This article discloses how to find under-the-table jobs on Craigslist. CL, as popularly abbreviated, is one of the hideouts for a series of activities – legal and illegal. Of course, you can get a job on CL and get paid in cash; no government agency noses around, and it ends between you and the employer.
Under the table, jobs involve employment not reported to the government. It is an employment opportunity to collect cash in hand and no annoying taxes.
Yes, Craigslist opens you to arrays of under-the-table work opportunities, and this article shows you how to find them.
Steps to Finding Under-the-Table Jobs on Craigslist Easily
This section reveals the steps to identify possible under-the-table jobs on CL. Below are the steps to find under table jobs on Craigslist:
1. Go to Craigslist.Org
Your first step is to sign up if you don’t already have an account with Craigslist. If you do not reside in the supported states, the website blocks your IP. However, you can use a VPN to access the website.
CL will now navigate you to the area it detects from your IP. If your IP reads a different location, for instance, if you use a VPN to hide your identity, it will navigate you to that location.
Nonetheless, you can always select a new location when accessing the website.
You’d find several sections on CL, including Jobs sections. Craigslist also features temporary jobs, and they are best for under-table employees.
Many job seekers prefer the jobs section, especially those willing to leave home for their work. But if you choose to work from home, you’d want to navigate to the gigs section.
Most gigs are typical freelance jobs like writing, copywriting, social media marketing, etc.
2. Check Various Sections
You’d want to check the various sections on Craigslist because some employers are not conscious of using related areas. But don’t go searching for a job like lawn mowing under the automotive category.
Meanwhile, you may be able to filter search for employers willing to pay cash to avoid taxes. Of course, you’d found them. And some employers include it in their descriptions.
3. Search for Work
Searching for a job on CL is simple; you use the search bar to find them and select them conveniently.
While you surf Craigslist for under-the-table jobs, you would come across gigs that are demanding and pay more. You would also earn more since you do not file a tax report on the earnings.
Some meagre paying the table jobs on Craigslist usually do not last, but you can secure many of them for more profit. People also use collect those jobs pay others lower amounts to do them while serving as the middleman.
4. Mind the Rate
You must not enslave yourself merely because you’re searching for a job under the table and that pays cash. Moreover, some jobs are open to negotiations, so you get to bargain with the poster on the listing for a fair price.
Most listings appear in descending order, from older listings to newer listings. Sometimes, more recent listings can rank higher or have more visibility due to the keywords the poster included in the description.
The heading of the listing will contain basic information, including job location and type. For instance, you’d get something like Baby Sitter (Manchester).
Do not review gigs that require physical meetings if they are far from your location. But you may check virtual jobs, such that you do not necessarily have to meet the job poster.
5. Apply for Gig
Before applying for an under-the-table job on CL, make sure the price is not ridiculous. Yes, scammers positions, too, and they would typically want you to click a suspicious URL or pay to get the job.
Click Reply near the listing to contact the potential employer to apply for a job. You may then contact the person following their provided contact option(s).
6. Reply to Job Applications
When you receive notifications, be mindful of which you take seriously. Click the preferred client to reply. You’d get a new email form with an information field like ‘To’ and ‘Subject’ and a link to the listing in the body.
Sometimes, employers use a company email address. If they use CL’s anonymous email address, such as 10svpaadpsll2dd3sah@gigs.craigslist.org, copy and paste it on your email to contact them.
Make sure to include the subject and explain yourself sincerely. Most employers have trick options to test how well you follow instructions. For instance, you may be required to reply to the email with a specific term or provide your experience in the job.
It may be a scam if you’re requested to include finance-related information, mainly if it instructs you to make payments upfront.
When you reply to the email, the listing owner will get back to you.
Do you reside in a prominent metro location? If yes, ensure to check beyond the top 100 listings since the leading listings may have too many applicants already.
Note that these posters receive lots of applications, and would manually review the application, so it might take longer for yours to be reached. The solution is to reply to any job faster to secure a chance to be contacted.
Top Under-the-Table Jobs on Craigslist
Choose the best under-the-table jobs on Craigslist below:
1. Dog Walking
You can apply to walk a dog within your neighbourhood and get paid in cash. This job will take you off your comfort zone, though. And if you have other things to do, you might be working with dogs in the evenings.
You’d also need some practice walking a dog, especially if you have no dog. Most dogs would want to escape from the leech to play because dogs are typically curious. And if you are unprepared at the time, they can drag you into the dirt, causing injury.
2. Housecleaning
You can clean houses for money and get paid in cash without being charged taxes. Other than private apartments, offices, storage buildings, etc., are great places to work in.
On craigslist, you can search “house cleaning” and review the requirements you find. You may have to scroll down because the top results may have been filled with applicants, reducing your chance of the job.
3. Chauffeuring
If you can drive a car or ride a motorcycle, you can take up chauffeuring. Many persons on CL need personal drivers. The downside with this job is that you’d have to be with the employer. Of course, you could now be driving about, but it is primarily a temporary job.
It would help if you had time to do other things, though. You were facing the rideshare Craigslist category for this under the table job. You can teach someone to ride a motorcycle or learn a car themselves.
4. Babysitting
Babysitting is an excellent job for people that want to be paid in cash. Most under-the-table jobs on CL are easy to get, but this particular job is more challenging. It is not easy for parents to trust their kids to strangers. Moreover, this job segregates gender; typically, females secure this job.
You’d also require skills in managing babies. They are not adults, and you must not expect them to act or behave maturely.
Babysitting is an excellent job for weekends. You can work on weekdays if you have the chance. Do not make it a permanent position, except you’re illegal in the country.
Also, take up free babysitting courses online. See a couple of YouTube videos and learn the other side of babies that make babysitting a bit challenging. Note that it is risky under the table job since it involves the life of a delicate human.
5. Tutoring
If you are skilled in a particular field, you can become a tutor. Amateur drivers need tutors, and you can become their secondary instructor.
You can also teach courses to interested persons you’d find on Craigslist. Enter the course you can ace on Craigslist to find people that need your services. Note that you can run an ad, too.
If you are excellent at a particular programming language, you can teach people. Some languages include Java, JavaScript, Python, etc.
Meanwhile, foreigners also need translators or people to lecture them on English. You can teach mathematics to adults and children, especially children.
6. Photography
If you’re signing up for photography, you must be reliable and confident when taking photos. You also need a decent digital camera. Your smartphone camera is not professional.
People need photographers during weddings, sports, bike/car races, etc. Even family gatherings are great occasions for photographs, and your servicers may be required.
You’d need a portfolio of past work, too. And this under-the-table job on Craigslist attracts cash payment, which keeps you from paying taxes for your work.
7. Errands
You can sign up to become an errand person for people. Most employers will accommodate you as their assistant running several errands, including picking up items, answering specific phone calls, representing them on occasions, etc.
8. Yard Work
Simple yard works such as pulling weeds, mowing lawns, watering gardens, shovelling snow, etc., are under-the-table job opportunities on CL.
You may earn long-term contracts since most lawns require regular management, same with shovelling snow, pulling a weed, planting, etc.
9. Handyman
To work as a handyman, you need to be physically strong. You also need screwdrivers, wrench sets, screwdrivers, etc. As a beginner, you may not be able to afford the tools, but you can save up and get them ready before applying for handyman jobs.
As a handyman, available under the table job opportunities include the following:
- Windows, doors, and fence painting
- Kitchen sink repairs
- Bathroom damage repairs
- Gutter cleaning
- Power washing sidewalks and driveways
- Car washing, etc.
Meanwhile, you may follow our guide to learn how to start a profitable hand car wash.
Other Lucrative Under-the-Table Gigs on Craigslist
These are the top under-the-table jobs on craigslist. Once you find them, you can survive with them.
Writing
There are many writing gigs on Craigslist, and you do not have to leave the comfort of your home. Since you are getting paid in cash, it is easier to avoid taxes, and many intelligent illegals write to survive. The writing jobs include screenwriting, copywriting, blog content writing, translation (typically from English to another language), etc.
Talent
You can secure a job in the talent category, including models, dancers, singers, etc.
Labor
Manual jobs will take you off your comfort zone and are worth it under a table job if the location is nearby. You can work as a yard worker, driver, cleaner, painter, handyman, etc. While hunting for SSNs, this category could be the game-changer.
Event
CL features jobs like festivals, fashion shows, concerts, etc. You can work to earn money in cash.
Domestic
Simple domestic gigs include babysitting, dog walking, personal trainer, housekeeping, etc.
Crew
If you’d love to be a part of a movie, a studio audience, a minor role, etc., here is the job to select. You may follow this under-the-table job opportunity to earn fame if you satisfy the director(s).
Creative
Are you skilled in photography, sculpting, makeup, music, etc.? Select a related gig within your location to get started.
Computer
If you are a programmer, you can earn under the table and get away with it. Other opportunities are social media manager, graphic design, web development, design, etc. these are flexible jobs you can do from home.
How to Find the Right Under-the-Table Jobs on Craigslist
If you follow these steps, you are sure to find the right under the table jobs on Craigslist.
1. Create Another Email Address
Before signing up on CL, open a new email address. However, you can learn how to create a Gmail account using one phone number. Do not use your primary email address; otherwise, you’d have spam messages to fight.
Not all the emails are from real people when you sign up on CL. Some persons merely add your email address to their marketing list to bomb you with irrelevant emails.
2. Search a Suitable Job
So not just search for an under-the-table job. You are looking for a job you can do and that is flexible. Your keyword is essential, too, because it has to match what posters include in their descriptions.
Do not use automobile-related keywords when searching for a domestic job within your location. Meanwhile, you can level down your skills using the CL filter search under the selected category.
You can also search “cash jobs” to eliminate jobs that do not pay cash since we’re after cash payment.
3. List Your Resume
If you can’t find a cash job, you might want to post your resume as an ad looking for a cash job. Of course, interested employers will send you messages requesting your availability.
You do not have to post a complete resume, though; keep your terms short and move on to explain what you want. Make sure to list your previous experiences, and do not fail to mention your performances that attracted interest.
If your ad expires without engagement, do not give up. You’d have to post a new ad and ensure to make a few changes this time.
4. Be Professional
Regardless of what you want, make sure your description in the ad you post or the under-the-table job you apply for is professional.
For instance, if you are creating the title, it must be catchy. People searching for cash jobs include “Cash” in their title to attract interested persons most of the time.
Make sure to highlight your skills and identify your work ethic, i.e., what makes you unique, because many others possess your skill.
5. Be Concerned About the Payment
Do not just conclude and get to work. You must discuss the payment system and make it clear you accept payment in cash only. The deal will proceed if the employer is interested; otherwise, you’d both be wasting your time.
Most employers will lowball, but you can avoid lowballing by listing a reasonable price when uploading your ad. When applying for jobs, you can do the same; emphasize your skills to convince the potential client.
6. Understand the Gig
Before you apply for a gig, go through it briefly. Some gigs are excessively demanding, and you do not want to use them for something that is not convenient. Keep in mind that this under-the-table job is merely to fetch some bucks without reporting taxes to the government.
Employers will attempt to rip you by making you agree to work more for less. They would also mention that they are doing you a favour, but you are doing them favours too.
Look out for scams, though. The fortunate thing about CL scams is knowing when you’re dealing with a scammer. They typically make strange requirements with ridiculous promises that are red flags.
How Much Can You Make from Under-the-Table Jobs on Craigslist?
The amount of money you can make from under the table job depends on the ad poster and the job type. A translator would not earn the same as a handyman, like a babysitter. It vastly depends on how much you agree with the employer and what your portfolio or resume reports. Nonetheless, you can make more than $500 doing under-the-table jobs on Craigslist, especially short-term jobs. The estimated work hour will be about 35 hours, but you can earn up to $1,000 depending on how long you work under the table on CL.
Meanwhile, some employers are willing to pay $18 per hour for cash jobs on Craigslist. Besides, the employer gains a lot from the deal and enjoys the liberty of filing and paying taxes.
As a beginner, if you start with low-paying jobs, you can build yourself for high-paying jobs. Getting high-paying jobs is quite challenging due to high competitiveness. The number of applications or applicants is surplus, and your chances are typically slim.
How to Avoid Getting Scammed for Jobs on Craigslist
It is easy to get scammed on CL and is also easy to avoid getting scammed on CL. One popular Craigslist scam is the CL classified ad that many have fallen victim to, and you must be careful not to be a victim.
Below are the tips to avoid getting scammed when applying for or finding under-the-table jobs on Craigslist:
Read Craigslist Recommendations
Craigslist compiles the common scams to look out for here. Refer to them any time you have a deal to keep up with scam trends and stay informed.
Request a Video Call
Most legit potential clients would welcome a video conversation before meeting them in person. You can explain that you are following this measure to filter out scammers.
Do Not Accept to Ship
Some scammers can convince you to ship particular items for them and get paid handsomely. Typically, they are not interested in your listing or your application but your attention. Such items could be illegal items that land you in jail.
Close Deals that Request Money
When a deal requests money upfront to secure the under-the-table job, close them and not respond again. Make sure not to send your payment information to anyone or make money transfers of any kind.
Do Not Click Suspicious URLs
Some scammers, typically those attempting to infect your computer or steal your passwords, may send malicious links, convincing you to click for whatever reason. Do not click and do not open such emails again.
Do Not Allow Credit Checks
If you allow background/credit checks, you may be exposing personal details to scammers that may use your credit card details for carding.
Don’t Follow Fake Voicemails.
When a message requests accessing or checking your voicemail, it is fraudulent.
Can you put under-the-table jobs on your resume?
Yes, you can put under-the-table jobs on your resume. Your resume includes all side jobs; they are not illegal jobs so far. You can explain to the employer that you list those jobs to show that you possess such skills when the company needs them for particular projects.
Final Thoughts
Under-the-table jobs are excellent ways to stop the government from earning from your wallet. But do not forget that the funds are used to enhance the level of life across the country.
Craigslist is also careful with listings and would removes suspicious listings automatically. Under the table, jobs are not legal, so you want to be moderate when posting ads or applying for jobs. CL can penalize your account, but it’s rare when you’re careful.
