Top 20 Side Hustles for Generation Z: What Go-Getters Should Consider!
Millennials are famous for their side hustles. They take their passions, hobbies, and interests and find ways to monetize them as a secondary source of income. This article is for Gen Z’ers looking to follow in the footsteps of millennials. You might have just graduated from college or you may be planning to go back soon. Either way, you might be considering different side gigs that could become a real source of secondary income in the future. Regardless of your current situation, there are plenty of ideas to get you thinking about how you can monetize your skillset and interests as a side hustle. Let’s explore the 20 best side gigs for Gen Z.
TikTok Creator Acting Videos
If you’re a Gen Z’er with a flair for the dramatic, you may want to consider tapping into the TikTok platform. TikTok is the new, short-form video app that allows users to create comedy sketches, dance routines, and music videos — among other things. While you may be starting out by uploading straight-up comedy sketches, you could potentially transition into acting through the platform. In fact, there are many TikTok users who have found success by uploading their performances. In order to make a steady income from this side hustle, you’ll likely want to build up a sizeable following. As such, the best approach would be to start uploading a range of videos to begin gaining traction.
Coaching and Mentoring
Coaching and mentoring are two sides of the same coin. Essentially, these side hustles involve guiding individuals through their careers and/or personal lives. Depending on your specific area of expertise, you could choose to coach professionals on how to navigate their specific fields, or you could mentor people on how to live their best personal lives. You can look to monetize this side hustle through platforms like LinkedIn and CoachMe. You can even set up your own website to host your coaching sessions or mentor sessions. Of course, building a sustainable business from coaching and mentoring isn’t an overnight process. You’ll likely need to build up a consistent following over time, and you’ll likely want to specialize in a specific niche for the best results.
Freelance Writing
If you’re a fan of writing, this could be the perfect side hustle for you. There are a number of freelance writing platforms, including Upwork and iWriter. You can also consider publishing pieces on your own blog, though you’ll want to make sure you’re following any necessary publishing and copyright laws. Once you set yourself up on one of these platforms, you’ll be able to land contracts writing a wide range of pieces, including blog posts, product descriptions, marketing materials, and more.
Influencer Marketing
This is a slightly different take on influencer marketing: Rather than finding people with large social media followings and getting paid for product recommendations and posts, you’d do the same for brands and receive monetary compensation. You can find these types of opportunities on platforms like Tap Influence and Affluence. You can also reach out to brands directly and see if they’d be interested in working out a deal. As an influencer marketer, you’ll likely be asked to do a couple of things: Share posts about the brands you represent and include links in your posts so that people can visit the products or websites in question.
Video Editing and Animations
If you have a knack for video editing and motion graphics, you can consider this side hustle. You can likely make money through freelance sites such as Upwork and iWriter. You can also consider looking directly at brands and trying to work out a deal. Similar to content creation, you’d likely be asked to create specific pieces, such as product descriptions and marketing materials. Additionally, you can also make money by creating animations and GIFs for social media posts. This is particularly popular on Instagram, where a quick animation or GIF can really capture the attention of your followers.
Virtual Assistant Services
If you have sharp attention to detail and are a go-getter by nature, this could be your side hustle for you. As a virtual assistant, you could help out individuals and companies in a variety of ways. For example, you could help manage daily schedules, keep track of appointments, and perform administrative duties. Depending on where you are in your career and your availability, this could be an excellent side hustle to help fill in the gaps. You can find these types of jobs on sites like Upwork and Freelancer. Alternatively, you can also look directly at companies to see if they’d be interested in working out a deal.
Music Producer/Audio Engineer
If you’re musically inclined and able to produce and engineer audio, you can consider this side hustle. You can likely make money through a combination of collaborating with other musicians to create albums and singles, as well as making money directly from brands looking to use your audio in their advertisements. You can also consider releasing your own music and profiting directly from your music, though this is obviously a more long-term option, as it’s unlikely that you’ll make any money from it while you’re still recording.
Twitch Streaming
This is an excellent side hustle for gamers, and it’s also quickly becoming a popular source of income for non-gamers, too. Twitch is a platform where users can build followings by streaming themselves playing video games or talking about gaming in general. As a streamer, you’d likely want a consistent schedule so that you can build a loyal following. You can do this by streaming on a daily basis, by streaming several times a week, etc. Remember that you can monetize your Twitch account by allowing viewers to subscribe to your channel. Subscribers can vote on what games they play, and Twitch will actually pay you for this, too.
Language Teaching and Learning Lessons
This is a side hustle that has steadily been growing in popularity over the years. You can consider teaching languages, such as Spanish or French, as well as teaching various topics, such as math, science, or history. You can likely make money through a number of different sites, including iTalki, Teachling, and Verbling. You can also consider building your own website if you have the resources and time. You’ll want to build a consistent and loyal following to make a substantial amount of money through teaching online. For this reason, you can consider targeting different age groups to help people of all ages learn foreign and other languages.
YouTube
If you’re a Gen Z's with a penchant for speaking your mind and sharing your thoughts, you can consider creating YouTube content. This is a more long-term side hustle, as it’s unlikely you’ll make any real money from your videos until you have a sizable following. You can likely make money through a combination of advertisements and using a YouTube partner program, though you’ll have to reach a certain number of subscribers before you’re eligible for the partner program. You can also make money by selling or recommending products through your videos, such as books, movies, and products from sponsors. This is known as “affiliate marketing.”
Personal Fitness Trainer
If you have a background in fitness or have a keen interest in health and wellness, you can consider becoming a personal fitness trainer. You can likely make money through a number of different sites, including FitSide and Fitness Hackers. You can also consider building your own website or joining a network such as FitSide Network. As a fitness instructor, you’d be required to follow specific guidelines, make a plan for each of your clients, and deliver content consistently. You can also consider offering online fitness coaching through platforms such as Fit Side.
The Bottom Line
Like millennials before them, Gen Z’ers are often focused on side hustles that allow them to pursue their passions and interests. While millennials were primarily focused on building their social media followings, Gen Z’ers are interested.