Guest AuthorWith the economic boom, a variety of gig jobs have emerged in recent years. It is estimated that India will have more than 23 million gig workers by the end of this decade. This presents significant opportunities for various age groups.
Organizations like hiring gig job workers, as it reduces their overall workforce expenditure. Professionals like gig jobs, as it allows them the freedom to choose their work timings and payment terms. As gig jobs are here to stay, one can consider such opportunities as a full-time career. To help you make informed decisions, here are some of the gig jobs that are giving the best handsome income.
B2C and B2B delivery
With the boom in the e-commerce industry, many new opportunities have opened in B2B and B2C deliveries. These are probably the easiest to start with and a good source of regular income. You can start the B2C and/or B2C delivery gig jobs with your two-wheeler. With focus on reducing the carbon footprint, many businesses now operate their own fleet of electric two-wheelers. Based on the size of products being delivered, one can also consider investing in an auto rickshaw, van, pick-up truck or other similar vehicles. One can earn anywhere between Rs 100 to Rs 200 per hour with B2C and B2B deliveries.
Food delivery / Grocery delivery
While such jobs can be classified under B2C deliveries, these are slightly different. For example, retail operators like BigBasket, BlinkIt, etc. are now focusing on superfast deliveries within minutes. This is working as a game changer, as consumers can choose from a wide variety of products and get it delivered within 10 to 20 minutes. Such a wide range of products may not be available at the neighborhood retail shop. As a food delivery / grocery delivery executive, you can also augment your earnings with tips. Many customers give tips on a regular basis. You can easily earn upwards of Rs 25,000 depending on your city and work timings.
Home services / Repair technician
Across households, innumerable opportunities have emerged for various professionals such as plumbers, carpenters, appliance repair technicians, electricians, painters, pest control and cleaning, men and women grooming, pedicure, massage therapist, yoga instructors, pet care, etc. With platforms like Urban Company, one can easily find plenty of gig jobs every day. Another great thing is that such jobs will not be impacted by AI. Depending on your skills, expertise and location, you can earn anywhere between Rs 200 to Rs 500 per hour.
Doorstep bike service / Doorstep car service
For basic maintenance jobs such as engine oil change, cleaning, greasing, etc., many users are now choosing doorstep auto servicing. It helps save time and avoid the hassles of visiting the service center. If you have interest in bike servicing / car repairs and servicing, you can probably choose doorstep bike/car servicing gig jobs. Requirements for such jobs will increase even more with electric vehicles. Depending on the platform you choose such as GarageWorks, ApnaMecahnic, CarDekho, etc. and the number of gigs you complete, you can earn anywhere between Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 per day. If you do a good job, you may also be rewarded with tips from satisfied customers.
Cab operator
Apart from the usual Ola and Uber, there are various other platforms where you can work as a cab operator. Some examples include Savaari, Avis and HireCab. Depending on your location, you can earn anywhere between Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000 per month. To maximize earnings, you will need to be punctual, properly groomed, dressed appropriately and be respectful towards the passengers.
Tour guide
With a big boom in tourism, there are plenty of opportunities for tour guides. Depending on the location, entry-level tour guide jobs can have income starting at around Rs 20,000 per month. With experience, tour guides can earn up to Rs 10 lakh per annum.
Event management
With thousands of events and weddings being organized every year in your city, there are plenty of opportunities in event management. Depending on your skills, you can take up various gig jobs. It includes event planning, guest management, vendor / supplier management, catering staff, security staff, etc. While income may vary based on various factors, you can expect to earn around Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per event.
Virtual assistant
With dramatic increase in online communications, many clients need virtual assistants. Typical tasks include organizing emails, managing schedules and appointments, conducting research, answering user questions, coordinating travel arrangements, etc. Working as a virtual assistant, you can expect to earn upwards of Rs 1,000 every day.
Online freelance gig jobs
Innumerable opportunities are available online such as website design, graphic design, app development, software development, SEO, SMO, SMM, data entry, translators, writers, legal, etc. Income varies widely based on your skills and type of project. Some of the platforms you can choose include Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, Truelancer, etc.
You can choose any of the above gig jobs according to your liking and skills. If you are not sure, you can apparently try some of these for a few months each to understand if it will work for you. Often, things look good on paper. But the experience can be quite different in the real world. With gig jobs, you can quit anytime and start something new whenever you want. You will never get such freedom in a typical 9 to 5 job. After working for a few years in the gig industry, you will have a better idea of which opportunities are best for you.
Author – Pankaj Bansal, Founder, News Patrolling
Aravind Sundaram
Guest Author