Let’s face it, splurging on concerts in Singapore has probably left us broke AF. Add on school, and there’s not much time left to recoup the money. Sure, there are many tips to save money out there, like using promo codes, but your savings are limited if you don’t earn at the same time.
Whether you’re waiting for uni, NS, or just planning to make use of free time on weekends, here’s a list of part-time jobs in Singapore in 2024 to get that dough.
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What comes to mind when you mention “part-time jobs” are usually roles in retail or F&B where you’ll be compensated on an hourly basis. While those 2 are the most common, there are more unique ones out there like pet sitters or tuition teachers. These jobs usually pay more as they require specialised skills, although the skills required aren’t as much as a full-time role.
According to various sources like Glassdoor, the standard rates in 2024 are about $9-$11/hour. But if the nature of the job is more complicated, you may find yourself earning as high as $20/hour.
For F&B jobs, you may need to take and pass a basic food hygiene course and exam. Prior to starting work, you’ll probably have to undergo some basic training on things like cashiering or waitressing, especially if you have no prior experience. Same goes for jobs in retail and events.
However, in many cases the training will be provided so no prior experience is required. There are some part-time jobs, however, that have prerequisites such as tutoring. It’s a given that if you’re teaching a subject, you should have knowledge of said subject as well as of the course syllabus.
Most of the time, jobs with shorter commitment periods don’t require an interview; just fill up the application form and you’re good to go. For the ones with longer commitment periods like retail and customer-facing, you may be subjected to a simple interview process, generally walk-ins.
If you’re applying for a part-time job which requires prior training or knowledge such as tutors or pet sitters, you will need to submit a resume to the respective agency or centre.
Sometimes job hunting sites will provide you with an agent or a recruiter to represent you and act as a middleman between you and the part-time job you’re applying for. If you get in, they’ll earn a small commission but not to fret, it won’t affect your payday. Rather, the company has to fork out a fee to compensate them for finding manpower.
| Job | Rates | Pros | Cons |
| Retail associate | From $10/hour | Might get staff discounts | Long working hours |
| F&B server | Up to $16/hour | Free meals are usually provided | Long working hours |
| Delivery riders | From $12/hour | Flexible schedule | Physically demanding |
| Tutor | From $20/hour | Flexible schedule | Very competitive job market |
| Babysitter | From $17/hour | Enjoyable if you love kids | Heavy responsibility |
| Event ushers | From $10.50/hour | Simple job scope | Must stand for very long hours |
| Pet sitter | From $15/hour | Enjoyable if you love animals | Job comes on an ad-hoc basis |
| Warehouse packer | From $10/hour | Simple job scope | Physically demanding and can cause backaches |
| Freelance caregiver | From $17/hour | Flexible schedule | Heavy responsibility |
As a retail associate, your role will mainly involve managing inventory on the sales floor, cashiering, and basic housekeeping duties. Of course, you’ll interact a lot with customers, so product knowledge is key. Some places even offer a 1.5x rate per hour if you work during public holidays and busy periods like Christmas or New Year’s Eve.
Don’t fret, you’ll get weekdays off since those aren’t busy periods. It’s not just all work though, there are rewards for you to enjoy too, like staff discounts on products or exclusive access to new items.
Companies to look at:
Image credit: NTUC LearningHub
In the F&B sector, you’ll usually be a server and heavily involved in the behind the scenes of the kitchen. You’ll be moving food quickly from kitchen to tables before flashing your pearly whites to diners. Besides that, cashiering and housekeeping duties will likely also be involved.
It can be an intense environment, especially during peak dining hours or the holiday season. Is it like a scene from Hell’s Kitchen? Maybe, but as a part-timer, you’ll just have to bear with it. Besides, you’re getting paid more than retail, with rates going as high as $16/hour.
Companies to look at:
Another common part-time gig: delivery riders. You would have most likely called upon their services before, and can now get a taste of what it’s like on the other side. If you’re someone who can’t keep still, this job’s for you. There’s a sense of “freedom” being able to roam around the city instead of being indoors for a change, albeit under tight time constraints from customers.
The total amount you earn is up to you, so you can choose to chiong and rake it in, or just do it as and when you feel like it. Being a delivery rider for GrabFood or other companies comes with its own sets of challenges, like issues with collection orders and difficult customers. You can even deliver by foot or bicycle if you haven’t gotten your driving or motorbike licence yet.
Plus, you just might discover some new restaurants, cafes or hawker centres you’d never heard of.
Companies to look at:
Image for illustrative purposes only.
Sometimes, jobs where you serve people’s materialistic needs can be a bit sian after a while. If you’re looking for something more rewarding, like spreading your knowledge to others, try out your hand at being a tutor. Seeing that Singaporeans stress a lot on education, it’s no surprise that there’s a high demand for tutors out there.
Do note that you must have the proper know-how and be a good student yourself before trying to impart wisdom unto others, duh.
Companies to look at:
Image for illustrative purposes only.
Those who love kids but more importantly have lots of patience, can consider being a babysitter. First, you would need to be at least 16 years old and complete a babysitting course recognised by the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
The course would cover various essential skills a babysitter must have, including first aid, child development, and safety. You’ll need to take an exam at the end of it all. Having someone who can vouch for you will greatly boost your chances too so remember to collect testimonials once you get started.
The job scope of a babysitter will be to play with the children, supervise homework, and prepare basic meals and snacks. Do note that a babysitter is different from a nanny, with the latter including a wider range of duties like housekeeping.
Companies to look at:
Image credit: Singapore Sports Hub
Part-time job placements for event ushers come and go based on the availability of events or concerts happening in Singapore. The job scope is simple; just direct and lend a helping hand to people attending the event, ensuring that no one strays off course or gets lost. Of course, this means you’ll also have to stand for very long hours, check for the validity of visitor’s tickets, and know exactly where the restrooms are.
Companies to look at:
Image for illustrative purposes only.
Handling kids may be too much for some of us, but what about handling animals instead? Pet sitters are another evergreen job for animal lovers. The job scope depends on what the pet owner needs on a particular day, so it’s mostly on an ad-hoc basis. Oftentimes you’ll have to walk their pet; other times you may have to take them to the vet and ensure they take their meds.
Even a simple task of walking their dog for 30 minutes can fetch you some money. On the flip side, if the owners are going somewhere overseas, you can find yourself taking care of the doggo for a few days, during which you’ll be paid per night. Similar to babysitters, having a few people who can vouch for you would greatly boost your chances.
Companies to look at:
Image for illustrative purposes only.
Prepare to get your body moving if you sign up as a warehouse packer. The job is simple, just, unload, arrange, and sort out parcels according to respective online orders. This is good for those who have a month of free time to kill and would rather spend it farming money than lazing at home.
There’s no doubt about it; these jobs are physically demanding, so you best better head down to your nearest fitness corner and start exercising. They come and go, but most of these job openings peak during periods like 12.12 sales and Black Friday.
Do note that it can be a bit dangerous since it’s a warehouse setting and most roles require you to wear some sort of safety gear like boots.
Companies to look at:
Image credit: NTUC Health
You can show love and spread care to others by being a freelance caregiver at elderly centres or one of many telemedicine services in Singapore. You don’t have to be a licensed doctor; just being able to transfer and assist patients with graciousness and patience is enough.
Of course, if you have basic medical skills like CPR or first aid, it’ll make you stand out against other applicants. These care centres will provide in-house training to help you learn on the job.
Companies to look at:
According to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) employment practices, you can start working from as young as 13 years old, but only if it’s in light non-industrial settings, like F&B restaurants. So any kind of warehouse packing job is out of the question. Once you hit 16, you can engage in more physically demanding work.
You can find all the laws and regulations on MOM’s website but here’s a summary: you won’t have to work longer than 6 straight hours without any form of a break, unless the nature of the job demands it, like warehouse packing during peak periods. But if it goes up to 8 hours, the company must give you a break for at least 45 minutes for you to makan and take some rest.
You also shouldn’t be subjected to more than 12 hours of work a day unless urgently required.
The commitment period differs for each job. It can be as short as a week, to as long as 3 months. Whatever the period, it will be reflected in your contract so read carefully before signing on the dotted line and rest assured that you won’t be forced to commit any longer than what you’ve agreed to. Please check through the terms and conditions closely.
Anything related to job lobangs can be found on Telegram channels and WhatsApp channels. They may also pop up on Instagram as advertisements from time to time.
There are also plenty of dedicated job-hunting websites out there, some notable ones include:
Do be mindful of job scams, which are becoming more prominent by the day. Some telltale signs to look out for:
With any of these part-time jobs, you can offset some of the damage done spending all that time shopping in Singapore. Regardless, be careful of overworking yourself to the point of getting work burnout.
For other things money-related check out:
Cover Image adapted from: NTUC Health
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