I talk with people every week who are unemployed or underemployed and seeking direction. If you are in that position, finding a steady job should be one of your highest priorities. You need to be willing to consider both short and long term options while seeking to care for yourself and, if applicable, your family.
Don’t give up
Proverbs 6:6-11 tells us to be hard-working like the ants. Colossians 3:23 says that whatever we are doing, we should work at it with all our heart as if working for the Lord and not for people.
Turn your worries into prayer requests
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (NLT)
Think positively
Read Philippians 4:8, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (NLT)
Remember that God cares about you, even in the hard times
Matthew 10:29-31 says, “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”
Seek to grow personally in the middle of challenges
James 1:2-4 says, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." (NLT)
Think outside your box
You may have skills in a particular area, but don’t be too picky about where you work temporarily. You never know when a less than desirable job may lead to a few promotions and a great career! Regardless, you may need to “settle” for a less than desirable job temporarily to make ends meet until you can get connected with the job you would rather have. Don’t wait for that perfect job to drop in your lap, start doing something now!
Diversify your revenue streams
That’s a fancy way of saying: be willing to work at more than one job for a while! It could mean taking two or three part time jobs temporarily. Or, you might need to take a low-paying job and supplement the income with some odd jobs or contract based work. If you have skills in a particular area but cannot find steady work in that field, take an unrelated job that helps pay the bills and market your skills to appropriate companies as a contract or part time resource. This “moonlighting” work may get your foot in the door for a permanent position or help you make connections that lead to a job somewhere else. At the very least, it will keep your skills sharp and give you added experience for down the road.
Consider work from home opportunities
Some people view work from home jobs as a chance to get rich quick. Understand now that this does not happen! Working from home does not mean less work and it does not make you rich quick! What it can do is provide a modest amount of supplemental income when no other regular work is available.
Companies that can help you find freelance jobs
Elance.comCare.com
Guru.com
oDesk.com
Craigslist.com
iFreelance.com
Peopleperhour.com
Freelanceswitch.com
Journalismjobs.com
99designs.com
taskrabbit.com
You’ll find many companies that hire people to work from home at this webpage: http://workathomemoms.about.com/od/workathomecareers/ss/wahjobdirectory.htm
Home Based Call Centers
If you have a reliable phone and internet connection, working from home as a call center representative can be a great income booster. Make sure you work with a well-known and reputable company like 1-800-FLOWERS, Alpine Access, LiveOps, etc. Lots of opportunities, tips, and warnings can be found by Googling: “work from home call center jobs”.Freelance Writer
Many writers get paid to write regardless of their working location. Try companies like About.com, Media Bistro, Write Jobs, or any company that produces large amounts of online or print articles and might need a lot of writers.Tutoring
Many people are able to tutor in at least one or two subjects and earn some supplemental income. You could work with an existing tutoring company or start your own.Virtual Administrative Assistant
Thanks to the internet, virtual assistants can often be as effective or more effective as in-office assistants. Emails, phone calls, typing, reviewing documents, entering data, and more can be done from home without the expense of an office, extra computer, furniture, etc.Medical Transcriptionist
If you already understand this field, you may be able to work from home for a private doctor or medical practice. Contact health care facilities to see if they have a need for this service. you could end up working full time or just on an as-needed basis.Nursing
Believe it or not, many nurses get to work from home! Aetna, Cigna, United Health group, and others have work from home opportunities. If you are a REgistered Nurse, contact health care companies to see if they could use your services on a contract, part time, or full time basis.Computer Programming
This could be an arrangement with a company that needs regular work or on a contract basis as a freelance programmer.Graphics and Website Design
Graphics designers can get regular work from home with consistent clients or do random freelance jobs for businesses all over town or even around the world. Ask local businesses if they need any work done and be ready to show your portfolio. You can also set up a profile on 99designs.com and other sites to begin competing with other designers for clients and earning money.IT Professional
If you know networking, computer hardware, or software, you may be able to market yourself as a freelance IT professional. Many small and medium sized businesses cannot afford a full time IT professional but would love to hire a dedicated part time or contract based employee to handle their occasional needs. Often these needs can be solved by remote access from your home computer.
Notes
Avoid jobs that require you to spend money in order to apply or join. It’s one thing to invest a small amount of money in tools or resources needed to get a job done, it is another thing to pay a business that will supposedly end up paying you. These are often scams, so always do your homework, check references, and stay away from opportunities that ask you to “buy in,” “invest,” or pay to become a small business owner. While these are not always fraudulent, most people end up losing more money than they make with these types of jobs.
Have any other tips or advice for those looking for work? Add your comments below!
