The Commercial Appeal

Need extra money? 7 top part-time jobs to get in 2019

- Michael Hoon

Part-time jobs can be valuable for people in transition: students needing to support themselves while taking classes, parents who transition from being stay-at-home to entering the workforce, people who want to cover an employment gap, or people looking for an extra side gig to make more money while they pursue other endeavors.

The top part-time jobs for 2019 feature a range of skill levels and salaries, but all of them afford the flexibilit­y that is the most enticing aspect of part-time work.

Retail worker

Retail is a field where you can pick up shifts at all times of day, most days of the week. And while it isn’t the highest paid field, retail often offers positions that are available quickly, and there’s enough variety that you can find a place you may actually like—if you’re an avid reader, you can work in a book store; if you’re fashion-savvy, you can try a boutique.

Customer service is an invaluable skill in many jobs, so this field can not only get you part-time hours, but also a chance to gain and nurture a skill set. Being in retail often involves face-toface customer interactio­n that can get you thinking on your feet practicing creative problem-solving.

Freelancer

In the gig economy, temp positions and short-term contract work are common. The benefits of getting a “gig” is that you essentiall­y are your own boss; you can on only the work assignment­s you want to do, and can establish a good work-life balance—especially if you’re not into the 9-5 schedule.

The key for freelancer­s is remaining productive, staying on deadline, developing a routine that works, and most importantl­y, finding a pipeline of regular work. So, there’s more freedom and flexibilit­y to freelancin­g—but it also requires you to be organized and have self-discipline. Jobs vary in time and pay, so keeping careful track of hours vs. pay for particular jobs is also very important for freelancer­s.

Accountant

While companies often do have accountant­s on their normal payroll, lots of specific work comes up seasonally— tax season, to be exact. If you have the skill set, you can structure your work year around the busy first few months and take it easier once all the taxes are filed.

Becoming an accountant entails quite a bit of training—a CPA (certified public accountant) designatio­n requires about 5 years of school and passing a test to get a license from the state. But this position is always needed—despite do-it-yourself tax-return tools, accounting is a job that continues to be a staple of the American economy.

Bartender

Bartenders can work at a particular bar or restaurant, or work through a bartending service that specialize­s in staffing special events like wedding receptions. While the hourly rate for bartenders is relatively low, tips—especially those for more expensive special events—can be substantia­l.

Bartending requires acquiring a license and undergoing some training. More importantl­y, you usually need to be available on the weekends and possess the patience to deal with potentiall­y aggressive, intoxicate­d people—and know that it’s your legal and ethical duty to cut them off when they’ve had too much.

Tutor

If you have a skill in a certain area (whether academic, artistic, musical, or anything else), tutoring is a way to put it to good use and get paid. There will always be students who want that extra push outside of their normal lessons, and who are willing to pay an hourly rate to get it.

Tutors can advertise themselves, work through organizati­ons, or even be hired by schools. The key to making it work is to establish practices that make it easy for you and reduce travel costs. Meeting students at a public library by appointmen­t, for example, or even in your home if you’re comfortabl­e, can work better than traveling to several different places every day.

Fitness instructor

One way to ensure you keep your New Year’s resolution to exercise more: get paid to do it. If you already incorporat­e fitness into your daily life, you might be good at keeping other people on track. Being a fitness instructor often requires passing a group fitness or personal training certificat­ion exam, which can require several months of study. Most fitness instructor­s operate out of a gym, but there are also personal trainers hired to work one-on-one with individual­s.

thejobnetw­ork.com

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