Graduation is a big step, as you would be finally out on your own, away from the security and familiarity of college life, and out in the real world. Here, your friends can only help you so much, it’s really up to you to make something of yourself. Getting a job would be the first and the only thing on your mind at this stage.
But getting a job immediately after college is not easy. Even if you were to find a job, it may not be the one you had expected. Either way, you probably will have a lot of time on your hands at this stage. So how can you use this extra time at your disposal more productively? By freelancing.
There is a huge demand for freelance jobs these days. In the United States, for example, one-third of the working age population works in freelance jobs. There are so many online marketplaces that you can join as a freelancer, where you can earn a decent income. Let’s discuss more on why freelancing would make so much sense for you if you are a recent graduate.
Freelancing shakes you up, takes you out of your comfort zone and gives you a valuable dose of reality.
You have spent a total of 16 years getting an education, if not more. Let’s face it – you’ve had a sheltered life, with your parents there to take care of everything you need. But now, it’s time to strike out on your own. But how? Jobs are so hard to get.
Freelancing provides you with valuable working experience. You will learn how to provide a legitimate service to people who would pay for it. You don’t have the right to earn a living, nobody owes you anything.
The only way you can succeed as a freelancer or in any job, for that matter, is to create value for your clients, customers or employer on a consistent basis. This is something you will learn as you pick up clients, do great work and meet your obligations to them.
Freelancing could get you a permanent job.
Who knows, freelancing could get you a foot in the door. It could land you valuable clients who might offer a more permanent position or job. There are so many people who have got their first job from their freelancing gigs.
It certainly gives you the valuable experience you need. As a recent graduate, you will be turned away from many positions for your lack of work experience. Why not ask a potential employer to hire you on a contractual basis as a freelancer, and review your work once you have completed the project? You can then use their endorsement in your resume to demonstrate work experience.
Freelancing will help you decide on the type of job you want.
A lot of graduates are confused about what they want to do with their life, whether a particular job or a career field would suit them or not. Making a wrong choice at such an early stage can potentially ruin the rest of your career.
So, by freelancing, you get a quick sample of the job you are applying for, or the career you want to have, before committing to it. For example, by working as a freelance journalist for a small online news-based website, you will get a sense of whether you are cut out for a job in the media or not. You can then use this experience to land a job in a major news organization.
Hope you enjoyed this article. Freelancing allows you to do something valuable with your time before you land your dream job and earn a decent income at that.
High Paying Jobs That You Don’t Need a College Degree For
There is no question that a college degree could help you a great deal. In fact, in a world where almost everybody has a college degree, not having one yourself can be a major disqualification.
Most of the white collar jobs that you can apply for require a college degree. Even so, there are many high paying jobs out there that don’t need a college degree. Here’s a list of the best paying jobs for which you won’t need a college degree.
Small Business Owner
Being an employee is not for everyone. There are so many young people out there who would prefer to be their own boss and run their own business. Not all small businesses succeed, but those that do earn a lot of money in quick time for the business owner. If your small business takes off in a substantial manner, who knows, you could well be a millionaire. Anyone can start a small business, you don’t need a college degree for that – just passion, basic intelligence and an ability to work hard and persevere through the hard times.
Nursing Assistant
Nursing assistant jobs have become highly sought after today. It’s easy to understand why. Because of the advances in medical science, people are living longer. But with nuclear families replacing the joint family system, they are no longer staying with their families. This creates a huge demand for nursing assistants or caregivers. Nursing assistant jobs do not require any college degree or certification, and they pay very well. Such jobs require you to be compassionate towards the elderly or the disabled, and be prepared to perform tasks such as bathing and feeding the patients, providing them with their medicines, etc.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Detectives and criminal investigators are much sought after these days by businesses and individuals. These jobs require an above average IQ, excellent computer skills and deductive ability. But they don’t require a college degree. Detectives are hired for investigation various infringements of the law, for spying on employees suspected of some kind of mischief, and to investigate marital infidelity, amongst many other things. This job also demands a tremendous amount of patience, ability to work hard and determination to follow up on every possible lead.
Network Specialist
A network specialist’s job is one of the highest paying jobs in IT, but it does not require a college degree. It does require a certification from networking companies such as CISCO, and a great deal of proficiency at working with wide area networks and local area networks. As a network specialist, you would perform testing, analysis, testing, and troubleshooting of networks.
Artists and Designers
There is a lot of demand for graphic designers, artists, animators, etc. these days. The demand comes from the online businesses and media organizations, which have proliferated over the last few years. Talented artists are paid very well, and nobody expected them to have a college degree. Anyone who can draw, sketch or paint very well, can certainly find a good job in many companies around the world.
Web Developer
Every business needs to have an online presence these days. A business website is an absolute must. This creates a lot of demand for web developers as very few people have the skills or the technical ability to design their own websites. To be a web developer requires talent and knowledge of various programming languages. Experience counts for a lot in this profession, but having a college degree is not a must. The best web developers work as freelancers or start their own companies. This is one of the best paid freelance jobs.
Best Jobs for the Self Employed
There is nothing quite like being your own boss and setting your own business. The pay that you get as a self-employed person can vary from very high to very low, but the rewards that you get, such as freedom from the 9-to-5 routine, not having to deal with the office politics and being able to spend quality time with your family, are immeasurable.
Here are the best jobs for the self-employed 2023-24 that you should know about.
#1: Business Consultant
There are a number of self-employed professionals with real life experience in major corporations, who are highly educated and armed with an MBA degree from top business schools. If this description fits you well, then there is no reason why you cannot work as a consultant from the comfort of your home, helping small and medium sized businesses with well thought out advice. You could work as a retail consultant, a software consultant, or as an ecommerce consultant – to name just a few consultancy gigs that you can offer. The pay is usually very good.
#2: Social Media Consultant
If you are a Millennial, you will have plenty of experience with the social media. You would be well versed in the use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social networks. As a social media consultant, you will handle the social media activities of small and midsized businesses; help them reach out to a new audience, engage with customers effectively and monitor their online reputation. There is a lot of demand for social media consultants as most businesses do not have the time or expertise to manage their own social media accounts.
#3: Online Tutor
One of the best ways to make money as a self-employed professional is to offer online tutorials in English, science and math to students that struggle with these subjects. If you have a strong academic background, excellent communication skills, and a natural ability to teach, perhaps this job is the right one for you. You can offer your lessons on platforms such as Udemy, Khan Academy and Coursera, to name just a few.
#4: Freelance Web Designer
Every business today needs to have an online presence. Freelance Web Designers are among the best paid self-employed professionals. There is a huge demand in the marketplace for web designers who know their work and can provide high quality service at reasonable rates. As a web developer, you can make anything from $500 to $2000 for each website. You can run your business remotely from the comfort and privacy of your home.
#5: Eldercare Provider
One of the biggest changes seen over the last decade or so is that more people are living into their late 80s and even 90s because of the advances in modern medicine. However, many older people find themselves alone and without family support. There is hence a great demand for people that can provide help and assistance and companionship to the elderly, even if it is for only a few hours a day. This job requires one to have a lot of patience and compassion towards older people. Eldercare providers are generally well compensated.
These are the best jobs for self-employed professionals in 2022-24. Of course, the term “best” in this case is purely subjective. You may have your own idea of what constitutes a truly great job!