Back to School? Why Part-Time, Remote Work Is for You

Right about now, campuses across the country are becoming repopulated as students return to pursue degrees in everything from artificial intelligence to industrial design, or from journalism to zoology. Like many students, you might pick up a part-time gig restocking clothes or brewing lattes in order to offset tuition costs. But unless your dream job includes “fashion merchandiser” or “barista,” why waste time on employment that doesn’t get you any further along your path?

Instead, use the tips below to pick up part-time, remote work in your discipline that offers the chance to build up expertise while funding your education.

The Key to Keywords

Online job postings contain all sorts of terms that clue you in to the level of experience the position requires. The trick is knowing what keywords to include in your search. “Freelance, “part-time,” and “entry-level” are the obvious ones. But don’t forget to add detailed qualifiers like “junior,” and even “specialist” to your query.

For instance, if you search the Remote.co job board for developer roles, you’ll find a big difference in the qualifications for engineers as opposed to specialists: the former comes with hefty degree requirements and hour commitments, while the latter focuses more on general industry understanding with greater flexibility—ideal for those who have yet to earn a college credential.

Internship, Schminternship

If you’re heading into your third or fourth year of postsecondary education, the chatter around internships has likely intensified. While most institutions encourage students to participate in these programs—and some even make them mandatory—you’ll find there may be some wiggle room here.

Internships offered through the college are often set up out of convenience for the institution rather than the students, and there’s no guarantee that they pay well. Do yourself a favor by seeking out a remote internship (or an entry-level remote gig) in your field that satisfies your program’s knowledge requirements. Every course in your discipline has certain knowledge milestones that need to be met, and there are ever-evolving tech tools you can become familiar with in the process. If you can land a paid virtual internship that also meets these criteria, then it’s a win-win!

Turn Over (Almost) Every Stone

A Google search for “part-time remote job” currently yields 199 million results; as the saying goes, “Ain’t nobody got time for that!” Employing specific keywords is one thing, but it also helps to know some of the better places you can put them to work. Sites like FlexJobs, Upwork, AngelList, and Remote.co are fantastic resources for scrappy upstarts (yes, you) who may be looking to supplement income during school and hit the ground running after graduation. Remote job seekers should take care to vet their search portals (hint: not all are created equal). Insight can also be found through the blogs on Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and FlexJobs. Best of all, you don’t have to be based out of a major U.S. hub in order to launch and continue your remote career.

In the coming years, nearly two million young professionals will walk across the commencement stage—proverbial or otherwise—to accept a postsecondary degree in their chosen field. On the other side of that stage looms rent, utility bills, moving expenses, and those dreaded student debt repayment plans. It’s the perfect time to expand your expertise, pad your bank account, and altogether prepare for your career by diving into the future of employment—remote work.

Ready to start looking for remote work? Browse open remote jobs. 

Photo Credit: bigstockphoto.com

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By Kristi DePaul | Categories: Work Remotely

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