Breaking into the workforce or finding extra income doesn’t always require specialized skills or years of experience. Some jobs offer on-the-job training or are simple enough that you don’t need qualifications. If you’re ready to dive in, here are some sites that can help you get started.
In-Person Marketing
In-person marketing gigs on Field Day and Oppizi might be an excellent place to look for a great job that doesn’t require experience.
Both sites enlist freelancers to work as “brand ambassadors,” often canvassing local communities by foot to hand out fliers or buttonhole consumers about new businesses and services. The first several hours of any given assignment will involve paid training, so you’ll be able to answer detailed questions about the product or service you’re promoting.
These gigs are usually time-flexible, allowing you to determine the days and times you’re available, as long as you can meet some project deadlines. The sites pay between $15 and $35 per hour.
Senior Care
If you’re a kind and empathetic person, providing care for seniors can pay $15 to $30 per hour. The pay range depends on where you live and on whether you’re providing simple companionship, help with shopping or meals, or helping with activities of daily living.
Both Papa and Care can help you connect with clients. At both sites, you’ll set up a profile, list the type of services you’re interested in providing and when you’re available.
At Papa, freelancers pick up jobs based on descriptions that say when freelancers are needed, for how long, what they’d be doing and what they’d be paid. Freelancers determine which shifts to take.
With Care, you determine your rates and what you do. Clients contact you directly — or you can contact them, based on their work postings. The downside to Care, however, is that you’ll need to pay a fee to communicate with clients. That said, Care’s fees are modest and the freedom to set your own rates and schedule is a real advantage.
Mystery Shop
If you’re a foodie or enjoy exploring new places, mystery shopping could be a fun and rewarding side hustle. Companies like ServiceEvaluationConcepts offer paid opportunities to evaluate food, hospitality, and other services. Pay for each assignment ranges from $15–$100, with some jobs providing reimbursements for product purchases, too.
While you’ll need to complete some unpaid training, the company offers straightforward gigs, like visiting a testing center or checking a retail location. The flexibility and decent pay make it a solid option for those willing to put in the effort.
Walk dogs
Our personal favorite of great jobs that don’t require experience are dog-walking and pet-sitting gigs. The best place to find these are through a site called Rover.
Rover allows freelancers to set up a profile on the site and say what type of animals they’re willing to watch. Freelancers also say when they’re available and how much they charge. You can sign up to be a walker, an overnight dog-sitter, or provide other services, like animal transportation, training or grooming. And, if you want, you can set different rates for each service.
Rover connects you with potential clients looking for those services in your area. While registration is free, Rover charges a commission of 20% per booking. (Those who opt for “RoverGo,” a premium feature, get a higher profile listing and professional photos for a slightly higher commission.)
Stock shelves
Want a quiet job stocking shelves in a warehouse or store? Two sites, Wonolo and Blue Crew, can help you find work. Wonolo enlists freelancers to fill open slots at its clients’ companies. BlueCrew actually hires workers, but sends them out to different gigs, depending on what’s available.
Neither site requires experience mainly because most jobs here are entry-level. However, you may be asked to pass a background check. Pay usually ranges from $15 to $25 per hour. Notably, however, neither site operates nationwide. Blue Crew is available in about a dozen major markets. Wonolo operates more widely, but does not operate in some states with restrictive freelance laws, including California, New York, Washington State and Washington, D.C.
Act
It takes talent to become a movie star, but it doesn’t take much of anything to become an extra or “background actor.” Extras are the people you see walking on the street around the stars. They’re the crowds in movie football stadiums. And they’re the nameless people skating in the background while your favorite stars skate at Rockefeller Center in the Christmas flick. You job is basically to stand around a look normal.
Typically, extras earn $100 to $300 per day, depending on the production. To find these gigs, you can sign up for free through Central Casting. If you want a little extra help, sign up with Backstage or ExtrasManagement. Both charge annual or monthly fees, but can give you a leg-up in finding regular gigs.
Clean and Organize
Taskrabbit offers a flexible and reliable way to earn money by helping people with various physical tasks, including cleaning, organizing, furniture assembly, and even repairs. Although some people who register on the site have specific qualifications, such as being a licensed contractor, that’s not necessary for most of the jobs on the site.
Even if your only experience with cleaning and decluttering is in your own home, you’re welcome to sign up here, for instance. The only cost is a $25 registration fee. Meanwhile, you set your own rates and availability. And the site doesn’t even charge you a commission on your wages. The site adds its commissions onto your wage, so the fees are paid by the customer, not you. The wage you set is the wage you receive.
