Part-time jobs can be great ways to get your financial footing stabilized. If you have a full-time job that just isn’t quite paying down all of your debt or you are working part-time already and it’s not enough, you can work a side gig that pays great and uses your talents appropriately.
Even if you are looking to downsize your schedule, you can move into a part-time schedule without having to lose your current pay rate.
Although there are numerous part-time jobs just waiting to be snagged by willing workers, you still have to work the job search as you would for a full-time opportunity. Competition is fierce for the best part-time jobs. In fact, about 28 million workers in the UNited States are in the part-time workforce, and the most common part-time work opportunities.
Part-time professional gigs are becoming more normalized as people diversify their careers. These jobs usually don’t provide benefits such as healthcare, but they do provide unique benefits such as allowing you to have a better home-work life balance and the opportunity to try on a few different hats if you’re looking at new industries.
If you’re interested in working part-time, use this guide to find the best ways to get a part-time job that pays well.
Treat The Job Search Process the Same
Just because it’s a part-time gig does not mean that the application process will be easier.
It also doesn’t mean that you can’t pitch yourself to prospective employers looking to hire full-timers. Be sure to note that in your cover letters or somewhere on your application. Instead of using a part-time gig as a transition job until you land a full-time position, let them know that you want to work part-time for the long haul.
It will likely make a difference and impact the decision in your favor to call you in for an interview. Part-time employees cost companies less, and you may be willing to negotiate a better hourly rate based on that premise.
Network As Much As You Can
As with any job search, tne of the best way to find an opportunity is to talk with people you already know.
Ask them if they know of any part-time work that fits you and your skillset. People can’t help you find a job if they don’t know you are in the job market and open to offers. It is up to you to spread the word.
Cast a Wider Net
Part-time jobs don’t have to be boring or in the same industry as your day job.
There are a multitude of opportunities for dog walking, pet sitting, or being a personal shopper. Instead of limiting yourself to a particular niche, look around for other opportunities. If you are a math whiz, being a math tutor is an opportunity for you to pass on your knowledge and pick up some extra cash.
Part-time jobs are lifestyle friendly. If you broaden your horizons and cast a wider net for opportunities to use your skills, you can find the perfect part-time job to fit your family’s needs.
Learn Where to Look and In What Season
Think about the types of businesses that would be in the market for some higher-end part-time labor.
Small businesses often hire part-time workers to fill in the gaps for full-timers who might be overworked. Part-time government jobs is also available. Seasonal employment opportunities provide another avenue for finding a part-time job. Retailers need extra help during the holiday season, and the opportunities for finding a part-time job increase in the weeks leading up to the holidays.
Non-profit organizations, museums, and libraries are places to seek out well-paid part-time employment as well. They often can’t afford to hire full-time employees, and they rely on part-time staff to carry out their programs.
The cycle of this seasonal work may be different depending upon where you live. If you live near a ski resort, hiring probably takes off before the winter. If you live in a summer destination, employers will need more hands on deck during that time,
Check out your local job sites and government sites to find out what opportunities are available at different times through the year.
Create Your Own Business
Creating your own business doesn’t have to be a full-time endeavor. If you have a marketable skill, market yourself. Take on as much work as you want and do it at your own pace.
For example, if you’re an excellent writer, try to land a part-time contract. If you’re a great cook, do some catering on the side.
For this, it’d be best to build up some type of professional online presence, like a website, social media accounts, and other resources. Showcase some of your work and pitch to potential clients in your free time.
Look the Part
If you are called in for an interview, be sure to dress in business casual attire, unless your part-time job requires casual attire.
Some professional part-time jobs require you to be professional in appearance. For example, dog walkers dress differently than advertising strategists.
Constantly Evaluate
Finding a part-time job can be easy, but you shouldn’t just take anything. If one aspect of your search isn’t working, tweak it and try to improve.
Part-time gigs have a stigma that they’re not as professionally-oriented as full-time jobs, but that’s just not true. You can be incredibly skilled and valuable and work part-time. It’s simply a lifestyle choice.
Again, treat the application process with the same respect as you would for a full-time opportunity and constantly evaluate your progress.
Bio:
Susan Ranford is an expert on job market trends, hiring, and business management. She is the Community Outreach Coordinator for New York Jobs. In her blogging and writing, she seeks to shed light on issues related to employment, business, and finance to help others understand different industries and find the right job fit for them.
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