Earn while you learn

The concept of taking up a part-time job while studying in a college or university is fast becoming popular in India, with a plethora of new opportunities.

During the middle of the pandemic last year, an ecommerce company was running through a huge project and was looking for several people with basic skills to translate from English to Indian languages.

I passed on the query to many students, including Anil. Working tirelessly from morning till night, seven days a week for four months, Anil earned a few lakhs, apart from the satisfaction of completing a rewarding project.

Why take up a part-time job?

First, taking up a part-time job can reduce the financial burden on your family.

As a student, you also tend to live in your own world, oblivious to life outside academia. A part-time job can help prepare you for your professional career ahead.

The excitement of earning while learning can do wonders to your self-confidence, as you imbibe a higher level of discipline, responsibility, time management, adding immense value to your budding personality.

Choosing the job

It is important that you have an idea of what career you like to pursue after your academics and choose a part-time job accordingly

Content development: If you are passionate about writing and have strong command over language, you can opt for a part-time job in this line, which can be done from the comfort of home. Apart from writing original content, opportunities exist for digitising existing content too.

Language and translation services: Another related area which is in great demand is translation, transcription, voiceovers, subtitling. Choose this job if you are proficient in multiple languages.

Database management: Customer data is extensively used by companies to market their products. Creating new databases and updating existing data has been a major source of jobs for students since long. Typically, you may need to call a customer and validate the data.

CRM related services: This involves working on loyalty programs, getting customer feedback, focusing customer segments etc.

Retailing and market research: Marketing activities like new product launches, promotions, sampling etc. require a lot of human resources for a short period of time. Such companies prefer recruiting students to assist in these activities.

Hospitality: Restaurants and cafes have always been a traditional source of part-time jobs for students and the opportunities have only increased due to changed life-style, and plenty of Quick Service Restaurants.

Events and exhibitions: Exhibitions continue to play an important role in marketing products and services There are many part-time roles available like managing ticketing and seating visitors, welcoming and managing guests, overseeing arrangements etc.

Media: The proliferation of print, electronic and online media has increased and with it, opportunities for students, as they represent the community generally targeted by media to propagate the business.

Corporate assignments: Whether it’s brick and mortar offices or the new norm WFM culture, opportunities to assist businesses continue to keep coming up. It could just be a job for a few days to strengthen an existing team or a summer internship, working for an organization helps you to prepare for a lucrative career.

(The author is a management and career consultant based at Bengaluru)