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The coronavirus pandemic has impacted the American economy and workforce in unprecedented ways, and not just by hurting working adults. High schoolers and college kids use the spring to apply for summer jobs that can help them build their resumes to have an edge entering the job market post-graduation. Still, with fewer jobs available and companies hesitant to hire, it can be tough for anyone, let alone less experienced teens, to find a job these days.
Luckily, there are tons of interesting, albeit unconventional, jobs you can work online as a teenager. Whether you have existing skills you want to capitalize on or need the experience to build a resume, you can still find something that works for you. Here are things teens can do to earn cash safely and experience without leaving home.
1. Fiverr
Fiverr is the essential marketplace for the gig economy, and anyone older than 13 can sign up. You can use any skill and turn it into a small side gig on Fiverr. Tasks include design, writing, art, or anything else you can think of. Most basic tasks will earn you $5, but over time you can earn more per task as you build up a portfolio. As you work on and improve skills, you can add them to your resume too.
2. Swagbucks
Using Swagbucks is a great way to earn cash without doing anything other than what you probably already do every day. You can earn points on the site by watching videos, surfing the web, and shopping online. As you build up points, you can convert them into gift cards linked to popular brands or get a cash payout through PayPal. Swagbucks also lets you take surveys for rewards, so there are plenty of easy ways to earn here.
3. Etsy
Etsy is a bit like Fiverr because it lets you turn some of your skills into cash, but Etsy involves a bit more creativity. On Etsy, you can make and sell anything – jewelry, paintings, birdhouses, wedding invitations, masks, etc. – and get the experience of running a self-started business. The more you sell, the better you get at crafting, meaning you’ll be able to charge higher prices and grow your brand.
4. Humanatic
If you’ve ever called a customer service hotline, you’ve probably heard this familiar disclaimer: “This call may be recorded for quality assurance.” But have you wondered who actually listens to those recordings? Well, maybe you! Humanatic hires people as young as 17 to listen to pre-recorded phone calls, provide simple feedback, and earn cash. All you need to sign up for is a PayPal account, and you can start right away. You can choose your hours too, but Humanatic recommends you work between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. EST.
5. Inbox Dollars
Similar to Swagbucks, Inbox Dollars rewards you with cash and gift cards for completing simple online tasks. Since starting in 2000, Inbox Dollars has paid users more than $59 million in rewards for using the internet. To earn money, you can take surveys, play games, or watch videos. The site also has unique offers, such as coupons and cashback deals during online shopping. You can even earn rewards by simply reading emails that Inbox Dollars will send right to your, well, inbox!
6. National Consumer Panel
If you apply to be a panelist for the NCP on iOS or Android, you’ll have the opportunity to earn cash by shopping normally and sharing your opinion on the things you purchase. You’ll be given access to NCP’s exclusive barcode scanner app, where you’ll log what you buy and provide feedback. NCP rewards you with points, which you can redeem for gift cards or prizes like tablets, flat-screen TVs, and more. You’ll need to save up over time to land one of the big rewards, but there’s also a quarterly $5,000 sweepstakes for panelists that you’ll be entered into automatically!
Take advantage of scanning in your entire family’s purchases for more points, as the more you scan, the more rewards you can get.
7. UpWork
More than 5 million businesses use UpWork to find reliable freelancers to complete various tasks. As long as you’re at least 18, you can sign up as a freelancer in fields such as:
- Writing
- Sales and marketing
- Customer service
- Engineering and architecture
What sets UpWork apart from other gig sites like Fiverr is that you’ll sign contracts with companies when they hire you for a job. While you may start doing simple tasks for small pay, the more you put into UpWork, the more you’ll get out of it.
8. U-Haul
U-Haul, one of the biggest moving and storage companies in the country, often hires teenagers to fill customer service positions. The company hires teens as young as 16 to work the phones from home and take customer calls. All you need to qualify is a computer, a decent internet connection, and a headset. Hours are flexible, and U-Haul schedules customer service reps to work as needed.
9. Slice The Pie
While this is probably more of an interesting hobby than a job, Slice The Pie earns a spot on this list for its ease to use and fun concept. To earn money, all you need to do is listen to a song, rate it from 1 to 10, and give a short review. You usually won’t earn more than a few cents per review, but it’s quick and a good way to make a few bucks and find new music,
