Bridge Gap Employment

Trying to go from what you don’t love to work that you do love can pose a challenge. You need money for bills, food, gas and mortgage. You don’t necessarily have the skill or experience to hop right over to your dream career that would start you off making at least the money you make now, let alone the money you want to make. So where do you start? How do you bridge the gap between job I hate or unemployment to career I love?

How did the chicken cross the road? He built a bridge and walked at a steady pace.

You need to seek employment or opportunities (paid or non-paid) that will bridge the gap between nowhere and somewhere. Let’s take a look at a few circumstances that you may be facing or can relate too and provide bridge gap employment solutions to those situations.

Employed, make enough money to cover expenses: You my friend are in a great position! You can decide to seek opportunities that are paid or non-paid. Your opportunities can be part-time employment, volunteering or continuing education. For example, you want to write a book (by the way I hear people say this a lot, so you may want to also), you may not get a part-time job writing a book, but you can take some fiction/non-fiction writing courses. You can read some books on how to write. Start reading books in the genre of your interest to learn how other writers put a story together. Volunteer to write for your church, start a newsletter for your family or community or create a personal blog, something that will get you writing and building confidence in your abilities.

Employed, don’t make enough to cover expenses: You may also seek opportunities that are paid or non-paid. Although, you probably want to get paid! You should first seek employment that allows you to be in the industry of the career of your choice. For example, you want to be a jewelry designer, work in retail stores that sale similar products or work somewhere that sells the tools/supplies you use to create jewelry (that way you can get a discount). If you can’t find a job in the industry of choice, get a job that will cover what you need to reduce the worry and stress. On your time off you may teach jewelry making workshops (paid or non-paid) to your community or slowly sale your jewelry at community events and consignment stores.

Unemployed, savings/family to cover expenses (short-term): You’re in a sweet spot too! You should first look for full-time or part-time jobs in your area of interest. Next, try volunteering and parlay that into a paying gig. Also, use this time to get some certifications or take extra courses that gives concrete evidence you have experience or knowledge in this field.

Unemployed, no money for expenses: You may have a lot of stress, but you aren’t out the game! You need to do everything mentioned and then some. But first, you need to get a job, any job in or out your field of interest to reduce the stress, so you can better concentrate on what you want. Then continue to seek opportunities (paid or non-paid) until you get to where you want to be.

Your current situation will help you decide the best bridge to start building. No matter your circumstance, choose from any of the above to make it work for you. Good luck!