Is Working Shiftsmart Legit?: Make Extra Cash By Picking Up a Shift.

The events of 2020 have impacted the workforce significantly. During the spring and summer months, we saw unprecedented unemployment with many different industries experiencing major disruption. While some of those jobs have come back as the economy has begun the process of getting back to normal, millions of people are still without work or looking for additional income to make ends meet.

Read next: 11 Behaviors you shouldn’t be ashamed of during a pandemic

It’s in times like these that we realize just how important it is to be able to find work. If you’ve been impacted or if you’re looking for ways to make money, Shiftsmart may be able to help.

What Is Shiftsmart?

Shiftsmart’s mission involves “transforming the modern labor market” by matching companies and workers for mutual benefit. Businesses are able to find capable workers whenever and wherever needed, and people who are looking to make money can pick up shifts and get paid quickly.Workers are able to sign up, install the Shiftsmart app (available for iPhone and Android), view details of the shifts that are available, claim shifts, and get paid for their work.Through Shiftsmart, you can find part-time opportunities in a variety of different industries and different roles. The opportunities involve temporary work, and when one opportunity ends, you can pick up a different shift with another company.

Shifts may be available for:

• Survey calling
• Mystery shopping
• Property audits
• Call center work
• Customer service
• Healthcare jobs
• Event staffing
• Restaurants & hospitality staffing
• Warehousing
• Security jobs
• Administrative jobs
• Retail audits
• And more

How does Shiftsmart work?

Shiftsmart makes it as easy as possible to find work and get paid. Signing up is simple. You’ll need to install the app and provide basic personal information to create your partner account (Shiftsmart refers to workers as “partners”).

Once your account is created, you’ll be able to see a list of shifts that are available. Some of the work can be done from home and other shifts will be done in-person at the location of the business. The shifts that can be done remotely will be available to a wider group of people, but the availability of local shifts will depend on where you live.

In many cases, the availability of local shifts will be limited if you’re not in a major city. If you live in a rural area, you may be able to take advantage of the shifts that can be done remotely.

As you might expect, the availability and types of shifts have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many partners have been able to work remotely thanks to Shiftsmart. Some of the biggest opportunities for Shiftsmart partners in 2020 have been making calls for the Small Business Administration (SBA) and making political survey calls. (The shifts for political calls were the result of a partnership with Dynata.)

The amount that you’ll get paid will depend on the shift, but many of the shifts fall into the $10-$20 per hour range. The SBA call shifts, for example, paid $15 per hour.

You’re not going to get rich by using Shiftsmart, but if you’re looking to pick up a few extra bucks to invest with, or you need to pay down some debt, this is a fantastic option.

Many of the jobs will require brief training before you are able to work. For example, you might have to complete 1-2 hours of training before you’re eligible to make survey calls. Sometimes the training is paid and other times it is unpaid, so you’ll need to look at the details for each opportunity as it is listed.

Most of the shifts that are available through Shiftsmart involve fairly simple work. The requirements for these types of jobs are generally very low, so just about anyone (18 or over) can meet the qualifications and pick up some extra work.

Get Shift Done

In the wake of the COVD-19 shutdowns, Shiftsmart’s President Patrick Brandt co-founded Get Shift Done, an organization that has had an amazing impact. Get Shift Done has worked with Shiftsmart to provide work for people in the hospitality industry by matching them with non-profits that need help providing meals.

This creative solution provided furloughed employees with income while helping to meet the needs of others during tough times.

Get Shift Done has already provided more than 50,000,000 meals thanks to the help of 22,000+ workers.

Companies like CapitalOne have provided support to Get Shift Done. Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks (NBA team) and star of the TV show Shark Tank participated with Shiftsmart and Get Shift Done. His arena staff was out of work when the NBA was shut down and Get Shift Done matched these workers with local non-profit organizations.

What Partners Have to Say

If you’re considering Shiftsmart as a way to make money, you may want to see what other partners have to say about their experience. There are plenty of reviews online and to be honest, the results are mixed.

You’ll find plenty of positive reviews from Shiftsmart partners who have had great experiences finding work and getting paid. You’ll also find a lot of negative reviews from others who say they have not been able to consistently find work through Shiftsmart.

At Indeed, Shiftsmart has an average of 2.8 out of 5 stars. At Glassdoor, Shiftsmart has a rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars. You can browse through the reviews on either site and find both good and bad experiences from Shiftsmart partners.

Shiftsmart Pros and Cons

Pros

• Find opportunities and start working quickly. You can sign up in just a few minutes and start working almost immediately.
• Many shifts require very few qualifications. Most of the work can be done by just about anyone.
• Some shifts can be done remotely from home. Many of the jobs involve phone work, which can be done from home.
• Get paid quickly. There are no long waits required before getting paid.
• No long-term commitment. You’ll be an independent contractor and you’re free to pick the shifts that interest you.

Cons

• Shifts are limited in some areas. Local shifts are much more common in major cities as compared to rural areas.
• You may not be able to consistently find work. There might not be any shifts available when you want to work.

Shiftsmart Is Best For…

Working as a Shiftsmart partner can be a great way to make some money when you don’t have other work available. If you’re currently out of work and you need a way to make some money temporarily until you’re able to find something more permanent, Shiftsmart could be a good option for you.

Shiftsmart could also be a good option as a side hustle or second income. If you’re looking for a way to make some extra money and you have some time available, you could pick up shifts that fill that time and make some extra money to supplement your income.

Because the availability of shifts is not always consistent or predictable, it’s not ideal as a primary source of income for an extended period of time.

Shiftsmart Alternatives

If you like the concept of Shiftsmart or if you simply need to find work, there are some other options that you might want to consider as well.

• TaskRabbit - Find work doing a variety of tasks like running errands, assembling furniture, packing, shopping, and much more.
• Wonolo - An app similar to Shiftsmart that allows you to pick up temporary and flexible shifts.
• EasyShift - This app focuses more on quick tasks in your local area rather than shifts with longer hours.
• JobStack - An app by PeopleReady that allows you to find local shifts that fit your schedule.
• 6ya - Make money by using your expertise to help people over the phone.
• Fiverr - Use your skills to get quick gigs. Read our Fiverr review for an in-depth look at this option.
• Local temp agencies - You may be able to find work quickly with the help of a temp agency in your city or town.

Read Next: The safest side hustles to start right now

The Verdict? Shiftsmart takes the hunting out of finding shift jobs.

Finding work can be a stressful and frustrating challenge. If you’re in a situation where you need to find work quickly, you may be able to find some available shifts through Shiftsmart. While it’s probably not a long-term solution for full-time work, you can make some money to help carry you over until you’re able to find something more permanent. Looking for even more ways to make some extra dough? Check out our ultimate guide to side hustling!