7 Hobbies You Can Turn Into a Great Job

• Author: Kelly Cooke
• Posted: 2024-02-03

As of March 4, more than 8 million American workers are still out of work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its after effects. The downturn of the economy hit low-wage earners the hardest. Most low-wage workers are women. People of color are also a disproportionately large amount of low-wage workers. It's been tough for people with childcare problems, transportation problems and no college degree to find a job in this economy. A lot of people have had to take two or three part-time jobs, but those don't come with any benefits, and they can be mentally draining. Many people who have had to work from home find themselves burned out, too. If you're tired of working in a job you don't like for insufficient pay, here are seven hobbies that you could turn into a great side stream of income or even a new job.

1. Talking to People

Are you a people person? If you love talking to people, there are plenty of customer service agent jobs that would love to have you. Stores are also looking for greeters and sales specialists. If you have a particular area of expertise, you could combine it and your love for talking. Whether you like cars or video games, there are still in-person sales jobs that could benefit from your skills.

2. Helping People

If you're the person people always go to when they need a hand, you could set yourself up as a personal assistant or handyman. People are often too busy to handle some of the errands they need to do. You could market yourself to do yard work, painting, drywall repairs, clutter removal, garbage hauling or administrative tasks for a busy executive. Real estate companies are often in need of someone to do clean-outs and take photos. If you like helping people and have a particular skill, you could find a part-time or even full-time job doing it.

3. Knitting

Do you love to knit, crochet, sew, weave, spin or do other types of art? You could teach classes at your local community center or art supply store. Local yarn shops are often in need of freelance instructors or employees/instructors who can help people who stop into the store and need a new set of needles and some help with a dropped stitch.

4. Gardening

If you're the proud owner of two green thumbs, you could offer your services to people who don't even have one. Many people take pride in a beautiful yard, but they can't even grow a dandelion if they try to. You could offer services with planting flowers, caring for flower beds, pulling weeds, trimming shrubs and tending to the lawn.

5. Cleaning

It might come as a surprise to many people, but there are folks who love to clean and don't mind cleaning up after other people, as long as they get paid to do it. Working families, especially working moms, often have too much to do and not enough time to do it. Offering weekly house cleaning services, yard cleanup or specialty services is a good way to earn money on nights and weekends.

6. Bartending

You'll need to get a license and certification, but bartending can be a great job for people who love to socialize and know their way around the bar. The tips from bartending are usually more than the hourly wage. You may also make connections that will help you land a great new 9 to 5 job.

7. Sports

If you know everything about golf and golfers, your local golf course may have a job opening for you. This is also true for people who love other sports. You might be able to drive the Zamboni at your local hockey arena if you parlay your passion for sports into a willingness to do hard work.

Don't Quit Your Day Job Yet

Before you walk off the job that pays your bills and provides you with health insurance, make sure you've got at least six months of money in an emergency account. Switching to self-employment is exciting, but it might take a while until you earn the same amount that you are paid by your employer. You may want to start a side gig and ramp it up while still working your main job. On the other hand, if you can find a full-time job related to your hobby, then it's time to say goodbye to the job you have and hate.