The Philippine Online Chronicles

Business people earn from their businesses. Doctors and nurses earn by treating patients. Restaurateurs earn by serving good food.  Teachers earn a living by molding the next generation.

How about students? In the past, working students were regarded as students that are broke and forced to work part-time to be able to send themselves to school and help add to the family income. Today, with the vast information around us, several opportunities are also open for students to augment their lifestyles.

Go Online

Who doesn’t own a Facebook account these days? Lately, Facebook has launched a new feature that allows its members to set up their online-based businesses. From then on, the social networking site has been flooded with different users who had turned their accounts into commercial enterprises.  Surprisingly, many varieties of products were being sold on Facebook; pre-loved phones, laptops, clothes, shoes, and cosmetics are just a few in-demand products. Aside from Facebook, many other social networking sites have also opened their doors to this kind of business.

Compared to the more popular online shopping sites such as eBay and sulit.com, marketing products on social networking sites is much simpler. How? Many people today, especially those young ones, are not too familiar with these formal business or “buy and sell” sites. We have to admit that opportunities come when more people get to visit and participate in your business.

Below are some effective steps on how to jumpstart your online business.

1. Find and study products that will be saleable.
2. Create an account and upload the photos of these products together with their details.
3. Invite as much people as possible to see your page.
4. Prepare the policies or house rules of your online business such as order forms, return policies, shipment and payment schemes, etc.
5. Some micro entrepreneurs do meet-ups in strategic locations in Metro Manila, while others will ship the customer orders via couriers like LBC or Air21 especially for those in distant provinces.
6. If the delivery is via courier, the payment scheme is usually via GCash or bank transactions. When orders are finalized and payments have already been made, items are off to go. Just make sure to provide the client with the tracking number once the products have already been shipped.

TIP: Always beware of bogus buyers that will just fool around your page and end up buying nothing. Also, be patient in looking for the cheapest yet accountable suppliers for your products so that you can market them in the most reasonable and affordable cost.

Do Multi-level Marketing

Multi-level marketing (MLM) or network marketing is also one of the most popular sidelines not only among young professionals but also for students who are good in marketing. There are several companies that encourage students to join them as sales representatives with promising commissions that usually range from five to 10 percent; big companies would even offer commissions that ranges 15 to 25 percent. Some networking companies offer vitamins, whitening products, herbal medicines, and even cosmetics.

Among the familiar MLM companies are AIM Global, Fern-C, Amway, and Herbalife. These companies would usually conduct seminars regarding their products and also about how things are being done in this kind of business. Though they may have earned their reputation as successful networking companies, always make sure that you really understand the product you are marketing.

TIP: For you to become a good sales agent, you, yourself, must also be convinced that the product you push is the best product in town; it’s most effective when self-proven. Do not participate in pyramid schemes that pose as legitimate MLMs.

Take a Part-Time Job

Since the call center industry mushroomed in the past years, a large population of working college students has enthusiastically been hired in this field. Because of the stable yet generous starting salary of P11,000 to P18,000, many were encouraged to take part-time jobs at call centers. Due to schooling, many college students are being hired for night shifts that usually end in early mornings or hours before classes start. Setting the inconvenient schedules aside, many are still interested in this kind of job. In fact, according to the call center directory, there are 1,034 call centers in over 20 key locations in the country. This is definitely a good choice of part-time job if you are proficient in English and have good communicating skills.

If you don’t prefer to sit in an office for a really long time, there is an alternative. Since the cost of education here in the Philippines is a lot cheaper than those in other Asian countries, many Chinese and Korean students are coming to the Philippines to study and polish their English. Thus, many people are taking this as an opportunity to earn some extra cash by tutoring students in English. Tutors usually go to the students’ place at the agreed schedules of classes and are paid from P150 to P250 per hour.

Working part time in a fast-food chain is also an option. It’s a very good addition to one’s resume for future application especially if it’s a reputable company. Employment will be quite challenging because of the tight competition, but once you have passed everything, the starting compensation (ranges from P35 to P45 an hour based on the nature of work) is a big help to add a few things in the shopping cart.

Aside from these three, there are also part-time jobs that require skills and talents. If you are musically inclined, home services are a big hit nowadays with beginners who want to learn to play guitar, violin, drums, flute, and even theatrical singing. If you have a deep knowledge of your community or the Philippines in general, some travel agencies offer part-time tour guide positions during its lean seasons. Athletes, for instance, can also take a part-time job as a salesperson in a sport shop or as a trainer in the sport where they excel. Since the fashion industry is a big hit today, if you meet all the requirements, freelance models are very in demand not only on the ramp, but also in print.

TIP: Be as creative as you can to come up with your own ways to earn extra cash. Be resourceful with what you have; your talents and skills can always be your edge in job application

It’s very clear that since these activities are only part-time, studies come first. But once you have made a commitment to your employer, make sure that you work out your schedule to balance your work and studies.  Taking a part-time job, aside from boosting finances, is also an opportunity for a student to explore his hidden talents or skills and improve on them.

Among all these money-earning opportunities, the bottom line is to choose the right job that fits your personality, capability, and the amount of time you’re willing to spare. It doesn’t mean that the responsibility of a student ends with studies. College life, in particular, is a time for everyone to explore the real world. Being a working student nowadays not only addresses the students’ personal needs, it also builds self-worth.

It’s important for you to love your work,

Because that’s the only way for you to work as if you’re not.