1.    Find freelancing jobs online (if your role can be outsourced) 

If you’re currently in-between roles, stay productive by finding smaller jobs to complete online. Although these might be inconsistent, unstable, or offer low pay, having something on your resume during this employment gap will show you’re driven and persistent.

To gain some work, you can try searching for jobs on freelancing sites such as Fiverr, Upwork, and Airtasker to earn some extra cash and refine your skills and techniques.

2.    Assess your career path

Consider:

• Are you really in the right career?
• If not, should you move into another area within your industry?
• If you’re in the right field, what can you do now to get ahead of your competitors?
• Should you learn new skills to gain a competitive edge?

3.    Volunteer

If you have the time, use it for free work. Stay productive by finding events in your industry that need volunteers and put your hand up for a few! This might help you make some new industry connections which could lead to more opportunities in the future.

Otherwise, you could also volunteer for unrelated industry events such as food banks, soup kitchens, or shelters for the homeless—you might find it surprising how much these can improve your mental health and bring meaning and purpose to your life during this time.

4.    Exercise

Instead of letting your unemployment get the better of you, have you considered improving your overall mental health with exercise?

Start putting a routine in place and sticking to it every day. After you’ve ticked off your job goals for the day—whether that’s applying or researching—keep up the momentum with exercise afterwards.

It’ll clear your head, improve your mental health, and help you stay productive while searching for a job.

5.    Stay up to date with your industry

Take advantage of your free time by keeping up to date with your industry. You can do this by staying relevant with your industry connections, being active on LinkedIn, researching companies that interest you, and reading informative industry newsletters and blogs.

For more on this, read our blog—Ways to Stay Up to Date in Your Industry.

6.    Think about contract work

Are you looking to gain full-time work but haven’t made any progress? You might want to consider a contract role. Although it mightn’t be what you’re looking for, don’t be closed off to these positions as it could be the stepping stone to securing your next permanent job. You never know what industry skills you could gain or new contacts you might make.

7.    Seek professional help

Need help getting back into your industry? Talk to a consultant! Here at Humanised Group, we’re happy to help by connecting you with relevant industry connections, identifying suitable job opportunities, determining your salary value, providing support, and much more.

8.    Start a side hustle

Thought about a side hustle? Embarking on your own project can help boost your productivity, provide you with a renewed sense of purpose, reignite your initial passion for your career, help you to stay productive, and enable you to take on a sense of accountability again.

9.    Keep researching the job market

It’s important to stay in the loop of the current job market. Turn on your notifications for LinkedIn, Seek, indeed, and any other job listing websites to help you remain updated with the current roles in your industry.

10.  Stay positive

One of the most important things you can do while you’re unemployed is to remain positive. If you lose your positivity, then you won’t feel productive doing any of the above or see progress with your job hunt.

While of course it’s common to focus on the downsides of being unemployed, which is natural, remember that being jobless can also come with its own benefits, such as having the free time to discover your strengths, clear your mind, and re-evaluate your career path.

Have a question for us? If you’re a job seeker on the lookout for your next role, a hiring manager looking to fill a position, or want to know more about this topic, contact us at Humanised Group! We’re here to help you succeed.