Don’t let your fear of not getting an income force you to keep a job you hate. If your work is making you miserable, consider a stop-gap job to tide you over until you can find something better.
Some examples of stop-gap jobs include retail, food service, delivery service, virtual assisting, and even contracts in your chosen field. The idea is for the job to meet your immediate needs but not to be something you feel committed to, or something that might grow into something bigger. You can also think of it as a for-right-now job that comes without obligations except the actual job. In addition to the income, the benefits include providing some structure to your days, potentially letting you meet people, and the feeling of being useful. With the time you buy yourself, you can also be thoughtful about your next role.
To find a stop-gap role, think about your needs in terms of money, benefits, and flexibility, and write them down. Then think through what you’ve found tolerable (or even enjoyed!) in the past. I always find it helpful to write things down, so I know what thoughts I’ve captured, and so I have a map of my ideas for later on. Be realistic—if you’re in your 50s, even if you enjoyed your college food service job, your feet may not be up to waiting tables anymore. But also be flexible. There are probably several things you could do for a few months, especially with the understanding that you’re giving yourself a buffer so you can think more clearly about next steps.
And don’t forget about freelance and gig jobs! They’re problematic in a few ways, but they’re also very flexible and often quite fun. Here are some ideas from Qwick, and creative roles from Behance. You can also check for roles at Freelancer, Communo, and Guru. They don’t come with a lot of the things I think jobs should offer, including benefits, but since you only need something for a few months, these roles can be great.
If you do get something just to make ends meet, LinkedIn offers these tips on making the most of your short-term job. I also recommend you put reminders in your calendar for yourself to keep from getting complacent in the role—and suddenly find yourself broke and grumpy 6 years from now! Think of these as notes to Future You, so make sure they’re things you can take action on when they pop up.
Do you have any sites you like for make-do jobs? Let me know and I’ll add them to my list!
