Whether you’re just emerging from school or college, or you’re searching for a job to cover your rent and bills, finding a source of income fast is often a top priority for job seekers. If you’re in this position, you’ll be happy to put off finding that dream job – the one you want to work towards over the course of your career – just to bring in a wage. In uncertain times, this guide is all about finding the work that’ll keep you out of debt and paying your bills.
Agencies
One of the first places you should look for work is the agencies that will send you to different jobs on a gig-by-gig basis. There are agencies that handle hospitality work and those that instead deal with corporate clients, sending out temporary replacements as secretaries or administrative assistants. You can find an agency that fits with your skillset and ask to be placed on their rota for upcoming jobs.
The issue with agency work is that it’s often low-pay work with little tips or job security. So, this is an option for those who are looking to get money through the door as soon as possible – even though you may face some long and grueling shifts at short notice in order to get by. Search online for your local agencies and get on the phone to introduce yourself and your skills.
Recruiters
The other agencies that you should consider getting in touch with are recruiters – those professionals who place you in higher-value work over a longer time span. You’ll likely have a. Formal interview with your recruiter, telling them all about your experience and the opportunities you’re interested in. You’ll also set a wage limit that you will ask your recruiter not to look below.
Recruiters take some of the arduous work out of looking for a job, but they can take time. They have dozens of clients and may not prioritize you over their existing contacts. So, this might not be a short-term solution to your joblessness, but it’s something to consider if you can tread water without a wage for a month before diving into a better-paid job.
Drivers
The world is low on drivers. You can see the effect of this when you’re struggling to get a cab in your local city or when shop shelves are empty because there are too few drivers to man the trucks that deliver goods. With this shortage is coming to a wage increase, with shipping, haulage, and courier firms happy to offer higher wages in order to secure enough drivers to fulfill their orders.
If you have your own vehicle, or you’re trained to operate a number of different high-load vehicles, becoming a driver is an excellent way to earn cash – often on a flexible basis. Courier jobs are advertised across the internet, where you’ll find different rates and hours posted every day. Try Shiply, meanwhile, to get listed as a courier who can take on courier jobs and fulfill delivery orders from local companies. This is a brilliant way to get yourself seen on a marketplace of drivers and delivery people.
Odd Jobs
If you’re young and between semesters at university or college, you might prefer to get bit-part work rather than signing a work contract that you know you’ll have to breach and leave within a couple of months. For such people, odd jobs are usually the best way to earn cash. You might choose, for instance, to:
- Ask around to see if neighbors need a babysitter or child-minder for the next few weeks
- Offer to do gardening work in your community, raking up leaves and pruning hedges
- Post flyers in your area advertising your skills in DIY, car washing, and other helpful tasks
- Consider cleaning homes, ironing, or performing other domestic chores
- Ask local shops whether they need a part-time or temporary assistant, especially during the holiday and sales seasons
The guiding principle here is simple: if you never ask, you’ll never get these bit-part jobs. So put yourself out there, spend a day searching and asking questions, and you’ll find that there are plenty of opportunities to earn cash in your local area.
Freelancing
Freelancers experience their fair share of good luck and bad luck. On the one hand, you might set up as a freelancer but have to wait several weeks for your first gig. But on the other hand, you might secure work right away, especially if you set up profiles on freelancer websites where companies and individuals actively search for people with your skills.
The best way to pivot into a freelance role is to have unique skills and a portfolio to bring to the market right away. If you don’t have skills in, for instance, web design, graphic design, copywriting, or marketing, you might find it difficult to secure work. But that just means that you ought to focus on building up these skills via online courses or through sheer determination and practice.
Manual Labor
There are some jobs that simply require a little muscle or the human touch – and these generally fall into the category of manual labor. There are dozens of examples of these jobs, with many just as applicable to men as to women. Here are some ideas for manual labor jobs that you can find and work in within a week:
- Fruit picking in local fields or other farmhand work if you live in a rural area
- Food processing in a local plant, which often requires you to be part of a production line
- Putting together products, if you live near an industrial area with factories
- Construction jobs, even those that are as simple as carrying equipment to a site
- Landscaping and gardening, which involves spending long periods of time outside
All of these jobs can be found by introducing yourself to managers at these factories, plants, facilities, farms, or construction sites. Such places are often looking for extra labor, either on a casual basis or via an ongoing contract.
Care
The western world has a care problem, with too few carers spread among too many elderly and aging people. This means that care homes and other care facilities are desperate for workers – even those who can just perform vital but background tasks, like cleaning, cooking, or maintaining homes and institutions.
Carers often require training and qualifications, but you’ll also find that some roles are advertised as open to all applicants, and this could lead you into a fulfilling career in care – a sector that’s set to grow and grow over the coming years. Being a carer takes patience, humility, and determination, but it’s something that many professionals find extremely rewarding. It may not pay high rates, but it’s a career that you can return to any time in order to earn cash if you’re in a difficult financial position.
Getting work at short notice can feel daunting, especially if the bills are piling up on the doormat and you’re unsure of where to look for a wage. But this guide is designed to show you how many options are actually available to you – all of which have their unique merits. So, get out there, contact companies, advertise your skills and train up in new ones, so that you’re ready to hit the job market with gusto.
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