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Should I Take a Survival Job and Why? [Updated]

Survival Job

Survival_JobAre you considering taking a survival job? Have you been out of work for over six months? Have your unemployment benefits run out?

Are you running out of money to pay the mortgage, or are you going to raid your 401(k) for living expenses?

Many are driven to this decision by monetary issues and feel like they are stepping off into desperation.

I define a survival job as any position that you plan on taking temporarily. This might be taking a retail position at Home Depot, or substitute teaching with the local school district, or even working for a family member in an administrative role.

Here are the questions I want you to ask yourself before you take a survival job.

Note: This post was originally published in 2014 and was updated in April of 2019.

(More: You Did Not Get the Job! Now What?)

Will I Be Able to Continue My Job Search?

I have been on the board of directors of Launch Pad Job Club, the largest and oldest job organization in Central Texas, since 2006. Early in my tenure on the board, I ran a survey of our current and past members. What I found was that the vast majority of those who took a survival job discontinued their job search.

Be honest with yourself!

Look at the number of hours you will be working and when. If you take a 40 hour a week position, will you have the time and energy to continue your job search?

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I have seen a lot of job club members take retail positions where they are on their feet all day on concrete floors and come home exhausted.

Will the hours you work conflict with your ability to network and interview for a new position?

Launch Pad Job Club now has a signature program called Leap to Success where club members work on real projects for area nonprofits pro-bono. The projects are intended to last only 4-6 weeks and only require a 10 hour per week commitment.

(More: Inertia and Persistence as it Relates to Your Career)

Will I Have the Opportunity to Meet Prospective Employers?

Here are some examples where a survival job might allow you to make some money and network your way to your next position:

  • Work temporarily for local conventions in registration and other administrative functions.
  • Take a seasonal position at a company where you want to work. Whole Foods Market, which is headquartered in Austin, gives priority to candidates who have worked there. For example, if you want an IT position, you can work as a cashier during the holiday season, impress the manager, and you will likely be given priority in interviewing for IT positions.
  • Seasonal government positions – This could be a census taker or working local elections. You never know who you might meet.
  • Take a gig position with Uber, Lyft, Task Rabbit, Rover,…

Notice that all of these positions are short term, let you engage with people and give you the flexibility to keep up your job search or look for your next career pivot.

Will this Position Help Me Acquire a Skill?

I have had multiple clients take survival jobs through Goodwill Staffing of Central Texas. In some cases, they have been given access to software that they could not afford on their own. In a few free moments during the day, they have been able to train themselves on the software. They can only do this on their breaks and lunch time, but it is possible.

Volunteer with programs like Austin Leap To Success. LTS is the signature program of Launch Pad Job Club where projects are done for local non-profits. Maybe you can dust off an old skill, polish up a current skill or learn something new.

(More: Negotiating for What You Want!)

Would I be Embarrassed to Put this on My Resume?

When taking a survival job, you need to consider whether you will put this on your resume and on your LinkedIn profile.

Obviously, if you went to work for an adult-oriented business, you will likely not want to put this on your resume. If you do not, you will need to explain the gap in your resume. This also could include working for religious or political organizations. In today’s politically correct climate, you will want to clearly weigh your options.

Will It Improve My Mental Outlook

There are several members of the Career Pivot Membership Community who have taken survival jobs for their own mental health. Let me give you some examples:

  • Tom went to work 4 days a week at Home Depot. He is back interacting with people that energize him.  It forces him to get up at the same time each day and he has developed the discipline to wall off time, when he is not working, to focus on his freelance business.
  • Larry took a job as a bank teller. It was at a community bank where operations were still pretty manual. When he went through teller training it forced him to use skills he had not used in years. He only did this for 4 months, but it gave him confidence that he could still learn and stretch himself.
  • Sherry drove for Lyft. She loves to drive and interact with people. Driving for Lyft gave her the opportunity to do both. The kicker is Sherry picked 2 consulting clients from passengers. Was this serendipity? Yes. However, Sherry’s brain and attitude were re-engaged and making her more employable.

All of these examples allowed them the flexibility to keep focusing on their next career steps and they only took survival jobs for a few months. What it did was re-engage their minds and bodies that can sometimes only happen when you are working.

Think Carefully Before Taking a Survival Job

There are times when taking a survival job is absolutely necessary, but consider the following:

  • You have to be honest with yourself about your own abilities to make sure you can continue your job search.
  • What, if any, benefits other than the income do you get from taking this position?
  • What are the liabilities of taking the position?
  • Will your mind, body, and spirit improve from going back to work, even for a short period of time?

Have you taken a survival job? What were the positives and negatives? 

Please comment below.

Marc Miller  

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Comments

  1. George says

    August 12, 2014 at 3:01 pm

    I agree that taking a survival job is not very good option but only if you intend on on trying to really get back in the work force and continue a career. However, there are those of us whom are over 62 that just want something to stave off using their 401(k) or IRA or stat I starting their social security benefits. But we even want a decent job and by that I’m talking about no contact center job where some young wannabe is trying to make a name and thinks the way to do it is forgetting their manners.

    • August 12, 2014 at 3:30 pm

      George,
      The big thing in taking a survival job is do it with your eyes wide open.

      I talked with a gentleman yesterday who had two choices:
      – A contract for 6 months at $18/hour with lots of flexibility
      – A position that would be a grind 8 hours a day but decent pay

      I suggested he take the first option as long as the money was good enough to makes end meet for 6 months. That way he can continue his job search.

  2. Marcy Travis says

    August 14, 2014 at 7:37 am

    Marc,
    You make some excellent points in this article. I also think that working provides a routine that helps make us mindful of our time. Otherwise, it is easy to let hours, days, and weeks go by without an anchor.
    Thanks for sharing!
    Marcy

  3. October 6, 2016 at 11:54 pm

    The imperatives of keeping a roof over your head and food on your table for you and yours are overriding. If your only option is the 8 hour grind, then you need to take it and make a plan for your job search. Full stop. The only other imperative if you have IT skills and online access is a work from home thing.

    • October 7, 2016 at 3:12 pm

      Iain,

      I feel your pain. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

      Marc

  4. October 6, 2016 at 11:55 pm

    Sorry, the second imperative should read alternative.

  5. Denise says

    December 22, 2019 at 1:10 pm

    I have 6 months left before I have to start having money come in. I obviously still have some time but I get panicked and have to fight the urge to take whatever comes along.

    • December 22, 2019 at 4:26 pm

      Denise,

      Much to my surprise a number of members of my Career Pivot community have been successful with survival jobs. Check out this post. https://careerpivot.com/2019/synchronicity-and-serendipity-can-be-essential-in-life/

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