Being unemployed is not easy to deal with. You may find yourself using too much of your savings, depleting the funds you had set aside for other important things, such as further education or even marriage. When sitting home and applying for full-time jobs, your mental health can be affected too. If you do not take care of yourself, you might experience a lowered sense of self-worth, culminating in depression. These will only make securing a job tougher.
What part-time employment offers is similar to what you could achieve with full-time work — though not in the way you’d expect. While some individuals take on flexible, part-time roles in Singapore to have more time for family or a full-time course, for instance, such gigs can also provide jobseekers with some income, experience and a boost to their self-esteem. Holding a part-time position puts you in a better situation, financially and mentally, than being unemployed.
1. Income
Part-time work in Singapore often pays per hour, or by the hours per week you work. If you are taking on a freelance job as part-time work, then you could be paid per project or assignment. Some writing stints offer payment per word. The income you gain as a part-time employee helps you settle your bills, everyday expenditures and even have some to spend on leisure, which is especially important to keep you mentally active. Spending thriftily is critical during such a period — you learn the importance of money, how to spend wisely and gradually tap less into your savings. In fact, you could even save a little more by working on a part-time basis!
One essential point to note — unless you are not intending to secure stable full-time employment soon, avoid letting part-time work take up most of your day each week. Remember, you are still on the lookout for full-time employment — this means you will need the time to search for a job, and prepare for applications and interviews. A good balance is necessary so that part-time workers don’t wear out while still in pursuit of becoming a full-time employee. Set your boundaries at the start so you’re on track to your goal.
2. Experience
Any type of job comes with experience. Suppose you are a fresh graduate freelancing as a designer, writer or any other vocation. In that case, the work you produce is worthy of a portfolio if you apply for a full-time position in a similar field. What about part-time work that does not have any link to your preferred career paths? Think about the soft skills you’d gain. A part-timer at McDonald’s, for instance, will learn how to communicate succinctly with people in a busy kitchen, follow processes and enact new ones when necessary, and learn how to deal with demanding customers when taking orders. These translate to strong interpersonal, critical thinking and communication skills, essential for any profession you choose. You may also be surprised at the negotiation, time management and analytical skills you’ll pick up in these roles.
No job is small, as goes the saying. Yet, be sure to select a part-time job that makes you feel it is worth the try. If the job makes you feel even worse than you already do, that would not help your mental health.
Some part-time jobs you can consider in Singapore include data entry and freelance writing gigs that you can do from home, a temporary retail associate, a presenter at a tourist attraction or a private hire driver. Social distancing ambassadors and temperature screening assistants are also in demand at present, owing to the regulations set forth by the government during the pandemic. Here’s a quick guide to where to look for more temporary or part-time jobs in Singapore.
3. Self-esteem
With a small, though steady, stream of income coming in to help you tide over the wave, you feel more in control of what is happening around you. The emotional distress you once experienced for not paying up the necessities is reduced, and you have additional cash on you that you can save or take a little from to treat yourself to something you like.
At the same time, the experience you gain while working part-time and the people you network with on the job allow you to gain more confidence. When sitting in for interviews, you can share with your potential employers what you have been up to all these months, and use the experience as a part-time employee to your leverage for the role you are applying for.
All these help to feed your sense of self-worth, inevitably increasing your self-esteem. The confidence you gain during this period will gain a long way in helping you secure a full-time role.
