How to earn money and enjoy yourself while searching for a job

A while ago my contract with the organization I worked with expired and I was let go. The first couple of weeks post my severance wasn’t too bad…I was full of hope. Afterall, I had known my contract would not be renewed for a while, so I had put in a great deal of applications and I already had an invitation for an interview lined up. No job yet, no worries! I would take the time out to relax from the hectic schedule that characterized my previous job position. I would have time to spend with my fiancée. I would even have time to build my personal business. No worries at all!

Fast forward to 6 months later. I had lost a lot weight. My savings was gone. I had just learned after repeated follow-ups that I hadn’t gotten the job I interviewed for. Having had time to spend with my fiancée, she now wanted us to get married pronto. Despite multiple applications, no one was calling me back for interviews. So much pressure, so much worries!

Guys, when you are stuck in that arid land, sometimes referred to as ‘in-between jobs’ there are a few things you can do to ensure your stay in that position is not as turgid as my first few months were.

1.      Put God first: Belief in God Almighty keeps you sane in this sometimes-insane world. It helps to know that you are not all by yourself. There is peace and hope in the knowledge that ‘this too shall pass.’

2.      Don’t just sit at home, get out there: There is a very real tendency to hide away in your bedroom, behind your smart screen phones, laptop and video games. Hoping manna will fall from heaven. Hoping someone will call with a job. Hiding behind your fears and despondent knowledge that every other person has a job but you. Not true and not good. You have to get out there! Get active in Church/ Mosque, community gatherings, events. Be more available and accessible to your friends and family members. Live to stay fresh!

3.      Learn a new trade…fast! – Its important to learn a new trade quickly. I picked up website design skills (and I still use it to earn money on the side till date). You can too! There are loads of new skills you can pick up that could serve you for a lifetime. Photography, tailoring, hair making, craft making, social media management etc.

4.      Network: Networking is key to growth in life. Use LinkedIn. Find and connect to people who might be able, passively or actively, to influence your career growth. Find and connect to people who might be your client/customer or employer. Introduce yourself to people, particularly important people, when you get the chance. Never give in to the temptation to shy away, if you don’t speak up for yourself, no one will.

5.      Go Pro-bono/ Volunteer: This is such a vital step. Why? Because you do actually get a job, you just don’t get paid for it. The experience your garner though is critical. In a world where employers are looking to hire experience, you don’t include your pay in your CV. Volunteer in organizations that operate within your sector of interest. I know, it might be tough committing to a work for which no remuneration is coming in but look on the bright side. Your boss will likely be flexible with you. You will have a better chance of quickly hearing about opportunities. You will learn directly from experts and again, you will gain the all important on-the-job experience.

6.      Do something (legal please) for money: This ties in to the 3rd point. You have to have money to keep moving from day to day, right? So, do something legal for cash (Not yahoo, yahoo – internet fraud. Because without a job, and too much time, this can appear a tempting option for some people). I threw myself into photography/ videography. Going to events like weddings, conferences…even burials to carry out photography/ videography jobs. I ended up earning quite handsome sums of money. Thank God, earning money is not limited to white collar jobs. Use the skills you have to earn money.

7.      Don’t stop applying for jobs: because the white-collar jobs are also very important, don’t stop applying for those vacancy opportunities. Make sure you keep building your CV. Fine-tuning and improving it to better reflect your strengths and qualities. Make sure you subscribe to job boards that notify you of suitable opportunities.  Tailor your CV to every application, don’t get so weary that you just throw a generic CV at every vacancy. The key is to persist, because eventually, something gives, and you will get invitation for interviews…or even a job outright.

It’s been a few years since I was ‘in-between’ jobs now. 6 months after that 6 months later in the 2nd paragraph of this article, I interviewed for a job on the same day I officially carried out wedding introductions for my then fiancée now wife. I had enough money for the elaborate event and change in the bank. What’s more, the very next day, I got the job!