| If you're out of work now, what part-time or flexible | | | | would be the lucky recipient of your services, and |
| work can you do to fill the gap until you land the job | | | | you would be gainfully employed, working for |
| you want? If you're fully-employed but concerned | | | | someone you already know and like. Contact every |
| about losing your job, what sort of opportunities | | | | friend, relative, or acquaintance who owns or runs a |
| could you pursue to earn additional income, should | | | | business, and ask about their needs and challenges. |
| the need arise? The "Bridge Job Strategy" is a | | | | Home-based work (administrative, sales, computer |
| pragmatic approach to carry you through a difficult | | | | work, creative assignments, bookkeeping, personal |
| employment or financial period. Here are some interim | | | | services, etc.). With the advent of the Internet and |
| options, where you can find work and earn money | | | | computer technology, it is easier than ever to do real |
| while continuing to search for the job you really want: | | | | work from home. Some of this work can be |
| Part-time or temporary job (retail stores, restaurants, | | | | enjoyable and lucrative. There is no longer a stigma |
| business services, administrative, etc.). Try to find a | | | | about working from home, and in fact, you may find |
| position in a field you genuinely like. If you enjoy | | | | that the flexible, independent lifestyle suits you. From |
| shopping or love the products of a particular store, | | | | copy writing to doing proposals to preparing tax |
| consider working in retail. If you have a passion for | | | | returns, there's no limit to the options. Ask yourself |
| cooking or are knowledgeable about food, you might | | | | what skills you have, and offer your services to |
| want to be a prep chef at a favorite restaurant. If | | | | appropriate companies and families in your area. |
| you have connections at business service | | | | Contact everyone in your network to offer your |
| organizations and can add value to their operations, | | | | services, and ask for referrals after your work has |
| try working at a company where your managerial | | | | been satisfactorily completed. |
| contributions would be valued. Contact several temp | | | | Odd jobs (handyman, construction, painting, sewing, |
| agencies, or go visit businesses in which you have an | | | | moving and hauling, yard work, plowing, etc.). Are |
| interest. | | | | you handy around the house? Do you own special |
| Teaching or substitute teaching (public or private | | | | equipment or tools? Do you have trade skills that |
| schools, colleges and universities, technical or | | | | you could offer to other people in your town? There |
| vocational programs, etc.). The education that helped | | | | is always a need for reliable, professional help in these |
| get you started in your career is still valuable. If | | | | disciplines. If you're not afraid to get your hands |
| you've been in the workforce for a while, you've no | | | | dirty, you can earn good money providing these |
| doubt gained skills to enhance your credibility. These | | | | much-needed services to organizations and individuals. |
| qualifications are often valued by schools and colleges. | | | | One of my senior executive clients worked in a retail |
| Experienced professionals are sought after to teach | | | | store for many months after he was laid-off. The |
| classes and bring a real-world perspective to their | | | | money wasn't great, but it was enough to help pay |
| students. Contact the administration office of your | | | | his family's bills. Having this part-time job also gave |
| local school system or the employment office of | | | | my client a sense of pride, because he was doing |
| universities and vocational programs in your area. | | | | what he could to provide for his family, and he was |
| Consulting or contract assignments (business | | | | making a contribution in the world of work. He also |
| operations, computer/technology, creative | | | | enjoyed meeting new people and even doing a bit of |
| advertising, etc). Even before the economy and job | | | | networking with customers. |
| market went sour, the work world had changed. A | | | | The retail job gave my client the flexibility he needed |
| growing percentage of the workforce had already | | | | to continue searching for the job he really wanted. A |
| moved into flexible assignments as consultants or | | | | key point to understand is that my client never |
| contractors. If you have a background in one of the | | | | confused the means with the ends. He kept his focus |
| fields that naturally lend themselves to this work | | | | on finding the "real job," and he eventually secured an |
| style, try to get consulting or contract work. It can | | | | excellent opportunity with more responsibility and |
| be interesting, challenging work, and it can also be | | | | higher compensation than he'd had at his last |
| lucrative. In some cases, these consulting or contract | | | | professional job. |
| assignments turn into full-time job offers, after the | | | | In this case, my client's positive attitude allowed him |
| company gets to know you. Contact outsourcing and | | | | to reach his goal through a two-step plan. By taking a |
| contract employment firms in the fields that interest | | | | part-time, flexible job, he did what he needed to do |
| you. | | | | to ultimately get the position he really wanted. |
| Work for family or friends (retail stores, services, | | | | This fellow didn't feel ashamed or embarrassed |
| small manufacturing operations, and every other type | | | | working in a position that was "beneath him." He saw |
| of business). Do you have relatives or friends who | | | | the "Bridge Job Strategy" as a practical necessity, |
| own or run businesses? Would you be comfortable | | | | and it worked very well for him. In fact, when he |
| working with them? In tough times, it is important to | | | | reflects back on his temporary job at the store, he |
| put your pride aside and ask for help. But in this case, | | | | smiles and describes it as a great learning experience! |
| the help would be mutual. Your friend or relative | | | | |