TEEN GUIDE TO SIDE GIGS

The best freelance opportunities for Generation Z.

The pandemic spurred older generations to explore profitable side hustles, often via the web, and create new income streams. Why shouldn’t today’s teens, arguably even more internet savvy, get in on the action? Kallen divides these gig options into seven categories explored in separate chapters: “Little Experience Required,” like dog walking and product delivery; “Focus on Food,” including making specialty items for sale or working as a personal chef; “Art and Design,” from jewelry to other unique creations; “Writing and Translating,” from listicles to email blasts to instruction manuals; “Music and Video,” describing success on Spotify, Twitch, and other online outlets; “Making Instructional Videos,” for YouTube and other streaming platforms; and “Technology and Programming,” which includes designing websites as well as offering technical support. In all these areas, online expertise is presented as key for marketing, networking, billing, and bookkeeping. Kallen’s treatment is perfunctory but reader friendly, with full-color stock photos, large type, and chapters divided into subheaded chunks. He stresses the importance of persistence and of embracing the learning curve, encouraging teens to dive in and absorb lessons of success and failure as they hone their skills. Much more helpful is the backmatter, which lists 24 other possible jobs and includes online sources for further information and an index.

A solid, accessible resource for industrious teens.