It’s a whole new era for income earners! The sky’s the limit!
Getting a job can be tough but especially if you have disabilities that have prevented you from gaining experience. But, for most of us, not working isn’t an option. Keep reading for ways to get your own gig going and tips on how to handle the interview process if starting your own business isn’t your goal.
A New Way to Work
Technology has made self-employment a reality for a huge chunk of today’s workforce. Whether you want to work at home or are simply looking for opportunities to contract, you’ll find them online. A few of the best freelance/contract work platforms include:
If you’re a dog person, Rover has people and pets that want to meet you. By becoming a dog walker, pet sitter, or boarder, you’ll get to turn your passion for pups into a paycheck. Rover offers the chance to book your own appointments and set your own rates and ensures you are paid for your time. It’s a turnkey platform for aspiring entrepreneurs that don’t have the time to devote to establishing a new business.
If you like to drive and don’t mind darting around town with food in your car, DoorDash can whet your appetite for employment and flexibility. As a Dasher, you might drop off waffles for a stay-at-home mom’s kid’s breakfast and deliver a tofu salad to a professional office building. Every day is a new culinary adventure. Sign up here.
Here’s another driving gig that can get you out of the house but without leaving a lingering food smell after each project. As a Lyft (or Uber) driver, you set your own times that you’re available. Drive around, accept pickup requests, deliver your client to their location, and get paid.
If you’re quick like a bunny and have a handy skill, you can multiply your earnings as a handyman, cleaner or personal assistant through TaskRabbit. Set your own rates and only accept the jobs you want to do. You can register as a tasker on the company’s website.
Starting a Drop-Ship Business
You aren’t limited to pre-planned opportunities. If you’re aggressive and don’t mind a little hard work locating clients, you might also consider starting your own business drop-shipping in-demand products. A drop-ship business model is one of the few truly low-risk ventures. Basically, you pick a product, market it under your own brand and have the manufacturer ship directly to your customer. You pay a wholesale price for the merchandise and keep whatever profit you’ve built into your pricing structure.
A career as a dog trainer is a rewarding one indeed.
Becoming Dog Trainer
We’re biased here at Pro-Train. We love what we do and we want to train others who have the same passion for helping canines and their clients. Becoming a dog trainer is one of the most rewarding careers and offers many opportunities for flexibility and income potential. To learn more about becoming a dog trainer, check out the Best Selling Book by our Founder, Mark “Dogman” Castillero. More than a Dog Trainer: Making it Big in the Dog Training Industry details all the steps and preparations for becoming a dog trainer.
Acing an Interview
If you’d rather stick with traditional employment, you’ll first need to get yourself in the doors for an interview. If you don’t have any experience, however, you’ll need to outshine the competition by proving you’re qualified. This starts by presenting a great resume.
Resume Companion lists three resume types: chronological, functional and combination. You may want to steer clear of chronological if you haven’t held a job before or have gaps in your work history. A functional resume gives you the space to showcase your talents and achievements without drawing attention to blank spaces in your professional past.
If you manage to snag an interview, you’ll need to be prepared to answer tough questions. Monster contributor Martin Yate explains that recruiters are looking for applicants that understand the position in which they are applying, have relevant skills and are enthusiastic. Make sure you know about the company and can highlight past experience, even if its unpaid experience — volunteering in the church nursery at the very least shows you aren’t afraid of hard work.
If you want (or need) to earn an income, but you have issues that prevent certain types of employment, starting your own business is a good way to go. But there’s no reason you can’t clock in and out in a 9-to-5 either.
