Are you currently strapped for cash? A lot of people are starting to feel the squeeze on their wallets. Maybe that's why 49% of Millennials have a side hustle. You may not even be that strapped for cash, but still want some extra money to spend. A side hustle can be an easy way to make that extra money, and it's easier than ever to start working a side job. You can enjoy flexible hours and still make decent enough money on your own time.

Work a part-time job

You could spend your free time working at a local business. These positions are often low skill, but allow you to make extra money. You could work a few hours a week at a retail store or a local restaurant to help bring in some extra dough. It's pretty easy and straight forward to apply at a lot of small businesses. Of course, you'll rarely be able to set your own hours and be stuck to their schedule.

Join the gig economy

With the availability of apps now, this is probably the easiest way to start your own side hustle. In most cases, all you need is a car. And in others, you don't even need that. You can normally get started right away and there's no interview process.

There's also jobs for anyone out there. If you love dogs, you can even get paid to watch them. And if that isn't your cup of tea, there's other stuff out there too. In fact, there's jobs for almost anyone that allow you to work on your own schedule.

Start your own side hustle

If you're feeling ambitious enough, you could even start your own business. Maybe you're a graphic designer who wants to use and improve their skills. You could start your own company to work on that. You can also start your own business for whatever you want. With the rise of eCommerce, the costs of starting a business are lower than ever. There's plenty of tools out there that will help you find your niche.

If you are struggling, make sure you look at our other tips to make sure you have a budget that fits your needs. Or, if student loans are causing your stress, you can refinance your student loans with Defynance. Defynance uses income share agreements to refinance your student loans. An income share agreement adjusts with your income, giving you protection in your times of need.

When will we return to the office after COVID?

Around the world, restrictions are easing and some people have already been called back into their offices. While other companies have gone ​remote permanently​. The pandemic has shown that some work can be done remotely and the office is just an added cost, others have decided that people can work remote part time and in the office part time. It all depends on 

What will returning to the office look like?

Just because you are returning to your office, doesn't mean that everything is normal. The ​CDC outlines​ some guidelines for returning back to the office in safe manner. This includes following much of the advice you've heard for the last year, like wearing a mask, maintaining a distance of six feet when possible, washing your hands often, and limiting interactions with others with possible. We know that it's not always possible to do all these things, but being aware of your surroundings and limiting any kinds of dangerous interactions will keep you safer. Also, if you start feeling sick, you should stay at home if possible to prevent infecting others. 

While we can't guarantee that as soon as you go to the office, everything will be normal, it can give a better sense of normalcy. When you do return to the office, if you haven't already, remember to stay vigilant and minimize your risk of catching coronavirus. If eligible, consider getting vaccinated to protect yourself and others from spreading COVID further. 

Are you looking for resources to help improve your health and wellness? ​Defynance​ has created the ​resource marketplace​ to compile wellness resources to help you succeed. From telehealth to fitness, it includes different resources that will keep you healthy. We know how important health is to one's success, so we want to make sure you always take care of yourself.

On a personal note, I went through 5 years of college for chemical engineering and realized I didn't like the field. Luckily engineers learn most importantly to be critical thinkers and can take on a variety of tasks in many different areas. Some places even prefer hiring engineers to other majors because of these skills. Just because you got a degree in engineering doesn't mean that you'll be stuck doing engineering all the time. Unless that's what you enjoy doing, because there's nothing wrong with being an engineer. Or you can look into some alternative career paths for engineers.

Finance is an alternative career path for engineers

A career in finance can be a great alternative to someone with an engineering degree. Many of the skills you learn in engineering can be applied, especially the ability to think critically and quantitatively. Financing is also an extremely broad field and you could work in anything from a banker to a financial advisor. Another great thing about finance is that there's a lot of room for upward mobility, so you can continue to grow through whatever position you take. 

Consulting

A consultant can give an expert opinion or analysis to another individual or company. Often, consultants are experts in their fields and help other companies to improve their own processes.  A consultant can come in many different fields and work in any industry. Consultants will generally travel to different locations to help a company with whatever it needs in the field of expertise. It can be a great way to start a career and get great knowledge in specific fields. 

Product Management

Product management is a hard field to define in general. Each company has a different explanation of what a product manager may do, but it generally involves delivering and improving a product for customers. Their goal is to figure out what the customers need and how it fits into the business goals of the company. They can be a bridge between the team developing the product and the management team of the company. Product management is a great career with a wide variety of ways to grow into different roles.

Are you an engineer with student loans? ​Defynance​ has the solution for you using our student loan refinancing product. Instead of refinancing a loan with another loan, we use ​income share agreements​. With this, you only pay a small percent of your income for a set period of time. One of the benefits is that if you lose your job or decide to go back to school for an advanced degree, your payments will automatically pause and interest won’t build. If you’re interested in learning more or applying, ​click here​.

A Master's in Education can help accelerate the career of any teacher. It can often be seen as the gate to getting into administration or other career paths outside of the classroom. Many places will even ​require a master's degree​ for you to become an administrator. With school principal's ​earning more than most teachers​, a Master's in Education can be a great degree to give you specific guidance as an administrator and advance your career. 

Get a Master's in Education if you want to work in administration

This degree can be the perfect segue into a career in educational administration. This can lead to a career as a school principal, where you can overlook an entire school. This would move you out of the classroom and to the administration of the school. As an alternative, you could also look towards a career at the district level, working with multiple schools within a school district. 

What does it take to get a Master's in Education?

Most people complete their Master's in Education within ​two years after completing 36 credits​. In most cases, you will need a Bachelor's Degree and some experience in teaching before you can get your Master's in Education. If you're already teachings, odds are you already hit those marks, so you're ready to go. 

Consider getting your degree online

Worried about taking time off to pursue a degree? Consider completing your ​education online​. An online degree program can offer plenty of flexibility when it comes to scheduling, so you can work it into your life. Many online programs can also allow you to complete your degree faster on an accelerated track. This can be a great choice if you are looking to advance your career with as much flexibility as possible. 

Want a Master's in Education but worried about your current student loans? Check out Defynance. Our student loan refinancing option allows you to refinance your loans with an ​income share agreement​. With an income share agreement, payments are tied to your income, so they’re always affordable. There is also a set end date, so you know that your repayment will end, no matter what happens in your life. Check out the benefits of ​our program​ today.

Teachers have a huge salary depending on where they live, with some districts paying only around $40,000 and others paying more than ​$100,000 a year​. While pay isn't the only factor, that's a huge range and can be a big factor in deciding where you want to teach. These five states below are the highest paying states for teachers. 

5. New Jersey

The first state on the list is New Jersey, which pays an average $74,760 per teacher. This state spends an average of $20,021 on each of it's students and ranks highly in quality of life. This state is a great option to teach in because of this quality. It also has a cost of living index of 120, meaning that it's about 20% more expensive than the rest of the country. This is much cheaper than it's neighbor, New York, who boasts a cost of living index of over 180. 

4. Connecticut

Next up, we have Connecticut. This fine state pays it's teachers an average salary of $76,465. While having the fourth highest salaries, Connecticut actually boasts the second highest amount of spending per student, spending an average of $20,635. This makes it a great state to teach in. 

3. Massachusetts

You may start to notice that there's a trend around these states. With the number three spot, there's another state in the northeast in Massachusetts. Teachers from this state can expect to take in an average salary of $82,042. This is also the first state to earn over $80,000 a year and have over a $5,000 lead on the state below it. 

2. California

Bucking the trend of states in the northeast, we have California at number two. California teachers earn $83,059 a year on average, just barely beating out Massachusetts. Even with California paying such high salaries to it's teachers, it's the only state on this list that is outside of the top 10 in funding per student (and outside the north east). California spends an average of $12,498 on each student. 

1. New York is the highest paying state for teachers

The top paying state for teachers is New York, with an average salary of $85,889. Another state in the north east also takes the number one spot. On top of their high salary, New York also spends the most on each student of any state in the country, with $24,040 going to each student.

The Lowest Paying State for Teachers: Mississippi

In general, the south is one of the lowest paying regions for teachers in the country, but Mississippi takes the cake as the lowest. Mississippi teachers on average earn $45,105 a year, almost half of teachers in New York. This pay reduction is somewhat made up for by it's low cost of living, especially with housing being about half as expensive as the rest of the country. However, Mississippi also has one of the lowest amount of funds per student, spending only $8,935 on each student.

Data from the ​National Education Association​.

Student loans giving you issues? Check out Defynance. Our student loan refinancing option allows you to refinance your loans with an income share agreement. With an income share agreement, payments are tied to your income, so they're always affordable. There is also a set end date, so you know that your repayment will end, no matter what happens in your life. Check out the benefits of our program today

For med students, choosing the right specialty is one of the biggest decisions they will ever make. It dictates everything, from what they do, to how much they earn, and how many hours they will work. It's important to choose the one that's right for you, based on what you may enjoy, like the type of work or the work-life balance. Some doctors will work more than others and specialties, like pediatrics, can even get calls after hours to do work. However, these other specialties can come with a better work-life balance.

Dermatology has great work-life balance

Dermatology is a pretty competitive specialty, and that's because they have one of the coziest lifestyles of all physicians. Dermatologists specialize in conditions with the skin, hair, and nails, so you may have seen one for your acne when you were a teenager. Or maybe that's just me. Because of what they typically deal with, there's fewer emergencies and most dermatologists work a pretty regular schedule, like 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday to Friday. This can give you a schedule on par with most other day-time jobs and free up your nights and weekends. Another perk is that dermatologists make a pretty good living, earning $352,000 per year on average.

Ophthalmology

Another specialty with an almost regular work schedule is Ophthalmology. Ophthalmologists work an average of 47 hours per week, which is pretty good compared to some other specialties. While they work longer than dermatologists on average, they still have a set schedule and can normally have a nice relaxing weekend. Ophthalmologists specialize in eye and vision care. They shouldn't be confused with optometrists, who focus on basic eye care. Overall, ophthalmology is a great specialty for those seeking a more relaxed lifestyle.

Psychiatry

Psychiatrists work an average of 48 hours per week, which is on par with the other two specialties listed here. Psychiatrists address problems relating to mental health, including substance abuse. They also can diagnose the mental and physical aspects of psychiatric problems and they can deal with a range of issues from anxiety to schizophrenia. Unlike therapists, psychiatrists go through training in medical school and are licensed to prescribe medicine. The specialty also pays well, earning an average of $232,000 per year.

Of course, this list doesn't include the full-list of medical specialties with a great work-life balance. We may not have even listed the specialty with the best work-life balance, but we know that these three specialties are great for those who are looking to have a more balanced lifestyle. When choosing a specialty, it's more important to look for something that aligns with your interests and work-life balance isn't the only factor.

Medical school also comes with a great deal of student loans. If student loans are causing you a burden, Defynance may have the solution for you. Our interest-free refinancing solution uses income share agreements, so that your payments are always affordable. So while you’re in residency, your payments can stay low without fear of interest building up. And when you start earning more money as a full-fledged physician, your payment will scale, but still be affordable for you. Since the payment is based on income, you never have to worry about whether or not you will make a payment.

Doctors constantly round out some of the ​highest paying jobs​. And there's a good reason for that; they go through a large amount of schooling and you put your lives in their hands everyday. There's no arguing that doctors deserve a lot of compensation for their work. However, there's a huge range of doctor's incomes, from $150K to over $1M depending on the situation. With this wide of a range, it's worth seeing what the highest paying medical specialties are to earn the most money (and pay off that student debt).

5. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

The first item on our list actually doesn't come medical school, but dental school. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons, which make $538,590 a year on average, generally deal with issues that affect the head, neck, mouth, jaw, and face. After completing dental school, these dentists will spend four to six years in residency, during which they also take two years to earn a medical degree. You will also have to take a board certification. And if you want to specialize further, you could be looking up to another 2 years of fellowship. 

4. Plastic Surgery

Next up is ​plastic surgery​, which earn a staggering $539,208 a year. And these surgeons work on more than just cosmetics. They also do reconstructive work from any traumas, like burns, or diseases. Their goal is to form the affected areas to look as normal as possible. There are two different paths for plastic surgeons; a 6-year combined general surgery and plastic surgery residency or a 5-year general surgery residency followed by a 3-year plastic surgery residency. For those that want to specialize further, they can expect another 1 or 2 year fellowship.

3. Orthopedic Surgery

Our third highest paying medical specialty may surprise some people, or not. As the first specialty to average over $600,000 a year, ​orthopedic surgeons​ bring home the big bucks, averaging $605,330 a year. Orthopedic surgeons are dedicated to treating issues with the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles; performing surgeries like hip replacements or prescribing special treatments. They tend to look for holistic treatments to problems that are the least intrusive, so may try physical therapy or other options before resorting to surgery. Orthopedic surgeons will generally do a five year residency with the option to do one-year of specialization. 

2. Thoracic Surgery

Coming in at number two, we have ​thoracic surgery​! These surgeons, who focus on the heart, lungs, and other parts of the chest make an average of $668,350 a year. These high-performing surgeons can expect to do 6-8 years of training depending on how they want to specialize. With heart disease being the leading cause of death in the United States, this is a very in-demand specialty. 

1. Neurosurgery is the highest paying of the medical specialties

And the top spot goes to... *drum roll* ... Neurosurgery! This top paying specialty averages $746,544 a year, which is almost a whopping $100,000 more than our number two spot. That's kind of crazy, but it's not for good reason. A typical neurosurgeon can expect to do anywhere from ​6 to 8 years​ of training AFTER medical school and even more if they pursue any fellowships afterwards. Neurosurgeons can expect to focus on diagnosing and performing surgical treatment on disorders of the nervous system. This can include anything from trauma and tumors to strokes and infections. 

All data from ​doximity​.

With these being some of the highest paying specialties, they can be quite competitive and take extra time with residency and fellowships. Before choosing one, it's worth considering if you want to put in the extra training and if it is something you're passionate about. As the old saying goes, "Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life." This holds true for medical specialties too. It's important to find a good match for yourself. Most doctors will get paid well and the top doctors in other specialties can make more than doctors in these five specialties, so find something you enjoy. 

Of course, medical school also comes with a great deal of student loans. If student loans are causing you a burden, ​Defynance​ may have the solution for you. Our interest-free refinancing solution uses income share agreements, so that your payments are always affordable. So while you’re in residency, your payments can stay low without fear of interest building up. And when you start earning more money as a full-fledged physician, your payment will scale, but still be affordable for you. Since the payment is based on income, you never have to worry about whether or not you will make a payment.

It's been known that ​engineering majors​ make more than most others when after earning their degrees. However, there can be a lot of variability between the different types of engineers, with some earning more than others. In general, an engineering degree can unlock plenty of doors and just because you don't choose the "highest-paying" one, doesn't mean that you can't earn more. However, on average, these three will pay higher than the other ones when you get right out of college. 

3. Computer Engineering

The first major on our list is computer engineering, earning a whopping $76,890 a year right out of the gate. That's pretty impressive, and yet it's only number three on the list. ​Computer engineering​ sounds pretty straight forward, but it's a bit more complicated than just working on computers. Computer engineers solve tough problems surrounding computers, such as setting up networks or finding ways to make computers faster. 

2. Software Engineering

With technology becoming as prevalent as it is, it's no surprise that two of the highest paying spots have to do with computers. Software engineers just barely beat out computer engineers, earning an average $76,955 starting salary. ​Software engineers​, unlike computer engineers, focus more on the software side of things. They focus a lot more on the programming side of things and will write programs to solve their problems. The field of software engineering is pretty widespread and features many different languages. They can make a career in almost any path they choose. 

1. Petroleum Engineering Majors

And rounding out the top, we have petroleum engineering. Which shouldn't be too surprising. On average, a petroleum engineer can expect to make $83,860 coming out of college. ​Petroleum engineers​ are typically responsible for solving issues in the energy, specifically around oil and gas. This discipline is a combination of chemical, mechanical, and industrial engineering made to solve the toughest problem in the energy sector. Overall, a career in petroleum engineering can be quite lucrative. 

Just because you don't choose one of these three majors though, doesn't mean that you won't earn more. Chemical engineers also have great career prospects and can earn a lot in there field. When choosing an engineering major, you should look into what your interests are and how that aligns with the different fields. The starting salaries can be fairly similar too, averaging around $70,000. And if you look at the ​median salaries​ of the different engineers, anything can happen as you get more experience. 

All data from ​NACE

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Are you an engineer with student loans? ​Defynance​ has the solution for you using our student loan refinancing product. Instead of refinancing a loan with another loan, we use ​income share agreements​. With this, you only pay a small percent of your income for a set period of time. One of the benefits is that if you lose your job or decide to go back to school for an advanced degree, your payments will automatically pause and interest won't build. If you're interested in learning more or applying, ​click here​.

It's no secret that the COVID-19 has caused the worst unemployment in the US rate since the Great Depression, ballooning from ​3.8% all the way to 14.4%​ in just two months. We even experienced the most unemployment claims in one week, ever. And while things may be looking grim, it will get better eventually and there's even still hope to find a job today. While it may be more difficult, it's not impossible to navigate the job market during an economic downturn.

Leverage your network to navigate the job market in an economic downturn

A study finds that most jobs are found through using ​someone you know​. Even further, they found that these jobs weren't found through close friends, but weak ties. While also being more likely to get hired, job seekers also found that using these weak ties allowed them to get better information during the hiring process and a higher salary. You could use this pandemic to connect with some of those weak ties and navigate the job market in an economic downturn. Don't be afraid to reach out to someone you have talked to in a while, because the worst they can do is say no. 

Start by thinking of a list of people that you know loosely and may be willing to help you out. If you need to, you could also start networking. Apps like ​Shapr​ allow you to connect with people and expand your network. It's great in the current environment because it doesn't require going anywhere to meet someone.

Build up your resume

An economic downturn can also be a great time to increase your skills. With tools like ​Coursera​ making education as accessible as possible, it's easier than ever to learn a new skill and improve your resume. Learning some new skills can help you become more marketable and allow you to stand out from other candidates applying for jobs. Remember that many other people are probably looking for jobs too and you have to stand out from the rest of them. While upskilling will definitely help, you also have to make sure that your resume and cover letter highlight your abilities too.

Don't be scared to go outside your comfort zone

When jobs are scarce, it can be hard to find jobs inside your industry. Don't be afraid to take the skills you have and apply them elsewhere when navigating the job market during an economic downturn. Even if you don't have industry experience, your skills could still apply elsewhere and it's worth looking deeper at the job descriptions to see if you're a fit. You could even try something else, like working for a nonprofit, the government or a startup that interests you. 

Remember that the market won't always be this way and will eventually recover. Keep your head up, because you will land a job. Many people are struggling to find a job in the current climate and are in a similar situation. If you keep looking around and applying, you'll find something.