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Top 5 ways to make yourself more marketable while unemployed

Does it sound familiar to you? You’ve been out of work for over a few months and you’re on the edge of your wits. Your resume is posted on all social networking sites; You’ve gotten in touch with every former high school classmate and classmate you can think of. and has applied to all job openings in his field since last November.

You are stuck and don’t know what to do next.

While you’ll obviously keep looking for work, here are some ready-to-use ideas that will not only keep you busy, but also help you build your resume while you’re out of work. Who knows, they might even take you to your next job.

Living and working abroad

Perhaps you once dreamed of packing your things and moving to another country, but you were worried about what might affect your resume. If you don’t have a job and are looking for what’s next, now might be the perfect time to work and live abroad.

Living abroad will not only give you the opportunity to experience another culture and learn another language, but if you play your cards right, you can get paid to do so. Working as an au pair or working for one of the many English teaching programs, for example, can provide you with the funds you need to live and work in Japan, Korea, France, and many other countries.

Voluntary

One of the worst things about being unemployed is being stuck at home all day. Go back to the world by volunteering. Helping out at your local animal shelter, homeless center, or religious organization will get you out of the house and surrounded by people.

Plus, it will help fill that gap in your resume, give you a sense of personal fulfillment, and may even introduce you to a potential contact, client, or colleague.

Free throw

These days, many companies prefer to hire a short-term consultant than to hire another FTE (full-time employee). You may not realize it, but you likely have business skills that could help you get to your next job and generate a great deal of cash while doing it.

Think about the experience you have and how you can promote yourself. If you worked in marketing, advertising, public relations, or communications, you probably have the writing skills to work as a freelance writer and editor. If you’re a former IT / computer science pro, try offering your web design services to smaller businesses and startups that can’t afford an in-house webmaster. If you’ve ever worked as an art director, take advantage of your skills and start a freelance graphic design business.

In addition to earning a few extra dollars, freelance projects can help you grow your personal network and portfolio, and can even lead to a relationship with a future employer.

Brush up on your skills

If you graduated from school a while ago, your industry has likely changed slightly since it last hit the books. Take your time off as an opportunity to catch up on the latest technologies, software products, and paradigm shifts in your career field.

A quick and inexpensive way to update your education is to take a certification class. Certification classes can range from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the level of commitment and the information you are looking for. Best of all, they can show a future employer your personal drive and motivation, as well as add a continuing education component to your resume.

Find temporary work

If a full-time position just doesn’t present itself, consider working at a temp agency or staffing company. These organizations will test your skills and then compare them to a company that needs a worker to replace another employee who is sick, on vacation, or on maternity leave.

While some positions are short-term and may last only a few days, other “temporary to permanent” positions can turn your temporary job into a full-time career. Either way, these opportunities give you a chance to network, add to your resume, and put some money in your pocket.

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