For job seekers who have remained unemployed for a year a more, finding the right opportunity may seem daunting.  But sometimes leveraging imperfect job opportunities may be exactly what a slow job search needs. Let’s take a look at a few tips:

Working Outside Your Field

Working in a job outside your field could offer benefits to your job search.  Besides the prospect of earning cash, this type of imperfect opportunity may offer other types of experiences or access that could benefit you.  For example, if you find the perfect employer who doesn’t have the job your want, taking another position at the firm may give you a foot in the door.

Working Temp/Contract Jobs

While some job seekers are hesitant to take temporary positions because they fear it will slow down their job search, doing so could offer some benefits.  Temp and contract workers are often considered first when full-time opportunities become available.  To successfully use temp/contract jobs to your benefit, you must be committed to continuing your search while working the temporary job. Temp and contract work also gives you an opportunity to get a feel for an organization from the inside.

Have An Exit Plan

Making sure your imperfect job is only a temporary pit-stop is critical to a successful job search.  The last thing you want to do is spend a protracted amount of time in a job while allowing your search to languish.  Before you take an imperfect job opportunity make sure you create an exit plan and timeline.