Most of us, regardless of age, could always use some extra cash. The problem is often trying to pencil that into our already busy schedules. But there’s no better time than summer to learn a new skill and to apply it to put some money in our pockets. Most high school and college students are off from school, so it’s easy for them to take a class, serve as an apprentice, or get some on-the-job training.
The same goes for many adults who may have a lighter summer schedule than other times of the year. Teachers and other school faculty are usually looking for ways to make ends meet over the summer, so learning a new skill could be the perfect time. Other professionals may have some spare time during the summer and can fit in some classes or training. If you’re interested in learning a new skill over the summer to earn extra cash, we have information on some of the best.
1. Virtual Assistant and Office Management
As a virtual assistant, you’ll work as an independent or freelance contractor to provide services for clients outside of a physical office space. This is excellent news for people who want to work remotely. Many small businesses prefer hiring virtual assistants because it helps them save time and money. After all, they don’t need to hire a full-time office manager or administrative assistant.
Duties for a virtual assistant: scheduling appointments, making phone calls, travel arrangements, managing emails and social media accounts. These freelancers may also help keep websites up to date, write blogs, and assist with marketing. Most virtual assistants are given access to documents so they can do data entry and filing as well. Virtual assistants usually have some experience with office management or reception.
The summer is a great time to learn new skills or update old ones to prepare you for this job. A few weeks of training programs like Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and Hubspot can go a long way in preparing you for being a great virtual assistant. To be successful at this job, you should have good interpersonal, written, and organizational skills. The average virtual assistant makes around $25 an hour. They can work for various professionals, from a work accident lawyer to a real estate agent.
If you prefer working in person and enjoy being on the go, you should consider some summer training courses for office management. An office manager performs many duties as a virtual assistant but in person. Their job is also more in-depth, as office managers are in charge of the physical space, other workers, and keeping clients happy. A typical day for this job may include confirming appointments, assigning tasks to others, ensuring all equipment works, scheduling repairs, checking inventory, and ordering supplies.
Generally, they keep a pleasant, organized environment for everyone. Training for office management usually involves getting at least an associate’s degree or certification. These courses can quickly be done during the summer, either in person or online. You may be able to skip educational training if you possess strong skills and an employer is willing to train you. The average full-time office manager makes about $74,000 a year.
2. Automotive Repair
If you’ve got an affinity for cars, problem-solving, and working with your hands, auto repair may be a skill to learn over the summer; whether basic or advanced learning, auto repair can put some extra cash in your pocket. As of 2021, there were over 284 million cars on the road in the United States alone. That means there’s never a lack of work for good mechanics. Even if you decide to work part-time in the summer or on weekends, you will do well.
Auto mechanics can learn the trade from an experienced mechanic, but with the intricacies of today’s vehicles, most attend some training. Many technical schools offer auto repair courses year-round, including summer, so that you can get your certification in a few months. Many programs are offered online and allow you to work at your own pace.
As an auto repair professional, you may choose your area of concentration – auto mechanics or auto body. Mechanics typically work on the functioning of the vehicle line engines, brakes, steering, suspension, and transmission. Auto body specialists concentrate on the outside of the car. They’ll repair your vehicle after an accident and repair damaged fenders, grills, and bent wheel wells.
They can perform auto glass repair and even repaint your vehicle. Auto mechanics can work as independent contractors, garages, transport companies, or retailers with fleets of cars. The average auto mechanic’s salary varies considerably based on experience, but the average is about $47,000 annually.
3. Video Editing and Vlogging
Video editing and vlogging go hand in hand. Vloggers are content creators who film short videos about various topics, from history and politics to cooking and gaming. Some vloggers film their lives and take viewers along with them on their escapades. Others react to videos and do commentary, while some explore abandoned places and go ghost hunting.
Some industry leaders include well-known creators like Casey Neistat, Pewdie Pie, Mr Beast, and Like Nastya. Another up-and-coming creator is Lamont at Large, who respectfully explores cemeteries, repairing gravestones and cleaning sites. He travels the country and shows viewers spots of interest along the way, stopping at RV dealers in his elusive search for the perfect motor home.
One thing all content creators have in common is their need for a video editor. Before most videos can be posted to places like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, they must be cleaned up. The video editor comes in and cuts out unneeded or inappropriate footage; they may add special effects, photos for reference, and text for information.
While vlogging takes a lot of creativity and imagination, the technical aspects can be learned quickly by watching tutorial videos and hands-on experience. Video editors, on the other hand, take more education and training. The technical details and knowledge of digital editing and social media are vital to a good video. Some video editors go to a four-year college. Still, many take part in certification or boot camp programs that offer intensive training in editing programs like Davinci Resolve, Adobe Premier, Shortcut, Final Cut, and Lightworks.
In a few short weeks, you’ll be ready to start collaborating with creators and making videos worthy of millions of views. The best part about going to a summer boot camp is you’ll leave with a portfolio that’s ready to show potential clients. The typical video editor makes about $67,000 a year. Vloggers like the aforementioned make tens of millions of dollars a year, but the average creator starts out making a few cents per view. So it’s a great summer gig, but don’t quit your day job.
4. Basic Interior Designing
Most folks need a bit of help when it comes to updating or decorating their spaces. Having an interior designer to help can significantly help your vision become a reality. Typically, an interior designer needs a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. However, if you’re interested in interior design to make extra cash, taking a few courses and working part-time at a design house may suit you.
Introductory interior design courses can be taken over the summer. Classes can include drawing, CAD (computer-aided design), use of color, lighting, and reading blueprints. Introductory interior design courses will allow me to work with licensed designers, retail stores, and home goods distributors.
You’ll work with private clients and other professionals including architects and general contractors. You may be charged with placing orders, working with vendors, hiring a mover, furniture, or carpet cleaner, and shopping for decorative items. So, if you’ve got excellent visualization skills, creativity, and learning while working with people, interior design may be one of the skills to learn over the summer.
5. Landscaping
Landscapers do the bulk of their business during the warm weather, so summer is a great time to learn the skills needed for this lucrative profession. Typically, people looking to enter the field will start working with an experienced landscaper. You’ll find many companies looking for help come spring and can always use extra hands for more significant projects. Under a professional landscaper’s tutelage, you can learn proper lawn maintenance and care, from fertilizing and seeding to mowing and edging.
A landscaper also does leaf removal, hedge and bush trimming, lays mulch, and can do tree removals and pruning. Additionally, many landscapers are moving in hardscaping and landscape design. Working with them in this area can help you learn about laying pathways and installing water accents like ponds, fountains, and rock gardens.
As a landscaper, you may work with gardeners, tree removers, and landscape designers to create clients’ outdoor vision for their space. You can work in various outdoor settings like parks, golf courses, resorts, business parks, and private homes. Landscaping is a great way to earn extra cash, with the average landscaper making about $50,000 a year.
6. Housekeeping and Repairs
If you’re looking for the perfect skills to learn over the summer and earn extra cash, you may want to consider housekeeping and repairs. These jobs typically require on-the-job training, and you’ll get paid as you learn. They are great jobs for students or school employees off for the summer or a side job for anyone wanting spare summer cash.
Housekeepers differ from cleaning people in that they concentrate on maintaining the general tidiness and cleanliness of an area and don’t typically do deep cleaning. A private family may employ a housekeeper to help upkeep the home and manage grocery shopping and meals. Housekeepers are also in demand at hotels and resorts, where they ensure that rooms and common areas are ready for guests to enjoy.
A repair person may or may not be certified in certain areas but can do smaller jobs or assist certified professionals like HVAC service or plumbing. Many repair people are naturally handy and have obtained their skills through family, high school courses, and on-the-job training. A repair person may do odd jobs like installing or repairing locks, repairing loose siding on your home, fixing broken windows, or fixing broken legs on furniture. Both jobs require organization and attention to detail.
7. Cybersecurity via Bootcamp
With our ever-increasing reliance on technology, specifically the internet, cybersecurity has become one of the fastest-growing fields in the world. Cybercrime is borderless and anonymous, which makes it all the more tricky to defend against. Data breaches cost American businesses over 9.4 million dollars in 2022 alone.
Hackers, spammers, and other criminals use malware, ransomware, and viruses to attack computer systems, gain private and financial information, and hold businesses hostage for money or other goods. Governments worldwide are also vulnerable to attacks by foreign entities wanting to steal information and interfere with the daily function of federal and local authorities. In response to these malicious deeds, more and more schools are offering certification through cybersecurity boot camps. These camps can range from a few weeks to a few months and can be taken in person or online.
These intensive courses offer instruction on identifying security threats, installing firewalls and encryption programs, monitoring, data recovery, and wireless security. You’ll also learn about cloud security, protecting emails and network operations, and how to defend all internet-connected devices from outside and in-house attacks. Many boot camps occur during the summer and are geared toward high school and college-age students.
Companies increasingly send employees to cybersecurity boot camps to increase their wireless security. It’s helpful if you’re a local private investigator or law enforcement agency to be aware of the latest techniques used by cybercriminals. These boot camps are a great way to learn skills over the summer and earn extra cash.
Learning a new skill over the summer can be exciting and rewarding. It’s even better if you can use those skills to make some extra cash. We hope this list of skills to learn over the summer helps you in your pursuit of making some spare change.
