The first set of people I hired after starting my first company were students.
Not because I couldn’t afford “experienced” people. Not because I was trying to save money.
I hired them because they had the skills I needed, they could move fast, and they didn’t overthink things.
And here’s the ironic part: 40-60% of graduates end up in jobs that don’t use their degree directly.
The students I hired? They were using skills they already had… not waiting for their degree to validate them.
Today, there are skills most students probably already have and are overlooking. Skills that founders like me are actively looking to pay for.
If you’re in uni right now thinking you need to finish your degree before making real money, let me show you what these skills are… and what you can start charging today.
Why I Hired Students Over “Experienced” People
When I started my first company, I had a choice.
I could hire “experienced professionals” with polished CVs and years in the industry.
Or I could hire students who had the skills I needed and could move quickly.
I chose students. Here’s why:
They had the skills. That’s the baseline. But beyond that:
They could move fast. No corporate bureaucracy mindset. No “let me think about it for a week.” Just: Here’s the problem, here’s the deadline, let’s go.
They didn’t overthink. Experienced people sometimes overthink to the point of paralysis. Students just got it done.
They were hungry. They wanted to prove themselves. They wanted the experience. They showed up ready to work.
And honestly? Most of them didn’t realise how valuable their skills were.
They’d been doing these things for free… for friends, for student societies, for fun.
When I told them what I’d pay, they were shocked.
“Wait, people actually pay for this?”
Yes. Every single day.
The Skills Most Students Are Overlooking Right Now
Here’s what most students don’t understand:
The skill that feels “too easy” to you is exactly what makes it valuable to someone else.
You’ve forgotten how hard it was to learn. You’ve practiced it so much it feels natural.
But to a founder who needs that skill? It’s a problem worth paying to solve.
Let me break down 5 skills you’re probably dismissing right now… and what they’re actually worth.
1. If You’re Good at Explaining Things
What you can charge:
Tutoring: $15-30/hour (in-person or online)
Study guides: Create comprehensive notes and sell them to younger students ($10-20 per guide)
YouTube explainer videos: Ad revenue + sponsorships once you hit 1K subs
StudyGram: Brand deals with academic and product companys
Practical example: If one student tutored 5 people for 2 hours each per week at $20/hour. That’s $200/week = $800/month. Completely flexible schedule. She will make more than most part-time jobs.
Why it’s valuable: Most people can’t break down complex concepts simply. If you can, that’s a skill people will pay for… whether it’s tutoring, creating content, or explaining things in a business context.
2. If You’re Organized
What you can charge:
Event planning for student societies: $50-200 per event
Virtual assistant work: $10-20/hour, fully remote
Notion templates: $5-20 each (sell on Gumroad)
Practical example: If a student created a “Student Productivity Dashboard” in Notion for $15. Made 40 sales in the first month = $600. One-time effort, ongoing income.
Why it’s valuable: Most people are disorganized. If you can create systems, manage schedules, or plan events without things falling apart, that’s worth money.
3. If You Edit Videos
What you can charge:
Social media content for campus businesses: $30-100 per video
Event recap videos: $100-300 per event
YouTube editing for creators: $50-200 per video (ongoing clients)
Practical example: Architecture students host exhibitions. Fashion students host shows. Business students host conferences. They all need recap videos. One person charged $150 per event, did 2-3 per month = $300-450.
Why it’s valuable: Video is everywhere. Most people don’t know how to edit spontaneously. If you can make a decent video quickly, people will pay you.
4. If You Write Well
What you can charge:
Essay editing: NOT writing essays (that’s academic misconduct), but editing drafts for grammar, structure, clarity ($20-50 per essay)
LinkedIn ghostwriting for student founders: Many students are building startups and need content ($100-300/month)
Newsletter writing for clubs/societies: $50-150/month
Practical example: Essay editing during exam season is huge. 5 essays per week at $30 each = $150/week. 4 weeks of exam season = $600.
Why it’s valuable: Most people struggle to write clearly. If you can write (or edit) in a way that sounds human and gets the point across, that’s a skill worth paying for.
5. If You Design Things
What you can charge:
Event posters: For societies, clubs, parties ($20-50 each)
Instagram templates: Student brands, influencers, small businesses ($30-100 for a pack)
Presentation decks: For group projects, pitches, student startups ($50-150)
Practical example: Someone created Instagram story templates for student brands. $50 for a pack of 10 templates. Sold to 15 people in their first month = $750.
Why it’s valuable: Most people have no design sense. If you can make something look good… whether it’s a poster, a slide deck, or a social media graphic… people will pay you.
The Pattern You Need to See
Notice something about all of these?
They’re not “special” skills. They’re things you probably already do.
The difference is: You do them for free. Others will pay.
You tutor your friends for free. Charge $20/hour for others.
You make posters for your society for free. Charge $30 for other societies.
You edit videos for fun. Charge $50 per video for student businesses.
Same skill. Different context. Real money.
What I Wish More Students Understood
When I hired students for my company, I didn’t care about:
What year they were in
What their GPA was
What their major was
Whether they had a “proper” CV
I cared about three things:
Can you solve the problem I have?
Can you deliver on time?
Can you communicate clearly?
That’s it.
If you can do those three things, the rest doesn’t matter.
Your degree might get you a job interview someday. These skills get you paid today.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
Here’s the brutal truth about waiting until after graduation:
By the time you graduate, you’ve missed 3-4 years of potential income and experience.
The students I hired? Some of them made more from side work than from any internship. Some turned those skills into full businesses before graduating.
They didn’t wait for permission. They didn’t wait for their degree to validate them.
They just started.
And that gave them a massive advantage when they graduated:
They had 3-4 years of real client work
They had testimonials and case studies
They had proven systems for making money
They had options beyond just “apply to jobs and hope”
That’s the real competitive advantage.
Your Action Step for Today
Here’s what I want you to do:
Step 1: Look at the 5 categories above (explaining, organizing, editing, writing, designing)
Step 2: Ask yourself honestly: Which one do I already do without thinking about it?
Step 3: Find ONE person this week who needs that skill and charge them $20-50 for it
Don’t overthink it. Don’t wait until you’re “ready.” Just do it once.
Because the skill you think is “too basic” to charge for? Someone is paying someone else for that exact skill right now.
Why not you?
What’s Coming Tomorrow
Tomorrow, I’m breaking down the 9-5er version of this.
How to monetize your day job skills on the side… without your boss finding out, without burning out, and without needing to “build a personal brand.”
If you’re working full-time and want to add $500-2K/month on the side, tomorrow’s for you.
For now: What’s one skill you’ve been dismissing as “too basic”?
Drop it in the comments. I’ll tell you what it’s worth (spoiler: it’s probably more than you think).
Hello there ❗
Creating schedules, systems and time management.