By Andrew Walyaula
waliaulaandrew0@gmai.com
Winding up high school education is a great achievement but joining university is an even greater achievement.
Unlike institutions of basic learning, higher learning institutions have fewer restrictions in terms of time management.
Students have lots of free time to spend off school. Students’ lives in colleges whirl around social lives, leisure and making money. HELB loans, bursaries, sponsorships and support from parents might not be enough to sustain a student for an entire term.
Students can use their off school time to involve in part time jobs. These can include:
1. Online jobs
Many students have laptops and smartphones which they use for communication and entertainment. Serious students can use these gadgets to generate income through the following online platforms:
Freelancer Writer
Most universities offer communication skills as a common course to prepare students for good communication, which include writing. One can earn money through blogging, freelance editing, web developing, doing surveys, academic writing, transcriptions as well as data entry.
One can sign up for academic writing jobs in organizations such as iWriter, Guru, Upwork, and People-Per-Hour. The organizations pay for the content delivered.
Transcribing involves conversion of audio or video to text. From the comfort of one’s home, one can watch videos or listen to audio then convert them to text.
Companies that offer transcription jobs include Rev, Upwork, Speechpad, TranscribeMe, Quicktate, Go Transcript, CastingWords, Athreon and E-typist among others. Companies that offer data entry jobs include: Cass Information System, Ibotta, The Smart Crowd, Dion Data, Data Trace, Xerox, and Clickworker.
2. Talent-related Jobs
Such jobs depend on a student’s passion and area of study. They include photography, video and audio editing, teaching, computer works such as repair, software installation, printing and typesetting as well as being a DJ.
This category provides for self-employment. The requirements are capital to purchase equipment, having knowledge and branding oneself. The jobs market an individual and sharpen their skills as they prepare to move into a real job market.
Testimonies
Lameck Ndege, a media and communication graduate from Laikipia University is a photographer. Lameck says he is able to pay bills and extend help to his friends and family.
“I have been able to cover big events where I get to meet renowned journalists. I’m currently at KBC because of the passion I had in photography before I graduated,” Lameck says.
Laban Muhinda, who works at Sawa TV as a director, says that his skills were nurtured in university.
“I used to produce chronicles, which I uploaded to my Youtube channel. I can now earn from my channel as well as the work I do at the TV station.” Laban boosts.
Laban says that early establishment and a good understanding of ones area of interest is vital.
Antony Simiyu has established his academic research company at Kasarani, Nairobi where he has 112 employees. He reveals that through the work, he has been able to buy land and put up structures.
Mike Chebusiri, a former East Africa BBC Duty Editor who currently owns a media consultant firm, said that many students waste their chances of employment while in school.
“Industrial attachment is an opportunity for a student to show interest in the field by doing their best. However, many students relax as they think it is part of the system so that they can graduate,” Chebusiri says.
He adds that university graduates should actually be innovative enough to create employment opportunities.
His sentiment echoes that of Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha who challenged students to be innovative and to create job opportunities.
Michel Dell says that people map their paths through curiosity and search for opportunities.
It will be prudent if companies could partner with schools to enable students acquire relevant skills.
