5 Ways to Earn Money Without an Actual Job for college student

5 Ways to Earn Money Without an Actual Job

 

14Aug2015

5 Ways to Earn Money Without an Actual Job

Got your eye on the latest tech gadget and need some extra cash?
What if I told you that there’s actually a way to earn money without having an actual job?
Now, I know it seems to good to be true, but I promise you that this isn’t a scam. With the advent of the internet, there are so many ways you can earn some extra pocket money without slaving at a 9-to-5 job. In fact, some people have even made a career out of doing these “side jobs”, making more than what a full-time job would pay them!
All you need to do is to find something that’s interesting to you, put some effort and dedication into it and just go for it!
Here are some of the 5 easiest ways you can earn some extra money while being a student.

1) Sell stuff online

This is perfect if you’ve got a ton of stuff lying around, whether it’s old books or pre-loved clothes, accessories and gadgets.
All you need to do is snap some awesome photos and post them online! After all, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure!
Some great (and free!) websites to get you started:

• Mudah.my: An online classified-ads selling a wide variety of products and services
• Lowyat.NET: This popular forum has a “Garage Sales” section for you to sell your stuff
• Lelong: One of the largest online marketplaces in Malaysia that lets you list for free
• Carousell: This mobile app marketplace lets you upload items with just a few taps!

If you’re feeling a bit more entrepreneurial, you could also buy goods via Alibaba.com and set up an online store to sell your purchases, whether it’s handphone accessories or beauty products.
And if you really want to take it to the next level, you can even sell handmade stuff on Etsy, one of the biggest marketplaces in the world for handmade and vintage goods!

2) Do some part-time work

Doing part-time work is great because you only need to commit to a certain number of hours, and you can take on more or less work depending on your college schedule. A weekend here and there doing various odd jobs can earn you some cool cash!
Jobs can range from data entry, translating documents, promoting goods, or even interesting tasks like mystery shopping!
Two of the biggest part-time job portals in Malaysia are PartTimePost and AsiaPartTime, but do check out various other portals, such as Jobless, You.my and PartTime.com.my.
Another site you can consider is GoGet, where you can help others run errands, like delivering food and groceries, shopping for clothes or even waiting in line!

3) Monetise your skill sets

Are you a pro at using Photoshop? Do you have a great recording voice? Or maybe you have a keen eye for detail and you’re good at proofreading?
What you can do is list your skills on services marketplaces! Sites like Fiverr and GigBucks allow you to sell small tasks and services, whether it’s writing, graphic design, video editing or even wacky things like singing a birthday song or doing an impersonation!
The key to success is ensuring that you find a method to do things quickly and efficiently so that it doesn’t take up too much time and you get to take on more jobs.

4) Complete surveys online

It seems hard to believe, but yes — you can get paid filling up surveys online!
Many companies conduct market research to understand consumer behaviour, and are willing to pay for consumer insights. Sites like PanelPlace, iPanelOnline and Focusline Surveys are great places for you to start.
Do note that there are a fair number of scam survey sites, so make sure you do some research to check if they are legitimate.
You certainly won’t get rich taking surveys, but it’s a good, mindless way to spend your time while watching TV or waiting for the bus.

5) Attend focus groups

Similar to completing surveys online, focus groups are also a method for market research, where you are required to discuss about certain topics in a room with several other people. Focus groups generally pay well, and will only take up a couple of hours of your time.
To be a participant, leave your details with market research companies, such as Elite Market Research and Orient Pacific Century. You can also do a search on part-time job portals like PartTimePost, where they may list such jobs.
You may need to be in a certain demographic and age group, but it’s definitely worth a shot!

How to survive in Malaysia

Hishamuddin Rais fourth activist arrested ahead of #TangkapNajib rally

SINCE everyone in this country is an expert in giving advice to everyone else, I thought I would join in and generously give my totally unsolicited counsel to all those aspiring to join cupboards or closets of any kind. Any likeness to anything familiar around us is naturally a complete coincidence.

 

First of all, please get it out of your head that you are wanted or needed because you have expertise of any kind. Who cares if you have a double degree in How to Make Anything Good and How to Make Anything Better? What you need is a PhD in How To Make Your Boss Feel Good, with a minor in How To Make Your Boss Look Really Good. It would also help if you have expertise in How To Clean Up Messes, especially if it involves getting rid of Messy People.

 

Secondly, you have to audition for the job. Don’t ever expect to be picked out of obscurity like some Cinderella. Let’s not forget that Cinders didn’t really get an invitation to the Ball – her ugly stepsisters did. And they worked hard for it by making sure they got noticed.

 

So find a way to get attention. Never mind if it means making a spectacle of yourself. Who cares if you look and sound like a fool as long as your potential Boss likes it? The path to position and lucre is strewn with puffery and pomp! Pledge loyalty, even if nobody asked you to. That counts as double points.

 

Thirdly, always be humble and say you had not expected this at all but it must have been Divine Intervention. Who in their right mind would question what the Almighty wants? And He must have spoken through his vessel, your soon-to-be Boss. George W. Bush said God made him President to do His will on earth. Surely if an American can claim that, we can too.

 

Fourthly, don’t be picky about what you are given. Just be grateful! What does it matter anyway? It all comes with nice perks like a nice house (there must be a renovation budget), a nice car with a driver, first-class travel for you and the Mrs, and all sorts of other things you’ve only heard about from others but can now experience firsthand.

So what if the work is crushingly dull? Someone else can read all those papers for you and give you a summary. And oops, if you miss a few things in there, there are lots of people you can blame, even despatch clerks. Why worry? You’ve hit the big time.

 

Fifthly, now that you’ve got it, your job is to smile and nod your head. Vigorously. All the time. Get yourself photographed with the Boss as much as possible, preferably looking at him with utter adoration. If you can hold up a suitably adoring placard, that’s even better. However, some have found that this is no insurance for job security. Maybe practise hand-kissing as an alternative.

 

Sixthly, let’s not forget that you are a package deal, which your spouse is a part of. Train her well because her job is as important as yours. Quite the opposite from you, her job is not to compete with her Boss.

So make sure that if you want to buy pretty expensive things for her (and now you can!), don’t let her wear them in front of her Boss, especially if she looks quite hot in them. Support local brands and dress your other half in them. Leave the international imports to her Boss and coach her in the right admiring phrases to murmur.

 

Seventhly, ever seen the TV series Entour­age? That’s what you need, an entourage. Surround yourself with all sorts of folks who can be given menial jobs dressed up as important ones by putting them in the right clothes. No Big Man is without his entourage to carry bags, check him in at airports, that sort of thing. Never ever have to do a single thing yourself again.

 

Eighthly, be part of an entourage yourself. It is highly important that you keep yourself within your Boss’ line of sight at all times because you don’t want him to forget you exist or overlook you the next time he wants to clear out his cupboard. So follow him everywhere; after all, that is your main job.

It’s also your spouse’s job to be a handmaiden in her Boss’ entourage so if she gets called upon to serve, give her your blessing. It will be rewarding.

There you have it – eight tips for succeeding in life in our dear country. The folks out there who have to actually work to survive each day wish you lots of luck. Drop some crumbs some time.

Marina Mahathir is a human rights activist who works on women, children and HIV/AIDS issues. The views expressed here are entirely her own.

You Lack Emotional Intelligence

eMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Signs That You Lack Emotional Intelligence

• Muriel Maignan Wilkins

In my ten years as an executive coach, I have never had someone raise his hand and declare that he needs to work on his emotional intelligence. Yet I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard from people that the one thing their colleague needs to work on is emotional intelligence. This is the problem: those who most need to develop it are the ones who least realize it. The data showing that emotional intelligence is a key differentiator between star performers and the rest of the pack is irrefutable. Nevertheless, there are some who never embrace the skill for themselves — or who wait until it’s too late.

Here are some of the telltale signs that you need to work on your emotional intelligence:Take Craig (not his real name), a coaching client of mine, who showed tremendous potential and a strong ability to drive results for his company. The issue with Craig was the way in which he got those results. When asked to describe him, his colleagues would say things like: “he’s a bull in a china shop;” “he has sharp elbows;” and “he leaves dead bodies in his path.” His approach to executing projects was not sustainable as he wasn’t able to motivate, attract and retain good talent. His direct reports pointed out how frequently Craig seemed oblivious to how he demeaned others. His boss commented on Craig’s impatience and his propensity to lash out at his peers. When I shared this feedback with Craig, he seemed taken aback and was convinced that I had heard wrong. He didn’t have the self-awareness or empathy that are hallmarks of emotional intelligence.

• You often feel like others don’t get the point and it makes you impatient and frustrated.
• You’re surprised when others are sensitive to your comments or jokes and you think they’re overreacting.
• You think being liked at work is overrated.
• You weigh in early with your assertions and defend them with rigor.
• You hold others to the same high expectations you hold for yourself.
• You find others are to blame for most of the issues on your team.
• You find it annoying when others expect you to know how they feel.

So what do you do if you recognized yourself in this list? Here are four strategies:

1. Get feedback. You can’t work on a problem you don’t understand. A critical component of emotional intelligence is self-awareness — this is the ability to recognize and stay cognizant of behaviors in the moment. Whether you engage in a 360 assessment or simply ask a few people what they observe, this step is critical in heightening your sense of what you do or don’t do. And don’t just find excuses for your behavior. That defeats the purpose. Rather, listen to the feedback, try to understand it, and own it. When Craig initially heard what others thought of him, he quickly became defensive. But when he accepted the feedback, he moved to owning it and became determined to change.

2. Beware of the gap between intent and impact. Those with weak emotional intelligence often underestimate what a negative impact their words and actions have on others. They ignore the gap between what they mean to say and what others actually hear. Here are some common examples of what those with low emotional intelligence may say and how it’s actually heard:

What you say: “At the end of the day, it’s all about getting the work done.”

What others hear: “All I care about is the results and if some are offended along the way, so be it.”

What you say: “If I can understand it, anyone can.”

What others hear: “You’re not smart enough to get this.”

What you say: “I don’t see what the big deal is.”

What others hear: “I don’t really care how you feel.”

Regardless of what you intend to mean, think about how your words are going to impact others and whether that’s how you want to them to feel. Craig was notorious for saying things that made others bristle, but he began to consider the impact of his words. Before every meeting, he spent a few minutes asking himself: What is the impression I want to make? How do I want people to feel about me at the end? How do I need to frame my message to reach that objective?

3. Press the pause button: Having high emotional intelligence means making choices about how you respond to situations, rather than having a knee-jerk reaction. For example, Craig tended to interrupt and shoot down other people’s ideas before they could complete their thoughts. This behavior was a reaction to his fear of losing control of the discussion and wasting time. So he started to take pauses before reacting. There are two important pauses to take:

Pause to listen to yourself. When Craig was getting impatient and frustrated in discussions, he often felt his jaw clench and his chest tighten. By recognizing these physical signs, he was able to pause and remind himself that he feared losing control. As a result, Craig was better able to determine how he wanted to respond, rather than relying on his default of lashing out.

4. Wear both shoes. People often suggest you “put yourself in the other person’s shoes” to develop empathy, a key component of emotional intelligence, but you shouldn’t dismiss how you feel. You need to wear both shoes — understanding both your agenda and theirs and seeing any situation from both sides. Craig shifted his approach from “Here are my concerns” to “These are my issues, and I hear your concerns. Let’s determine a way forward that takes both into consideration.”Pause to listen to others. Listening means helping others feel like you’ve understood them (even if you don’t agree with them). It’s not the same as not saying anything. It’s simply giving others a chance to convey their ideas before you jump in.

Strengthening your emotional intelligence takes commitment, discipline, and a genuine belief in its value. With time and practice, though, you’ll find that the results you achieve far outweigh the effort it took to get there.

How to build business relationship

1. They help without having to be asked.

It’s easy to help when you’re asked. And most people will. But some offer help before they have been asked, even though most of the time that is when a little help will make the greatest impact.

People who build great relationships pay close attention so they can tell when others are struggling. Then they offer to help… but not in a general, “Is there something I can do to help you?” way. Instead they come up with specific ways they can help.

That way they can push past the reflexive, “No, I’m okay…” objections and then roll up their sleeves to make a difference in another person’s life.

And they do it not because they want to build a better relationship — although that is certainly the result — but simply because they care.

2. They take the undeserved hit.

A customer gets mad. A vendor complains about poor service. A mutual friend feels slighted. Whatever the issue and regardless of who is actually at fault, occasionally someone steps forward to take the hit. She’s willing to accept the criticism or abuse because she knows she can handle it — and she knows that maybe, just maybe, the person who is really responsible cannot.

Few acts are more selfless than taking the undeserved hit. And few acts better cement a relationship.

3. They answer the question that was not asked.

Where relationships are concerned, face value is usually without value. Often people will ask a different question than the one they really want answered.

A colleague might ask you whether he should teach a class at a local college; what he really wants to talk about is how to take his life in a different direction. A partner might ask how you felt about the idea he presented during the last board meeting; what he really wants to talk about is his diminished role in the running of the company.

An employee might ask how you built a successful business; instead of kissing up he might be looking for some advice — and encouragement — to help him follow his own dreams.

Behind many simple questions is often a larger question that goes unasked. People who build great relationships listen carefully to discover what lies underneath so they can answer that question, too.

4. They truly think of others.

People who build great relationships don’t just think about other people. They act on those thoughts.

One easy way is to give unexpected praise. Everyone loves unexpected praise — it’s like getting flowers not because it’s Valentine’s Day, but “just because.” Praise helps others feel better about themselves and lets them know you’re thinking about them (which, if you think about it, is flattering in itself.)

Take a little time every day to do something nice for someone you know, not because you’re expected to but simply because you can. When you do, your relationships improve almost immeasurably.

5. They step up when they have acted poorly.

Most people apologize when their actions or words are called into question.

Very few people apologize before they are asked to — or even before anyone notices they should.

Responsibility is a key building block of a great relationship. People who take the blame, who say they are sorry and explain why they are sorry, who don’t try to push any of the blame back on the other person… those are people everyone wants in their lives, because they instantly turn a mistake into a bump in the road rather than a permanent roadblock.

6. They know when to dial it back.

Outgoing and charismatic people are usually a lot of fun… until they aren’t. When a major challenge pops up or a situation gets stressful, still, some people can’t stop “expressing their individuality.” (Admit it: You know at least one person so in love with his personality he cannever dial it back.)

People who build great relationships know when to have fun and when to be serious, when to be over the top and when to be invisible, and when to take charge and when to follow.

Great relationships are multifaceted and therefore require multifaceted people willing to adapt to the situation — and to the people in that situation.

7. They give consistently… and receive occasionally.

A great relationship is mutually beneficial. In business terms that means connecting with people who can be mentors, who can share information, who can help create other connections; in short, that means going into a relationship wanting something.

The person who builds great relationships doesn’t think about what she wants; she starts by thinking about what she can give. She sees giving as the best way to establish a real relationship and a lasting connection. She approaches building relationships as if it’s all about the other person and not about her, and in the process builds relationships with people who follow the same approach.

In time they make real connections. And in time they make real friends.

8. They value the message by always valuing the messenger.

When someone speaks from a position of position of power or authority or fame it’s tempting to place greater emphasis on their input, advice, and ideas.

We listen to Tony Hsieh. We listen to Malcolm Gladwell. We listen to Seth Godin.

The guy who mows our lawn? Maybe we don’t listen to him so much. (Although clearly we should.)

Smart people strip away the framing that comes with the source — whether positive or negative — and consider the information, advice, or idea based solely on its merits.

People who build great relationships never automatically discount the message simply because they discount the messenger. They know good advice is good advice, regardless of where it comes from.

And they know good people are good people, regardless of their perceived “status.”

9. They start small… and are sometimes happy to stay small.

I sometimes wear a Reading Football Club sweatshirt. The checkout clerk at the grocery store noticed it one day and said, “Oh, you’re a Reading supporter? My team is Manchester United.”

Since I’m pretty shy I normally would have just nodded and said something innocuous, but for some reason I said, “You think Man U can beat Real Madrid next week?”

He gave me a huge smile and said, “Oh yeah. We’ll crush them!” (Too bad he was wrong.)

Now whenever I see him he waves, often from across the store. I almost always walk over and chat a little about soccer. That’s as far as our relationship is likely to go, and that’s okay. For a couple of minutes we transcend the customer/employee relationship and become two people brightening each other’s day.

And that’s enough, because every relationship, however minor and possibly fleeting, has value.

People who build great relationships treat every one of their relationships that way. (That’s a lesson I need to take to heart.)