Making a Few Extra Bucks for a Fun Summer

As colleges close down for the semester break, students in the city are seen taking up interesting summer jobs. While some do it for the pocket money to fund their vacation activities, others see it as an opportunity to socialise and gain professional experience. City Express spoke to five students who are earning and learning this season.

Sanketh, a final year engineering student from Atria Institute of Technology, takes up event management assignments. “I recently assisted a decoration team at an event held by Vodafone. They paid me Rs 500 per day. It was fun!” he says.

Sanketh also organised games at a promotional event held by Heineken. “I get to make friends at such places. Working with a new set of people at every event improves my communication skills. I actually feel my spoken English has really improved ever since I started working on such assignments,” he says.

Pallavi, a final year BBM student from R V Institute of Management, has been taking up part-time jobs for the past three years. “I work on promotions during weekends. I've been a part of the team that offered free weekend makeovers from Revlon. On weekdays, I help other students like me get part time jobs by putting them in touch with companies,” she says. Pallavi also does a bit of network marketing with brands like Oriflame and Amway. “Network marketing doesn't take up much time, but it is difficult to make money that way,” she admits. She makes about `20,000 a month by promoting products and brands, while making just over `1,000 by network marketing. “I try to save the money that I make, but end up blowing it off on birthday parties and weekend outings,” she laughs.

Different from those who work for brands and companies, Aishwarya, a first year Visual Communication student from St Joseph's College of Arts and Science, conducts dance classes at her house in Yelahanka. Having trained in classical dance for 15 years, Aishwarya has also learnt Jazz and folk dance. “I have around eight people in my class right now. I charge them Rs 500 a month. It's good money, plus I get to do what I love - dance!” she says.

Makeovers and tattoos are really expensive, and it's only fair that you pay for it yourself, feels Panchalee Baruah. A first year journalism student from Bishop Cottons Women's College worked with a group of Mumbai-based engineers for a week and got paid Rs 7,500, with which she got a stylish tattoo across her collarbone. She also worked at a stall at the Armin Van Buuren concert held in the city in January and got paid Rs 1,500 for a night's work. “I love travelling, and am planning to work with a travel magazine this summer,” she says. We ask her what she does with the money and pat comes the answer. “I take my friends out for dinner and get really expensive haircuts.”