One area that often gets overlooked is the part-time section of the job listings. You’re thinking to yourself that if you take a part time job, you have to report it on your weekly assessment to the department of labor to receive your unemployment insurance pay. This, in turn, will reduce your benefits.
There’s no denying there’s a Catch 22 of benefits and part-time work. However, there are other areas to consider when deciding about a part-time job.
First of all, if the part-time job is in your preferred work area, it could be good to at least keep your foot in the door, so to speak. You will keep your skills sharp and your knowledge current. You will hear of full time openings before any head hunters or employment websites would and you’ll have experience with the company, thus giving you a step ahead of the competition.
Additionally, a part-time job may be classified that way simply based on the fact it’s is a 35 hours per week job. It could offer enough hours to make more money than you’re making with unemployment insurance.
A part-time job will last longer than your temporary unemployment benefits. Many part-time gigs turn full-time down the road, when you’ve shown the company how indispensable you can be. The co-workers you work with in a part-time job could become networking partners down the road and help you obtain a better position in the future.
Keep in mind that unemployment benefits are there to help you until you find something permanent. While you may not have pictured yourself in a part-time job, that doesn’t mean that accepting a job under 40 hours is a bad thing.
The key is to find something, full or part time, that is going to pay you more than you’re bringing home in unemployment. Check out all the various job descriptions in both genres of work. Pursue the part-time with the same professionalism and enthusiasm you would a full-time job, making it clear to the hiring personnel that you do ultimately prefer a full-time position, should it become available.
Look outside the box during this economic slump. Consider options based on the whole picture and how it can improve your situation. Perhaps a part-time opportunity will bring you the income you need now.
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