This year has not been kind to our bank accounts.
Many workers who have managed to hold on to their jobs have been forced to take pay cuts or unpaid leave.
And with the economy in tatters, finding a job isn’t exactly easy, especially for older employees.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do if you want to make some extra cash and supplement your income.
Here are five such gigs you can take up:
1. foodpanda Rider
Now, I know what you’re thinking: who doesn’t know about foodpanda as an option to make extra cash?
But did you know that foodpanda riders can make up to $10,000 per month?
See, foodpanda operates on a dynamic service fee scheme.
This means that the fee per delivery is dependent on a few factors, such as the distance travelled, vehicle type, the zone, time of deliveries, acceptance rate, and batch.
You can choose to deliver goods on an e-bike, motorbike, or bicycle.
No vehicle? No problem. The company even provides free bicycle rentals for their riders!
In fact, foodpanda has set up a scheme where riders could potentially rent to own their bicycles!
As long as you rent your e-bike for a certain consecutive number of payments, you’ll get to own the ebike.
Besides that, one of the best things about delivering as a foodpanda rider is the amazing flexibility.
Choose when you want to deliver, where you want to deliver, and for how long, as there isn’t a minimum number of hours required.
Reader: But why should I choose foodpanda?
Well, for one, foodpanda riders get attractive service fees that go up to $25/hour.
Moreover, foodpanda riders can choose the areas in which they want to deliver.
Yes, riders can actually choose among several delivery zones, meaning they can make deliveries close to home.
While weekly incentives differ from week to week, riders can make an additional $50 every week, which is an extra $200 in the bank every month.
Other perks include discounts with selected partners, free monthly foodpanda and grocery vouchers, and regular competitions where you can win prizes such as e-bikes and iPads.
It’s not a stretch to say that being a foodpanda rider may be the best freelancing job out there at the moment.
And if you’re dreading the application process, you’ll be happy to know that the application can be completed online.
All you have to do is complete an online application, get verified over a phone call, and get the necessary equipment sent to your doorstep.
Or you can apply, head straight down to foodpanda’s hub, buy equipment and start delivering immediately!
Once you join the foodpanda gang, you’ll be part of an ever-growing community of foodpanda riders.
Hot tip: For a limited time, new riders will get an extra $50 if they complete 20 orders in 7 days. Apply here now! Whatcha waiting for?
Oh and if you become a rider and get some of your friends to join, you can make up to $485 for each referral!
Plus, you get to wear this beautiful shade of pink, which looks good on anyone.
2. Social Distancing Officer
You’re probably aware of social distancing officers, or safe distancing ambassadors.
These were the people uncles and aunties used to argue with at coffee shops at the start of the circuit breaker.
These officers have been walking the ground every day since the circuit breaker kicked in, keeping residents safe.
Their job is to ensure that those outside their homes wear their masks properly and keep a safe distance from one another.
Some patrol hawker centres, some monitor parks, while others work in shopping malls.
A quick search online shows that social distancing officers can earn around $2,500 a month, depending on the client’s needs.
The only issue is that you’ll have to go through an agency to get the job, and you’ll have to contend with inflexible working hours.
3. Tutor
It probably won’t surprise you that 7 in 10 parents send their children for tuition.
Just like discovering McSpicy and guzzling bubble tea, getting tuition is an essential part of growing up in Singapore.
And since so many children are in need of extra classes, there’s no shortage of demand for tutors.
So, how do you go about becoming one?
You should first determine what subjects you want to teach, and prepare your lessons.
Then, you’ll have to get your first few students so you can strengthen your credentials as an educator.
This can be done in a number of ways, including:
- interning at a tuition centre
- tutoring your friends, family members, or neighbours
Once you have some experience, you’ll be able to engage private tuition agencies for assignments.
So, are there any drawbacks?
Well, while you don’t have to be an expert to become a tutor, you will need experience and some qualifications.
According to Cocotutors, tutors need at least an A-Level certificate or a Diploma to work with students, as parents may not hire you otherwise
There will also be higher demand for those with degrees in certain fields. So, if you can hardly remember what you studied in school, this may not be the job for you.
4. Waiter
With F&B establishments opening up as the number of Covid-19 infections dwindle, waiters are once again in high demand.
Just like there’ll always be buyers for the iPhone, one good thing about being a waiter is that there’ll almost always be openings, though the Covid-19 pandemic temporarily ruined that.
According to Payscale, waiters and waitresses in Singapore earn an average of $8.22 per hour, depending on the restaurant and position.
There are, however, a few downsides to working as a waiter.
For one, you might have to deal with fussy and demanding customers, which will even raise the blood pressure of a meditating monk.
Also, if you have another job, a kid to look after, or have something else in your life that constantly demands your attention, this may not be the job for you, as it rarely offers a flexible work schedule.
5. Online Gigs as a Freelancer (Fiverr, Upwork)
What’s better than working in the comfort of your own home?
If you’re a writer, editor, designer, social media manager, recruiter, tutor, or even a musician, you can find online gigs on sites like Fiverr and Upwork.
This allows you to work whenever you want, without having to physically interact with other humans, which is always nice.
In addition to the flexibility and independence, you’ll also have the freedom of clients, meaning you don’t have to work with difficult clients if you don’t want to.
Essentially, you’re running your own business online and choosing the clients and projects you wish to work on.
On freelancer sites like Fiverr and Upwork, sellers (you) offer their services online, such as content writing or video editing, and set their expected pay.
Buyers (the client) then have the option to choose to work with you, if they like what they see on your profile, such as your experience, previous jobs, and reviews.
While working as a freelancer sounds like the perfect job, it’s not without its disadvantages.
The problem with freelancing, especially at the beginning, is that no buyer will choose you because you have no reviews.
They typically go for sellers who have completed many assignments, and who are rated highly by their buyers.
Building your reputation will not only take time, but may cost you money.
At the beginning, in order to entice buyers, you might have to lower your expected pay, since you have no reviews to prove your worth.
You can also never be certain about your income, as you might have a great week with several buyers engaging you, and then receive no calls for the rest of the month.
This inconsistent work and cash flow can place a lot of stress on sellers.
This article was first published on Goodyfeed.com and written in collaboration with foodpanda Singapore.
Featured Image: i viewfinder / Shutterstock.com
