Start working in your field
Many college students seek part-time jobs to help them pay for tuition and school supplies. These jobs are usually in restaurants, retail stores and in various departments of their college. There is another way that college students can make money part-time while attending college. College students who are majoring in certain industries have an opportunity to begin working in that particular field. Culinary students can offer catering services to wedding planners and other event coordinators located near their college. Art students and those who are majoring in various areas of design can offer services to local businesses and local residents.
These services can include flyer designs, storyboards and logos. The possibilities are endless for students who can devote enough time to work part-time in the field of their choice. If you are majoring in English, it may be possible to offer tutoring and typing services to people in the area. Think about your area of study and how you can take advantage of your current skills. It is best to picture yourself as a freelancer who has already graduated. This will help you make plans on how to present yourself to potential clients.
Market yourself online and offline
You can locate clients by utilizing the services available at your college. There are numerous websites where you can post your services and portfolio. These websites include Craigslist, Backpage and Myspace. Take advantage of other popular websites such as Digg, Yahoo Answers and Newsvine as well. If you are internet savvy, you may want to set up a simple website that lists yur services and contact information.
It is important to have an online presence if you want to make this work. The internet offers the ability for people to find you on a continuing basis. This increases your chances of finding more clients and making sales. It is also important to read announcements for jobs between classes and during lunch. Many colleges have a designated area where freelance jobs are posted for students. Freelance notices are great ways to find clients and make extra money.
Set competitive prices
Small businesses and local residents may have small budgets for certain projects. This is one reason why it is wise to set low prices for your services. You may not be able to charge average prices while attending school. There may be numerous professionals in your area that have more experience than you do. They are able to charge high prices because they have the skills and the credentials.
Most people expect to pay low rates when dealing with college students. Entrepreneurs and new business owners usually contact college students for a particular service because they are operating on a low budget. Some college students may think that these circumstances are not worth the work and they will be underpaid. It is possible to make a decent amount of money by marketing yourself aggressively and charging low rates. You may be able to get more clients due to the competitive prices.
Always do high quality work
Just because you are a college student does not mean that you can provide flawed services. It is crucial to treat each job as if it is the most important one that you have received. If you are a fashion design student working on a prom dress, act like you are a designer for Ann Klein. By treating each project like it is top notch, you will be able to build a great portfolio. It will even benefit you in the area of experience.
You may also be able to combine your job projects with current homework and mid-term assignments. In this case, you are able to make money and get your work done while in college. Students who work in their field while in college end up with a great resume upon graduation. This can put you at an advantage over your peers. Having a great resume will increase your chances of being hired at the company of your choice.
