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Being in a situation where you are jobless can be one of the worst predicaments to find yourself in, especially if you have no backup plan. However, finding ways to substitute or replace your lost income is still possible. Here is a list of possible solutions if you are in such a situation.

Side gigs worth looking into

If you haven’t been in the job market for a while, you may be surprised to hear that there are plenty of opportunities to find temporary or part-time work, perhaps more than ever before. Jobs that are widely available include online work as well as more practical jobs such as baking, pet sitting, caregiving, babysitting, makeup artistry, or becoming a delivery driver. 

Working with what you’ve got

If you don’t want to start over with a new career you’re not that familiar with, your next best bet would be to work with what you’ve got. In other words, you may have to ask yourself how you can apply your existing skill set to a career you’d feel you would excel at. For example, if you feel you possess heaps of creativity and you have an eye for detail and organizing, then a career as a freelance interior designer might suit you, bearing in mind that you might have to step out of your comfort zone to visit sites, visit supplier suppliers, meet with clients and all the rest. But it’s also a flexible career that can open doors regarding new growth and learning opportunities. Take a look here to find out if a career in freelance interior design could be for you.

Where to find worthwhile side gigs

Get your social media profiles ready. If you haven’t relied on social media to find work in days gone by, now is the time to make these global platforms work for you by setting up your profile to reflect your ‘open to work’ status. LinkedIn is a rising networking platform to increase your job prospects, but there is no harm in advertising your new job status on other platforms, too, such as Facebook, Instagram, and even Gumtree.

Time for a refresher course

Perhaps you need to take a refresher course or two to improve your chances of securing a job. In this case, you could choose to study online while you search for jobs. Furthermore, there are plenty of free online sites such as Alison, Udemy, and Coursera where you can explore introductory courses that may give you a better insight into industries that have caught your eye. 

Getting prepared

While you concentrate on expanding your job search, you may as well also focus on getting prepared for when the right opportunity comes along. One of the best things you can do while you wait is to work on your CV. If you don’t want to splurge on getting your CV done by a professional CV writer, you can use free professionally designed templates online that you can then tailor according to your academic background and experience. 

Starting your own business

Maybe you’d rather take a chance to give it your all by starting your own business. Choosing a business structure that will work for you is important; an LLC is an example of a business structure with lots of potential because it is simple to register, besides its other benefits that include a better tax structure, far more flexibility, and limited liability. Just be sure that you know what the different registration requirements are, as these can differ depending on the state you’re situated in. If you’re unsure of these, a formation service can assist in this regard.

Picking yourself up after losing your main source of income can be challenging. However, it’s important that you do to make the most of unexpected opportunities that may be waiting for you just around the corner.