10 skills that can earn you income in college
Coming from a computing perspective these skills about to be listed are skills that’ll require a decent amount of computer skills but don’t worry, most are easy to learn and some only involve pushing buttons. The best part about this list is, every skill listed here can be learned for free via the internet and generally require zero capital to then turn it into a business.
I’ll also be leaving a few pieces as to their level of difficulties and how to get started! Here they are:
1. Social Media Manager (easy)
The first skill on this list is basically something anyone can do if they choose to. As the name implies, this skill only requires you to have a knowledge of social media and understand how to properly interact and engage with the audience on them. The best part about this skill is, all the tools you’ll need can be found on your smartphone and once you get a hang of this, you can easily reach out to brands and businesses and offer your services to them at a fee.
2. Photography and video editing (medium)
Typically these two are different but it is always better when an individual is able to master both simultaneously. Although this can easily be spun off into a content creator’s role (we’ll get to that in a moment), having a decent skill with photos and videos and how to make them visually more aesthetic can easily land you gigs to help sustain yourself throughout college.
3. Writing (medium)
Writing is slightly tricky because there are different forms of writing. One of the most popular and widely marketed ones is copywriting and this takes a decent amount of time to get good at. Other forms of writing include technical writing, which is writing geared towards specific areas of interest, others include translation, creative writing, etc, all with their own specifics and peculiarities.
4. Web development/ Coding (Hard)
This is perhaps one of the hardest on the list but easily the best selling one with the highest market value but coding can be hard and it takes a whole lot of time to become really good at it. There are many languages one can learn but a basic arsenal will be to learn how to write HTML5, CSS3, and Javascript (Es6) code — none of which is basic in any sense, but if you’ve got a knack for nerdy and geeky stuff and don’t mind putting in the sometimes enormous amount of hours involved in it, then this skill is one you might just want to take on.
Also, it does involve a decent amount of investment, a PC for starters, and a decent amount of internet access too.
5. UI/UX design (medium)
User Interface and User Experience design — UI/UX as it is popularly referred to by geeks is a sub-skill to coding and web development but it isn’t ranked medium for that reason because this is a design and imagination-based skill and that varies with different people. Hopefully, this spells out that User Interface and User Experience design aren’t easy but it’s great if you have an eye for colors and pretty things. And yes! You’ll be needing a PC for this one too.
6. Social media marketer (medium)
Let’s jump back to social media for a few more minutes because it possibly is the one space where the economics of the world needs as many hands as possible (although there is the threat of AI’s getting involved — but no need for conspiracy theories just yet). Brands and businesses, even influencers all over social media are looking to break through to their customers and audience and are willing to invest in advertising through marketing on social media. Having this skill easily puts you in business with these businesses and influencers.
7. Social media influencer (medium)
Everyone sort of understands the scope of this, but this is increasingly becoming a marketable and monetized skill in our dispensation. Although it’ll sometimes involve other skills including social media management, social media marketing, and also photo and video-editing skills, it’s a skill that can be monetized once it gains momentum. Creating educative content or entertaining content will improve the chances of growing this skill — but understand it takes a decent amount of time to gain credibility and authority on social media, so be sure you are willing to invest the time required.
8. Flipping and Dropshipping (medium)
This sways between medium and hard from a level of difficulty perspective but the concept is simple! You sell to interested customers without holding inventory of anything — i.e. you sell something owned or created by someone else like it was your creation (which is also similar to affiliate marketing)
Flipping is simply getting an item cheaper and selling it again for profit.
Although this skill can easily spin into a lot of other skills already covered in this article such as copywriting, social media marketing, photo/video editing, etc.
9. Content creator (medium)
This is a mix of photo/video editing skills, social media management, writing, and graphic skills and is also very useful for social media influencers. What’s interesting about this is it is a super marketable skill to both businesses and influencers. There is a saying that notes “Content is king” which denotes anyone on the media space requires content to stay relevant and lots of people will offer you their money if you can help create and maintain content for them
10. SMM service provider (easy)
This is perhaps a super easy skill to learn and only requires a smartphone. There is a complete guide (not free) on how to get started with SMM services and how to market them to clients. You can make a killing just with this skill all alone if you are able to understand the underlying points peculiar to it.
Hopefully, you are interested in one or some of these skills but you’re uncertain about how to begin always remember the internet is the best resource available to you, so get digging and start making some money for yourself even while in college.
If there are particular questions you’ll desire more insights on reach out to me via email and hopefully, I can point you in the right direction and offer you tools to speed up your learning process. Until next time. Excelsior!
