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Two weeks ago a BuyandHolder who was losing his job, asked us if the government would require him to tap into his BUYandHOLD brokerage account prior to granting him unemployment insurance. The answer is “no.” Click HERE to find out how you can collect unemployment if you’re fired.
The following week, we went on to tell BuyandHolders how to keep their health insurance when let go. To read all about COBRA, click HERE.
Unemployment is higher than it’s been for years. And while collectively as a nation we hope that the new administration in Washington will turn things around, you won’t be seeing an endless parade of enticing, high paying jobs being offered this week or next.
However, in tough times, many companies lay off full-time employees (albeit sometimes for a limited time) and fill in with temporary help. That means you may find it a great deal easier to get a part-time or freelance position than a full-time job. And, part-time can turn into full-time.
Among the skills companies looks for when hiring part-timers are accounting, bookkeeping, computer programming, editing, graphic design, office assistant, office equipment repair, telephone answering and order fulfillment, and writing. But of course, there are always other empty positions.
Six Ways To Find A Part-Time Job
(1) Want ads
Begin by looking at the help wanted ads in your local newspaper, checking under categories of interest and/or those in which you’ve had previous experience. Some papers also have a “Part-Time” category.
And, go to: www.CraigsList.org and click on “Gigs” and then on your city or town. You’ll find listings for jobs involving domestic and office cleaning, moving, events and happenings, writing, designing, computers, driving vehicles and more.
(2) Local businesses
Next contact businesses in your area that traditionally hire part-time workers, such as fast food stores, hotels, motels and restaurants and institutions that care for the elderly, terminally ill and those undergoing rehab. Also try family-run businesses, such as clothing boutiques, opticians, hardware stores, drug stores, hair salons and variety stores.
Schools should be next on your list. They use part-timers as crossing guards, bus drivers, in their cafeterias and as substitute teachers. Perhaps you qualify to be a part-time instructor at a community college or a YMCA/YWCA. These institutions teach a variety of subjects, including English as a second language, computer skills, bridge, cooking, early childhood education, dance, accounting, investing, money management for small businesses, presentation skills, resume writing and drawing, painting and sculpture.
The health care field continually needs workers for hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and extended living facilities as well as in doctor’s offices, laboratories and patients’ homes.
If you have a good driving record, you’re in luck. Drivers are always needed for limousines and car services and medical transport vehicles.
TIP: In addition to contacting local companies, go to www.RetirementJobs.com. Type in your ZIP code and the word “driver” to find listings.
(3) Think seasonally
During the December holidays, retail stores (Wal-Mart, Macy’s, GAP, Target and J.C. Penney) need extra workers. So do museum gift shops. Resorts hire additional workers during ski season and again during the summer – for positions in their restaurants, hotels and spas and also to give ski, tennis, swimming, horseback riding and sailing instruction.
This is also when delivery and messenger services take on extra drivers. In addition to thinking locally, check with FedEx, UPS and DHL.
This month and next, tax preparers need people with accounting skills or simply to answer the phone and do secretarial work. H&R Block, for example, hires seasonal and part-time tax preparers, yet also has many offices around the country that are open all year.
If you live in a college town, you might be able to take over work that students abandon when they go home for spring break, Thanksgiving, the December/January holidays and the summer. Think waiter, bus boy, theater ticket taker/usher, babysitting and pet sitting for faculty, sales assistant and grocery clerk and delivery person.
Catering companies regularly hire workers, but especially during party season (Christmas, Hanukah, Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve, Labor Day, Thanksgiving). Take a course so you qualify as a bartender. Or find out what training you would need to be a chef’s assistant or wait person.
Moving companies need extra workers, particularly in the summer months, when most Americans move.
(4) Get paid for doing what you love
This is also known as “turn your hobby into money.” If you are artistic, why not paint portraits of babies, children, pets or even a flattering view of a someone’s house. Do the same if photography is your love. Or, paint the inside and/or outside of houses if you are a skilled housepainter.
Parents always need help at birthday parties. This is a good source of extra income for those who do magic tricks, sing and face paint.
If you play the piano, cello or other musical instruments, get out the word that you’re willing to give lessons, to children and/or adults. Or advertise your services for weddings, anniversaries, bar and bat mitzvahs and other events. Post your ad on community bulletin boards, such as at local grocery stores, the Y and your library -- include removable slips of paper with your phone number and email address.
(5) Become a tutor
If you have a computer and Internet access, you can tutor students from around the world at home.
Those who can commit at least 9 hours a week, should check out SMARTHINKING (www.smarthinking.com). Note the one "t" in the name. They hire individuals to tutor online students from schools, colleges, universities, libraries, government agencies and textbook publishers. Candidates get paid to complete the required a 10-15 hour online training program. And, if you get a position, you'll be paid for your scheduled time even if your student cuts class!
Current open positions include such subjects as accounting, advanced stats, biology, chemistry, economics, math beyond calculus, online writing lab, and Spanish. (Note: The company hires year round, but peak hiring season is May-August and November-December.)
Another leader in the field is Tutor.com (www.tutor.com)
which provides online homework help for kids in elementary school through the first year of college. Subjects include English, math, science and social studies. Candidates must either be enrolled in or have graduated from a U.S. or Canadian college or university. You'll also need to pass an exam in the subject you want to tutor, undergo education and criminal background checks and complete a 30-60 day probation period.
Preference is given to those who can commit to five hours a week, Sunday through Thursday, 4pm to 11pm.
If you have a post graduate degree in math, English, physics, statistics, chemistry or biology and have at least four hours a day available, get in touch with TutorVista.com (www.tutorvista.com).
They hire full- and part-time tutors to teach kindergarten through undergraduate level subjects. For some topics an additional degree in education is also required. Tutoring is done interactively, so you will also need a digital pen and pad.
(6) Turn to a temp agency
Get in touch with the temp agencies listed in your yellow pages. Temps very often become part- or full-time employees. Manpower, for example, which has offices around the world, handles part-time permanent and temporary positions. Find the telephone number for your local office in your phone book or at www.manpower.com. The website supplies contact information for each branch.
Kelly Services also recruits people for contract and seasonal positions around the world. Among the fields it covers are science, law, education healthcare, IT/technology, engineering and many others. Check “Job Search” at: www.kellyservices.com.
(7) Go online
Online services can be very helpful and right up to date. For example, AARP and RetirementJobs.com have joined forces to help people 50+ find part-time work. At www.aarp.org/jobs searching by type of work and location is free.
The national franchise 10 til 2 (www.tentiltwo.com) helps people who have had at least one year of college find part-time positions, also for free.
Mom Corps (www.momcorps.com) assists women in finding part-time work and contract-based assignments. There’s no charge for posting your resume.
If you have been an executive or have marketing or accounting skills, get in touch with Flexible Executives (www.flexibleexecutives.com). There’s a one-time fee of $300.
(8) Volunteer
Finally, consider volunteering at a non-profit organization, such as a museum, historical society, zoo, aquarium, or one of the associations working to save our forests, farmland, animals and water. Be sure to make it known that if a part- or full-time position opens up, you wish to be considered. If you’re well suited to the work, it’s very likely that you will be hired for a paying position. A known employee, if he or she is good, is always favored over an unknown one.
Good luck! |
