1

I am looking for ideas on what to do to earn extra money on nights. My biggest problem is I have plenty of low paying options, but they are full time jobs that will be a fraction of what I am making (Think like 9 dollars an hour) and I’m not sure it will be worth the lack of sleep.

How do you get into any kind of off hours consulting? Is it surfing craigslist and sending out resume’s to companies looking then offering them off hours support for a fraction of what a full time IT employee would cost?

Are there any other options for someone experienced in IT but not an ‘expert’ at anything specific?

69 Spice ups
2

I teach at a tech school a couple nights/wk. Doesn’t pay a whole lot but it beats working at a Best Buy or whatever. Pretty rewarding too, I’ve hired a couple dozen of my students over the years and became friends with a few too. Keeps my skills sharp.

23 Spice ups
3

Can you do teaching without any kind of teaching degree? I have two associates in IT (networking and support)

9 Spice ups
4

I have found that if you want to do off-hours consulting you really need to just network and meet people. I have the advantage of having owned my own business and met plenty of people through the years, but it wasn’t always like that. Put some cards out at your local chamber of commerce, brush up your linked-in profile, and just get out there and meet people. I have even found that doing charity work for non-profits, schools, and churches can help you meet people and get your name out there.

8 Spice ups
5

Most small businesses want bankers hours support, and rely on their “day” person to be on call if after hours support is needed. Don’t know you’ll have much luck there. For one off opportunities, check out freelancer.com bu tbe careful, it’s turned into a lowest bidder war the last while.

There is home support (painful, but you can get away with $20 to $40 an hour for basic support)

If you’re patient and have a knack for end user training, consider seniors tech training. Many are happy to spend $40 to learn the basics of using their new laptop/tablet in the comfort of their own home. Can be really fun, can also be really painful.

Hit up small businesses to set them up with Email/websites/social media. I have a host system out there and host basic sites for a few local buisnesses. I charge them $100-200 for simple web site (just working from a template) email setup on their PC/phone then 150/yr, maintenance that includes monthly updates to the site. My host costs me $120 a year, i have about 4 clients, the only additional cost is the $10/yr for the domain name. Easy money for the most part. could do better if I actually chased down customers, but this is mostly done as help for small local companies.

12 Spice ups
6

Yes, you can teach in a college or University without teaching credentials, they need qualifications in the topic they are covering however. Primary and secondary schools require teaching credentials, and under certain conditions private schools can choose to employ teachers who have not completed teachers credentials.
At least here to the north, not so sure about the US, but I imagine it’s similar. after all, you are allowed to home school your kids.

1 Spice up
7

Those are some really good ideas, Frostbyte. Especially the hosting.

I have previous experience doing at home support. Have done a lot of little tech support/computer shop places. I still do that work for anyone I know but it’s super hard to try to get any new customers that don’t know me in a home support setting.

I realized long ago, especially with older people, they have a huge habit of saying “Don’t you have like a GUY working here or something?” which is a super big buzzkill -.- I wish I could find an easy way around that issue.

15 Spice ups
8

Don’t let that stop you, for every old timer that thinks tech takes a guy, there are two more that are just happy for some help.
Here’s a trade secret for drumming up business(i used to do a lot of senior support when I was in high school - that was a long time ago, but it was easy money)
Take a trip to your local senior center(s) and ask if you can do an Into to smart phones class. Get you hands on an iphone and android phone of your choice (old ones are fine) a projector or 24in+ monitor and a chrome cast…
you can hold the phone and display on the TV… you get them hooked on your awesome knowledge and presentation skills. let them know you offer one on one sessions at reasonable rates for most current technologies.
Giving away a couple hours of your time could earn you some steady customers, if nothing comes of it, it’s still good karma.

12 Spice ups
9

On-Force gigs are good paying generally, the main thing is to install their app and be ready to submit for a job when it pops. They can be gone within minutes of a posting.

I haven’t been active with them for a couple of years since I went back (thankfully) to full time employment.

Something I do that sometimes makes a few bucks is stock video submissions. I send edited clips to Shutterstock and sometimes Fotolia. It’s hit or miss some months.

2 Spice ups
10

Kayere,

I do a lot of contract work through Fieldnation.com It is the highest rated contract IT portal and it is a far better option then On-Force from everything I have read and my personal experience. Tickets pay out on Tuesdays and Thursdays and most tickets are ready for payment within 24 hours. They have work orders for all skill sets. I checked in the Atlanta area for you and here is a few of what is listed but there are more;

We need someone to photograph, inspect, prepare, and label 216 boxes of Dell Port Replicators for shipment. There are 36 boxes that each contain 6 individually boxed replicators. We will email you the shipping labels for each of the 36 boxes. The boxes will be left on site for UPS pickup.

Prepping includes taping up each individual box after verifying the contents. Each box should have a replicator and power cable. You will need to bring packing tape with you. We will reimburse you for the expense.

Pay $150 flat rate

Problem: The LCD is no longer displaying video. They also have a keyboard onsite they would like replaced.

Pay $65/hr

I have done over 100 contracts on Field Nation in the past two years and for the most part I like the work. Field Nation takes 10% for themselves and 1.3% for their general liability insurance if you do not have any. It is easy to sign up for and start finding tickets. A lot of the tickets have flexibility in their scheduling and some do not but I have found few buyers (the term for the company who issues the work order) who were not willing to work with you on scheduling.

7 Spice ups
11

Uber if you’re open to something non-technical. While it won’t bring a ton of money, it does bring home good money on the side

2 Spice ups
12

I’ve been tempted to do it… but I can’t imagine the miles on the car from that. I drive the only new car and I’ve been informed it will last me for the next 20 years. lol

13

If you’re a decent writer and know how to use a thesaurus, SEO writing is fairly easy (though kind of repetitive).

1 Spice up
14

If you’re a decent writer and know how to use a thesaurus, SEO writing is fairly easy (though kind of repetitive).

… Should I do SEO now?

14 Spice ups
15

My two night time favorites. Bartending and Emergency Medicine. Its a change of pace, not terrible money and you can get involved and certified for very little spin up time.

2 Spice ups
16

I work on cars as a paying hobby as well as brewing beer and distilling spirits. they started as hobbies, but over the years they have developed into money making opportunities. just wish i could sell the spirits and beer… soon though. working towards opening my own brewery / distillery. but for the next few years it will just be a hobby.

the car stuff though I can make a few thousand extra a month sometimes. And mostly I only work on muscle cars or street rods.

1 Spice up
17

Emergency Medicine (EMT or First Responder?)… that’s a rather lively side job, and bartender… I know I couldn’t deal with a room full of drunk people after a full day of work. There would be dead people at one or both jobs…

9 Spice ups
18

I am a firefighter in my off time, and trust me it does get lively. Doesn’t really pay much ($5 per call), but at the end of the year I get a nice little check to buy Christmas gifts with.

5 Spice ups
19

Sorry for the delay, it depends on the place. Where I am it requires a Bachelors degree for Associates level and Masters Degree to teach the bachelor classes (or Bachelors plus experience and major certs)

20

I was a bartender for about 7 years. I have anxiety attacks thinking about going back into a job where people abuse you for giggles

7 Spice ups