The recent recession created financial hardships causing many companies to make considerable cutbacks, including salary cuts and layoffs. This created a cascade effect in which once gainfully employed individuals were finding themselves out of work. This caused a shift in the thought processes of many people who were finding it difficult to obtain steady work. Not having a steady job can be quite stressful for most people, but the “odd job” approach has literally become a lifesaver for many families.
There are some challenges associated with taking the “odd job” approach. One challenge associated with odd jobs is the lack of medical benefits and the inconsistency. There are ways to engage these challenges to make “odd job” working work for you.
There a numerous odd jobs that actually pay well and provide ample opportunity remain consistently employed.
Mobile Hot Dog Vendor
This is definitely not the most glamorous gig in the world, but it provides consistent income that is considerable higher than many might think. There are companies that will allow you to have a franchise license to work under their name. Others will lease the cart to you and you can function under your own name. The key is finding the right location and building the familiarity that is necessary to build repeat business. It is not unheard of for cart owners to make $300 per day or more. Some vendors actually average six-figures.
Freelance Embalmer
Now this is definitely not for everybody, but it has six-figure potential and a great deal of flexibility. As a freelance embalmer, you are not dependent upon one funeral home to provide your income. You can develop a relationship with a number of businesses to fill in when their embalmer is out or when it becomes extremely busy. Funeral homes actually gravitate toward this because it allows them to have access to quality work without having to offer benefit packages and other ancillary spiffs. The average pay for an embalmer is $43,680 per year
Laboratory Movers
Now being a Laboratory Mover is definitely an odd job, in the sense that you don’t hear about it a lot. However, the pay for laboratory movers is extremely good. Because of the level of expertise required in moving laboratory equipment, you can demand premium fees. You have the option of working with an existing company or maybe trying things on your own. You can contract with one company or farm yourself out to a number of companies to increase the chance of steady work. A laboratory mover can make over $50,000 per year.
Personal Shopper
It may seem hard to believe, but people do get paid to shop. This should not be confused with secret shopping, in which the manufacturer or some organization pays an individual to shop, which is also another viable option. A personal shopper is a person who has been hired to do the shopping for someone who cannot do the shopping for themselves. It is almost like being a personal assistant who shops. Salaries for personal shoppers can range anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000 per year.
Virtual Head Hunter
The vast expanse of the Internet and the easy access to information has created a number odd job opportunities. A virtual headhunter is one that engages the responsibility of finding individuals with the skill set to fill positions within certain companies. This job can pay anywhere from $250 to $10,000 per referral.
As you can see, there are a number of odd jobs that not only pay well, but offer an opportunity for consistent work. The key is finding the right odd job to fit your passion, personality and skillset.