As children, our needs are invariably taken care of by our parents. For the more fortunate among us, it is simply a matter of asking – and we receive!
When we are grown up, we earn our salaries, and have children of our own, who we take care of.
But what about the middle years, when we are teenagers in college / school and have so much we want to do but our pocket money does not quite go as far as we would like it to. It could be going out for a movie outing, or a weekend trip with friends, or saving up for a new gadget, but that little extra cash above and beyond the pocket money is invaluable.
As India gradually urbanizes and westernizes, there are a number of options for Indian youth to earn some extra money, just as their American counterparts do, by taking weekend or vacation jobs.
Let us go over ten such jobs that you can do to make some extra money.
Working at restaurants
Historically, service jobs have been looked down upon in India, but as fancy and fast-food restaurants mushroom around the country, the demand for educated youngsters who can handle the tasks of cooking / waiting on tables is on the rise. Such jobs are not necessarily pleasant, but they teach you a lot about people and handling life. In fact, many of the world’s top businessmen and women in the West have spent some time as youths working on tables and learning about people.
Tutoring
Teaching younger kids schoolwork if one of the best options for those who have a good academic record themselves. School-level maths or language, where most children need coaching, can be taught at reasonable charges after-college hours and on weekends to kids. And if it turns out that you are good at it, it can end up being quite lucrative too!
Freelance movie editing / design work
If you are skilled with graphic design or movie-editing, look online for jobs in the field. A lot of businesses are looking to make advertisements, or information videos. Even individuals sometimes want wedding / holiday videos edited to something fun and attractive. If you can get into this field and show good results, word-of-mouth should help you to make a decent amount of money.
Babysitting services
While India does not have the babysitting-culture of America, in larger housing societies there is always the chance that there might be a requirement for someone to look after a child while the parents are out at work or for an evening out. While daycare centers generally handle children during the day (and working at one is a viable alternative), looking after children during the later evenings so that their parents can go out for an evening is a useful service which high-income families will be happy to spend on. You can also offer to be the chaperone for groups of children when they are left alone. Needless to say, only try this if you genuinely love being around and looking after children
Pet services
Apart from babies, what many grown-ups love next best are their pets. Dogs and cats are much-loved members of families. But working men and women may not always have time to take their dogs out for walks, or to groom their cats. This is where services like dog-walking come in, and pet owners pay fairly handsomely for this. You can also be paid for looking after the pets while owners go on vacation, or if you have some skills that way, towards grooming the cute little animals
Lifeguard jobs
Are you a good swimmer? Does your city have swimming pools or a beach? Safety regulations make lifeguards mandatory at any swimming facility, from five-star hotels to club pools. Apply for a lifeguard job if you love spending time in the open and in the water. Sure, it isn’t nearly as glamorous a job in India as some American TV series might indicate, but it’s a job that serves a worthy purpose to society and will earn you decent money.
Car Washing
As the number of cars in India grows exponentially, so does the demand for keeping those cars washed and clean. Not everyone can take their cars to a carwash regularly, and neither is it possible to do it themselves. Look up some videos on YouTube for how to wash a car quickly, safely and thoroughly without damaging the car’s surface, and see if you can make some extra money by cleaning your neighbour’s cars. One hour’s work every morning should let you clean three cars and make over a thousand rupees a month, probably more if it is a good area with richer people and fancier cars.
Work in Retail
As India’s retail boom unfolds, there is a huge demand for smart youngsters who can speak well and make sales. Malls and standalone shops both need good salepersons to make a good impression on customers, and the sales incentives are good for such jobs. On the other hand, these do need a more committed time, so check if you can balance your college with this sort of job. But it does teach a person a lot about life and prepares you for challenges ahead.
Fitness training
If you are someone with a penchant for fitness and have been going to a gym for a few years, you can opt for a summer / after-college job as a fitness trainer. This usually requires taking a certification, so ensure you get yourself qualified to be a fitness trainer. In the medium – to – long term, fitness training can even be a lucrative career option, so exploring it on a part-time basis when you are young would be a good idea.
Freelance writing
And last but certainly not least, explore the option of making money by writing, if you have a flair for it. Websites (like Indianyouth.net) want to hear from you, the Youth of India, to understand and explore your opinions and beliefs. So look for paying jobs, though these are not the most lucrative, and channel your creativity into something that allows you to make some decent pocketmoney!
