Economic uncertainty looms, and it’s already impacting many. How can we survive these challenging times?
If you have a steady job, start by taking some basic steps: manage your finances as much as you can by creating a budget and trimming where you can. Look into ways to manage debt, including paying things like credit cards off as much as possible. Work to build an emergency fund. Explore side-hustles or freelance to get a little extra in the door. If you’re considering new things that will likely be impacted by a trade war (cars, phones), buy those as soon as you can. And remember, as the old saying goes: every storm runs out of rain. Hunker down and get through.
If you don’t have a steady job, things are likely to get harder. You might need to get really creative, including cobbling together a couple of gig jobs, taking in temp work, or working in a field you left years ago. Don’t tell yourself stories of failure—anything you are able to find to make ends meet is necessarily a success. Be as adaptable as you can. Even if you don’t especially like the work you can find, it’s only for now, not something you’re stuck doing forever. You shouldn’t look to compromise too much, of course, so don’t apply for things that violate your values or might cause you injury. But do think about less appealing industries that are usually hiring, or old skills you might dust off for a few months.
The main thing to remember is that this isn’t about you. Things are tough out there and there’s not a lot we can do except ride it out.
Here are some additional job-hunting tips from Indeed: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-find-job-during-recession
