The online world has changed everything, including jobs for teens! And summer is a great time to jump in to learn new marketable skills! Even if your kids don’t make a ton of money initially, they might discover a whole new way of interacting with the world! And with the global, gig economy that they’ll be living and working in, that’s a win all the way around!
If you’re looking for more traditional ways of making money for kids, check out 18 Rock Solid Job for Teens that build skills and confidence!
Below, we’ve compiled a list of great summer jobs for your tweens and teens that are all online!
Artist
There used to be this idea that all artists were starving, but with online opportunities, it’s so easy to reach a global market. Budding artists can sell through established sites like Etsy, start their own website or even do live sales on social media sites.
Blogger
Successful bloggers bound; they make money with ads, product promotions, affiliate programs and selling their own eBooks and products. For teens who have a specific interest, blogging might be great. Set a writing schedule, reach out to favorite vendors and start building an audience!
Bookkeeper
Is your kiddo good with numbers and organized, learning bookkeeping is a great way to generate some income. Small businesses are often on the lookout for honest, competent number crunchers to keep them on track. Learning popular programs, like QuickBooks, will create even more marketability!
Content Creator
Every business needs online content. Everything from articles to short videos for social media, to training materials! If your student can create a good copy, is confident in front of a camera, or understands graphic design, becoming a content creator might be a perfect fit for them!
Copywriting
Every business needs a copy. From sales copy, to emailing and social media, there is always a job for a solid writer; especially one who can turn a phrase and get the sale!
Create and sell Educational Materials
From printables to unit studies, people of all ages are making money on ther own websites as well as at places like Teachers Pay Teachers. The best content is easy to use, fun and colorful, has clear objectives and shows a clear success path.
eBook Author
Creating eBooks up levels the copywriting opportunity. Many businesses use eBooks for training, opt-ins and as products. Being able to take a concept and turn it into an eBook is definitely a marketable skill!
Give Your Kids the Gift of Freedom!
Learning Entrepreneurial skills will be useful throughout your teen’s life, particularly in the global, gig economy in which they’ll be working! Our 1 semester class gives your kids practical, applicable, marketable tools to equip them for success! Shark Tank challenges make True North Academy’s Entrepreneurship class a engaging win for everyone!
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurship can take many forms- from creating the product, providing a service or re-selling. Understanding the basics of Entrepreneurship allows our kids to see opportunities in new ways and around many corners!
Graphic Design
Understanding the basics of a graphics program like Canva gives your kids the skills necessary to create flyers, eBooks, social media graphics, and so much more! Offer graphic design as a stand alone or pair it with blogging, content creation and entrepreneurship for a winning combo!
Investor
Teach your kids the basics of investment and let them play the stock market. Give them a set amount of money- save $100- and a specific time to invest. Help them track their earnings and losses. You might be training the next Warren Buffet!
Online reseller
We have a friend who went to thrift stores to find Revere ware pot lids. He listed them by number and corresponding pot and made thousands each year- off of selling pot lids! Seriously folks, find something that people are always looking for- like parts for board games- find a place to find the parts and sell online. Again, it’s a global market and connecting people to the little things that they are looking for in life is something many people are willing to pay for.
Photographer
Of course, students can learn to do graduation, baby or wedding pictures. They can also sell stock photos, or provide image based content to other content creators, bloggers and small businesses.
Podcast personality
Podcasting is booming right now. It’s a great way for teens to develop so many skills, particularly if they interview others for their show. Home in on a topic, and then plan out the first several podcasts, decide the length of time, add some graphics, hop on Audacity and learn some basic editing and get recording! Gather a following and add sponsorships and vendors.
Professional Organizer
Does your teen has the gift of organization, there’s no reason why they need to be limited to local. Organizing clothes, offices, kids rooms- people are always on the lookout for great ideas that will help them live their best life!
Review for Profit and Product
Have you ever left a review on Yelp or Amazon? Get official and do reviews for fun and profit. This is a form of copywriting, so students should learn how to write an honest- and helpful review and get free products, experiences and opportunities!
Career Exploration
This class focuses on vocational and career exploration. Students will understand their strengths, challenges, and more as they prepare to launch as adults in a complex, digital, and fast-changing world!
- Students will leave class with a Personal Pathway based on strengths, interests, passions, and gifting paired with real-world career exploration.
- The student will identify spheres of possibility instead of a single job or career.
- Students will also create an occupational interest inventory.
Video\grapher
Have a teen that loves to take videos? Learn some skills and hire yourself out for events, like proposals, weddings, graduations and reunions.
Virtual Assistants
Virtual Assistants can do many things, from managing emails and messages, to social media page and group moderating, to helping with marketing campaigns. Teens can focus on a specific social media or aspect of marketing or get training as a generalist. There are great training programs online -some free and others that cost.
YouTuber
With free publishing capabilities innovative teens can go online, share their expertise or opinions, gather a following. Having a specific focus helps as does learning about SEO, having a cover graphic, promoting and more.
While many of these “jobs” weren’t around even a few years ago, there really is so much opportunity online. And while the term “digital native” is a bit of a misnomer, most teens seem to adapt and learn new tech quickly. So, why not let them dive into the online world, build some skills, learn, fail and possibly develop some lifelong interests and even career specialties!
Summertime is a great time for your kids to dive into the world of paid work. Not only will they earn spending money or money to invest, but they’ll gain valuable life skills!
Resources
Check out FREE the SMART Goals printable worksheet.
Be sure to check out our other Marketable Skills Classes: Accounting, Copywriting Electronics, Video Editing, Photography and Digital Tech and Entrepreneurship! These classes will save you both time and money and take your young adult farther, faster!
