We all know at least one person who had their salary reduced during the pandemic or someone who straight up lost their job, but thank goodness you can take on a side hustle. 

Job security has never been great in the 21st century. Being loyal to a company and having that company take care of you for your entire career seems like a legend of the past. The pandemic has only further illustrated how expendable employees really are.

It is my personal belief that one must never depend on a single source of income. You never know when that source will dry up. Whether you still have a job or are looking for one, here are some side hustle ideas to consider taking up to supplement your income during the pandemic.

Also, here are tips for working remotely.

  1. Writing

This is an obvious entry. If you have a gift with words that keeps people reading, why not try writing as a side hustle idea? 

Whether you write for a digital platform like Serious Women or become a social media caption writer, there are all kinds of writing you can try to earn a bit of money. I personally have written for digital platforms, brand website copywriting needs, and even Instagram video scripts. 

Writing can be a side hustle. Image: Pexels

As with other industries, connections are important. Building up a writing portfolio and network can help you get more writing jobs.

  1. Translating

If you are multilingual and good at it, translation services are always in demand, even in the strangest of places. For example, I have written English subtitles for a Mandarin YouTube video. 

If your grasp on both (or more) languages are decent, you can also work as a proofreader, language tutor, or meeting interpreter as a side hustle. 

  1. Customer Service

It may be the rise of the robots, but nothing beats immediate customer service with the human touch. Just Google “customer service remote jobs” and you will find a ton of listings.

A role in customer service can be a side hustle. Image: Pexels/ Yan Krukov

At some companies, you may not even have to talk on the phone. A lot of customers would prefer to e-mail, text, or live-chat through the company’s website, so you may just need to type the answers to the customers at certain hours.

Pro tip: if you are willing to be awake at odd hours in Asia, you can also be a customer service representative for companies in the United States or United Kingdom, which will be able to pay a higher rate. If you are multilingual and know Mandarin, Japanese, or Korean, you may also earn a higher rate as well due to your expertise. 

  1. Side Hustle Idea: Food/ Parcel Delivery

If sitting in front of a computer is not for you and you have a car or a motorbike, you can also consider being a delivery rider, which is one of the more common and easily obtained side hustles.

Deliver packages and food as a side hustle. Image: Pexels/ Cottonbro

Sign up is a fairly simple process for apps like Grab, Foodpanda, Lalamove, and so on. With some people afraid to leave their houses but still needing food or wanting to send gifts to their friends, delivery riders are now highly in demand, with some earning 5-figures in revenue.

However, do make sure to ride/ drive safely, rest when you are tired, and thoroughly sanitise as much as you can thorough the day. The last thing you want to do is get into an accident, or to bring the virus home to your loved ones.

  1. Selling Crafts Through E-Commerce Sites 

Are you good at crocheting, painting, baking, sewing, making accessories, or at any other passion hobbies? Someone out there may be willing to buy what you create.

If you are creative and enjoy making something with your hands, it can turn into a side hustle. Image: Pexels/ Nataliya Vaitkevich

With e-commerce sites like Shopee and Lazada geared to help people become sellers easily, you can set up your mini e-store with just a few taps on your mouse and keyboard. Make sure to take nice photos, name a fair price for your crafts, and watch revenue trickle in. 

Marketing and a good reputation is important here, so always make sure to treat your customers fairly and respond to queries/ complaints quickly. This way, you will have a nice side income coming in from doing what you love.

  1. Affiliate Marketing

Finally, if you have a social media presence, you can consider affiliate marketing as a side hustle. In short, affiliate marketing is when you link to a company’s product, and you will get a share of the sale when someone buys the product using your link.

Let’s face it, not everyone can become a well-paid influencer. However, with the right marketing savvy and know-how, anybody can eventually earn a little from affiliate marketing. Some YouTubers set up YouTube review channels purely for this, as it is likely people searching for the product may end up on their video, then use their affiliate link to buy the product.

In any case, the Internet has given rise to many opportunities to have a side hustle. We just need to be great at spotting these opportunities and grabbing them. Good luck with your side hustle!