Navigating the Side-Hustle Economy: Student Insights

In this economy, students really have to lock in to survive. Otherwise, say goodbye to matcha lattes and spontaneous Flixbus trips. But finding a job and clocking shifts isn’t exactly easy, especially if you’re an international student juggling morning seminars and random 2 a.m. night outs. So we asked some fellow part-time warriors for their insights on landing a gig that covers your daily sweet treat and still lets you hit those midnight deadlines.

1. Step up your LinkedIn game

Take LinkedIn seriously. It’s your social media that can be way more important, especially if you're an international student. It's basically your creative portfolio. Start connecting, look for jobs early, and if you're in the creative world, help your friends out with small projects to build your portfolio. 

I’d also focus on joining clubs and workshops that actually add to your CV and relate to your major. It might take longer, but it'll make a huge difference when you’re applying for internships later. That’s how I got mine in a multinational company during my second semester.

Michael, Colombia

2. Be proactive and show up

I used to print my CV and just walk into shops I liked, such as Marianna, Douglas, or Müller. I’m in love with fashion and perfume, so I aimed for those places. One tip: managers love it when you show up with your CV in person. They were always like, “Oh, someone who takes action and doesn’t just sit around waiting.” 

I currently work in the communications department at the university (with the Editor) and love it. I worked a few days at the graduation party last summer and met most of my team there. I was nice to all the people, chatted with everyone, and they offered me this job. So I also recommend networking, definitely.

Anna, Hungary

3. Say yes to opportunities (even outside your major)

I’ve had four jobs in Budapest already. I found one on Facebook, where most people look for service jobs. The rest were offered in the Kyrgyz and Kazakh chat communities.

It was a real challenge when I tried applying for major-related positions in marketing and finance, kind of like a rejection therapy. But university takes up about three or four days a week — what are you doing with the rest? So now, I’m in entertainment, which is far from the fields I'm actually interested in. But it’s still a good opportunity to get some life experience and other skills. It gives me a mental break from all the business stuff and pays well. So I'd recommend working jobs even if they're unrelated to your major, otherwise you just get bored.

Aibiike, Kyrgyzstan

4. Persistence is a key

It was a long journey to my first job. I had to have the resilience, I didn’t even know I had, to keep pushing through the saga of finding a job in Budapest. After several interviews for different positions at the same company, I finally got a call, not from the position I applied for but from another department that had heard good things about me. It wasn’t luck as one might think, but consistency, networking during interviews, and casual chats with employees that helped me.

Lucas, Brazil

5. Post your work and let opportunities find you

I do video editing as a side job. I don’t actively look for clients, I just post my work on social media. TikTok is my main platform because its algorithm is great for reaching people.

Usually, people who like my style reach out and commission me. My biggest project so far was working with a pretty popular musician. And the best part? He contacted me first! I think consistently posting online, no matter what, and staying on top of trends is a great way for creative people to get noticed.

Katya, Russia