Best freelance work for recent grads

After graduating, it’s natural to want to jump right into finding a full-time job and going full steam ahead with your career. But it’s not often that easy, no matter your degree. Often, it’s a much easier and more effective path to start with freelance or contract work. This work is more flexible, sometimes easier to get than a full-time role, and pays well.

For those adept at writing, graphic design, editing, teaching, administrative duties, and many other skills, freelancing is an excellent option for recent grads. Here are some of the best freelance roles you can scope once your college career ends.

Best freelance work:

Freelance writer

Being a freelance writer is a wonderful avenue to explore, especially for someone who has a writing background or is trying to break into a field like journalism, marketing, or digital media. Doing freelance writing gives you the chance to hone your writing skills, get some experience and build a portfolio, and sometimes set your own rate for work and be your own business.

One of the best things about writing as a freelancer is that you may even discover that you enjoy it enough to want to turn it into a business venture. There are countless writers whose sole income is earned through client work, writing anything from journalistic articles to website copy to SEO content. Ultimately, it’s a great way to start making money and get yourself out there as a newly-graduated professional.

Tutoring/teaching

Do you feel like you’ve learned a lot from your schooling and have the desire to pay it forward? Online teaching/tutoring is a great way to do that and earn some good money in the process. There are apps and websites that allow you to teach subjects like English, and you don’t need a teaching degree to do it. In many cases, you can set your own hours and make your own schedule, taking on only as much work as you need and can handle. This is a great way to earn some money while you also start trying to break into your field and carve your career path.

Virtual Assistant

Another great way to earn serious money and still have the flexibility that a contract/freelance role provides is by being a virtual assistant. This job often entails working for CEOs or entrepreneurs who need someone to help them stay organized and keep track of their work and schedules. This is an excellent option for you if you’re a supremely organized person with a knack for time management and busy work. Virtual assisting might require some flexibility on your end just to ensure that you’re communicating with your superior when they need you around. Still, if you can manage that part of it, it can be a rewarding and exciting opportunity.

And you never know where it leads you; you could end up with a chance for advancement if you make an impression.

Freelancing is a great way to start networking and building connections, especially if an ultimate goal is to create your own business one day. A recent study from Inc and Go found that 56% of business owners cite networking as a top experience to have before starting a business. Freelancing is an excellent option for those looking for more flexibility in their work.

— Article by Sean Kelly. In addition to being an analyst researching the latest industry trends for College Recruiter, Sean Kelly also co-founded a nonprofit local news publication in Savannah, GA called The Savannahian.