Looking For Work? Have You Considered Part-Time?

I wish I could quote some studies showing how quickly the job market is improving, but unfortunately, things are still tough out there.  Many of the unemployed have held full-time, high-paying jobs their entire careers and are struggling to land their next position.  If you find yourself in this spot, limiting your job search to only full-time openings may be severely limiting your opportunities.

The fact is, many companies are still hiring, but they either aren’t providing benefits or aren’t looking for someone for 40 hours a week.  It’s not that these companies don’t think you deserve health insurance; they just can’t afford to provide it to you at this point.  It may be that they would be thrilled to have someone supporting their office for 40 hours a week, but their limited budget only allows them to pay someone for 20.  Employees who have been fortunate enough to keep their jobs throughout the economic downturn don’t want to be in the position of doing multiple people’s work, but necessity often dictates this.

Most job search engines allow you to filter out part-time jobs when you enter your search criteria.  If you take the time to look over the part-time advertisements, you will find that many of the positions out there are available part-time for now, with a long-term goal of becoming full-time later on.  There are also many positions that offer 25-30 hours per week.  While this won’t provide a level of income comparable to a full-time salaried position, working more than half the week goes a long way toward keeping your head above water financially until that next salaried position comes along.

There are other advantages to taking a part-time job during this economic climate.  First off, having current employment on your resume is almost always a positive thing.  Even if your current position is a step down from previous roles, the fact that you’re out there working proves you’re dedicated and driven.  You can also explain in your cover letter that your current position is part-time.

Another advantage to part-time employment is that it helps you get your foot in the door at a company.  A friend of mine in New York City took a part-time receptionist position years ago while pursuing her acting dream.  Five years later, she has yet to make her acting debut, but she’s done so well in her receptionist position that she’s now the full-time office manager and benefits administrator at the same company.

If you haven’t considered part-time work during the economic downturn, it’s something to think about.  Sites like SnagAJob.com and craigslist are a great place to start seeing what’s out there. Even a part-time job requires a stellar resume to land an interview. Be sure your resume is up-to-date – view professionally-written resume samples or visit our blog for additional information on resumes and job search.