Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring: Take Charge of Your Career, Find a Job You Love, and Earn What You Deserve

Chapter 17. The Pay My Bills Strategy

When the job market is tight and the economy is in a downturn, it generally takes a longer period of time to find the job you want. This may be fine if you have enough money in the bank to draw upon during your transition. But if you can't live on savings until you land your real job, you'll probably want to do some sort of part-time or temporary work to tide you over. This strategy—sometimes called the bridge job—has become common over the past few years, and it can be very effective for people at all professional levels. This approach often includes a two-step path, starting with an interim role, and eventually leading to the ideal position.

I recently worked with a successful executive who had been Senior Vice President of an industrial manufacturing company. He had an excellent education, including a background as an engineer. When he lost his job, he took a part-time position at a local paint store. The money wasn't great, but it was enough to help pay his family's bills. Having this part-time job also gave my client a sense of pride, because he was doing what he could to provide for his family, and he was making a contribution in the business world. He also enjoyed meeting new people and even doing a bit of networking with customers. The job at the paint store gave my client the flexibility he needed to continue searching for the job he really wanted. The owner of the paint store tried on many occasions to promote him to full-time manager. ...