How to Survive Financially Until You Get Hired
Job searching is tough under the best of circumstances. Throw in a stagnant job market and limited unemployment benefits, and you have a recipe for financial stress.
Don’t feel bad if you don’t have the three- to six-month savings that experts recommend. Few people do; only 47% of Americans said that they had sufficient money set aside to cover a $1,000 emergency, according to a Bankrate survey. Very few of us can afford to struggle through a long interview process without earning money.
If you’re unemployed and worried about finances, here are some ways to buy some time until you land a job:
How to Make Money Fast
Some employers and staffing agencies offer daily pay (often for a fee, so check the fine print). These jobs tend to be concentrated in retail, hospitality, construction, and other industries that need staff quickly and on an irregular basis. Here’s where to find them.
How to Find a Side Gig
Ask any long-time freelancer: the cure for economic anxiety is adding to your bank balance. Whether you’re unemployed, worried about potential layoffs, or just feeling the bite of inflation, picking up a side gig can help you save for your future and reduce your stress levels.
Where to Get Financial Help When You’re Unemployed
What can you do if you’ve run out of unemployment benefits, are about to lose them, or if your benefits aren’t enough to pay the bills? It’s scary to have little or no income, but you may be eligible for financial assistance to help you through this difficult time.
Fast-Track Your Job Search
Time is money when you’re job searching. To cut down on wasted time and get back to earning, try this:
Use the top 5 job search sites according to the data. These sites are more likely to generate responses than many popular job boards.
Avoid ghost jobs by applying directly through corporate careers pages.
Tweak your resume to include a summary, quantify your achievements, and highlight skills.
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Earlier Posts From The Job Hopper
The (Pretty Grim) Job Search Advice We Need to Give You Right Now
If you have a job right now, hold on to it at (almost any) cost. That’s the bottom line for workers right now, and it’s extremely unpleasant advice to give and to hear. More on this, plus some good news, in our post.
Is AI Really to Blame for All These Layoffs?
Layoffs surged 205% from December to January, according to Challenger, Grey & Christmas, with technology and tech-adjacent sectors especially hard hit. If you’ve skimmed the headlines lately, you might assume that these cuts are due to companies deploying AI technology in order to cut labor costs. But there may be more to the story.
Here’s How Long It Takes to Get a Job Now
Huntr released its Annual Job Search Trends Report last week, and the numbers confirm what many job seekers have been saying: getting hired really is taking longer than it used to.
Free Tools for Job Seekers and Career Changers
You don’t necessarily need to pay for help when you’re looking for a job. Some of the best job search tools are 100% free. You can get no-cost help finding job listings, writing your resume and cover letters, interviewing for jobs, and more. There are even free career quizzes and online classes — just in case you’ve decided to pivot to an entirely new line of work. Find tools here.
How To Find Companies That Are Still Hiring
If your job search is stalled, take a break from looking for specific job openings. Instead, target companies that are staffing up. Here’s how.