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Naomi Rothwell-Boyd, September 9 2022

5 Ways Weekend Jobs Help You Find A New Career

A Weekend Job Can Be A Useful Tool

Do you want to find a new career but don't know where to start? Need to make a bit of money in the meantime? A great way to get started is by finding weekend jobs.

In this blog post, we will discuss the five ways weekend jobs can help you find a new career. We will also provide advice on how to find weekend jobs that are relevant to your career goals. Let's get started!

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Stepping Stones

As a professional career coach, I often explain to my clients that you shouldn't assume you can make the leap straight into the perfect job in one step. Everyone should embrace the option of using a stepping stone strategy.

This is when you take a job that isn't your dream job but is in the same field or industry. Or, it could be a job that uses some of the skills you hope to develop in your dream role. The key is that it's a move in the right direction and gets you closer to where you want to be.

Many weekend jobs can serve as stepping stones and provide some great new career ideas. For example, if your dream is to be a writer, working as a weekend editor at a small local paper, or volunteer to help a charity's publications, can give you a taste of what the job entails and help you develop relevant skills.

If you want to be an accountant, taking on bookkeeping work on the weekends can introduce you to basic accounting principles and help you grow your experience.

If you work in a retail store on the weekends, you may meet someone who works in the corporate office of the company and discover that you're interested in that type of work.

Or, if you volunteer for a local nonprofit organization, you may meet someone who works in the development department and learn about fundraising as a potential career.

The list of examples goes on. You get the idea - a weekend job can also give you a chance to try out a new career before making a long-term commitment. If you're having trouble getting your foot in the door of your desired field, using weekend jobs as a stepping stone can be powerful. If you want some inspiration check out this list of different job ideas.

Let's look more closely at the advantages of this approach.

1) Gain relevant experience

One way weekend jobs can help you find a new career is by providing experience in the field you are interested in. For example, if you are considering a career in marketing, working as a sales associate at a retail store on the weekends can give you some insight into the industry.

If you're not sure what field you want to pursue, weekend jobs can also help you narrow down your options. How do you know if you'll like an industry without experiencing it first? Weekend jobs can give you a chance to try out different fields and gain a better understanding of what each one entails.

Try to think carefully about what experiences you might need for your dream job, and look for weekend jobs that can give you those experiences.

If you're not sure what field you want to pursue, weekend jobs can also help you narrow down your options.

2) Network to find other opportunities

Weekend jobs can also provide you with the opportunity to network. You never know who you might meet while working at your weekend job.

Perhaps you'll meet someone who knows of an open position at their company that would be a perfect fit for you. Or, maybe you'll meet someone who can provide you with some helpful advice and guidance as you search for a new career.

It's well researched that many jobs are found not online but through networking. So, get out there and start meeting new people!

3) Pick up skills

Weekend jobs can also help you gain relevant skills and knowledge. For example, if you're interested in pursuing a career in web development, working as a weekend customer service representative for an online retailer can give you the chance to learn about the back-end operations of a website. This knowledge can be helpful when you're ready to start applying for jobs in the field.

Use a weekend job to learn something new at the same time, and you'll be one step ahead when you're ready to make a career change. Even if you have to tolerate the job because you might need the money, you'll feel much better about it if it also teaches you something.

4) Gain confidence

Weekend jobs can also help you build your confidence. If you've been out of the workforce for a while, or if you're simply not confident in your abilities, working a weekend job can help build your confidence and give you the chance to practice your skills.

Once you feel more confident, you can start applying for jobs in your desired field. Confidence often suffers when people stay locked away out of fear, so weekend jobs can be a great way to ease your way back into the workforce.

You'll also build confidence from knowing you have a separate long term strategy from your working life. By using weekend jobs to test different potential paths while earning money, it will reassure you that you always have different options open, you can always adapt to a situation.

5) Make new friends

Separate to networking for personal gain, making friends with people you might never have met otherwise is a great benefit. People from all walks of life work weekend jobs, so you're bound to meet some interesting people.

Not only will you make some new friends, but you might also find yourself with a built-in support system. These friends can provide moral support as you search for a new career and can be a great resource if you ever need advice or assistance.

So there you have it – five ways that weekend jobs can help you find a new career. If you're looking for a career change, don't discount the potential of a weekend job.

Uncover how to change your career today with our quick assessment quiz even if you don't know where to start - TRY PATHFINDER NOW

Tips for finding a weekend job

- Check out local businesses in your area. Many of them are always looking for weekend help.

- Ask friends and family if they know of any weekend job openings.

- Use online job boards or websites to search for weekend jobs in your area and setup job alerts.

- Attend local job fairs and meet with employers about weekend positions.

- Stop by local businesses and inquire about weekend job openings in person.

- Check the job description to see if there are any special qualifications or requirements.

- Tailor your resume and cover letter to the weekend job you're applying for.

- Highlight any relevant skills or experience you have in your resume and cover letter.

- Follow up with the employer after you've submitted your application.

- Consider part time work beyond just the weekend or other contract types.

Written by

Naomi Rothwell-Boyd

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