to make them more money or know where to find interested buyers. Some flippers specialize in connecting buyers with the products they seek.
Here’s a quick list of popular products for flipping:
- Baby furniture and gear
- Sports memorabilia
- Smartphones
- Power tools
- High-end sneakers
- Designer clothing
- Board games
- Video games and electronics
- Complete collections of all types
- Vintage furniture, tableware, and decor.
You can hit up Craigslist, thrift shops, and garage sales to see what you can find! And then list your goodies online on Etsy (clothes, vintage, collectibles), Vestiaire Collective (pre-loved designer clothes, shoes, bags, accessories).
5. Pass Samples or Do Inventory
Have you ever been to the grocery store when they were passing out little snacks and samples? Those aren’t always stored employees. In many cases, they are independent contractors that work directly or indirectly for the companies that make the products being sampled. Even better, this work tends to be flexible and well-paid. If you’d like to earn well over the minimum wage to give products away, try the Merchandiser app from Survey.com. You’ll be connected with plenty of opportunities in your area.
Is passing out samples simply not your thing? No worries! You can also find work setting up store displays and talking to store managers about their inventory. Either way, you’ll enjoy work that is flexible and pays well while your friends drudge through typical, part-time weekend jobs.
6. Make Cash From Your Knowledge
If you have specialized knowledge, you can turn that into cash while your friends are working weekend shift jobs. Tutors are always in high demand, plus you can often score remote work gigs that pay good hourly rates!
Of course, there’s always a need for people to tutor students. You can even work as an English language tutor online. There’s no need to speak another language. All you need is a bachelor’s degree, webcam, and a friendly personality. Check out sites like Preply or Teachaway for current openings.
You can also earn money sharing your other knowledge with adults. For example, you can host virtual or in-person workshops, 1-on-1 training sessions, or group masterclasses where you teach some skill to others.
If you have a few hours to spare each weekend, your job options are wide open! The weekend jobs mentioned here are just the start. Get creative. There are so many things you can do to make a bit of extra cash. Who knows, your weekend gig could become a full-time job or a full-time side-hustle!
