How I Found a Part-Time Job to Supplement Income

It’s not at all unusual for job seekers to use FlexJobs as a way to find a part-time job to supplement income. That was the case with Ingrid B. from Quincy, California, who landed a job as a Copy Editor with PreMedia Global.

“Once I set a goal of applying to one job a week (there are plenty in my field to choose from on FlexJobs), I relaxed about my resume and cover letters. I was able to ‘advertise myself’ more confidently and landed a part-time telecommute position the first week! It was just what I was hoping for to augment my current part-time position, and it is in a field in which I’d been hoping to gain experience. FlexJobs is easy to use and trustworthy. I have already referred friends and will be returning when I am ready to look for another position. Thank you!”

Ingrid was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions for us about her job search.

When you started looking for work, did you have a specific type of flexibility in mind or were you open to exploring telecommute, part-time, flexible schedule, or freelance?

Yes, I currently have a part-time job that is mostly telecommute, so I was looking for a second part-time telecommute position to bring in a little more money and perhaps expand my career options for the future. Telecommute was mandatory because I live in a remote area with few job opportunities.

What was your #1 reason for looking for flexible work options?

I had a baby last year (he just turned one!) and I want to spend as much time with him as possible. Also, child care is expensive!

Do you have any advice to share with other job seekers?

I was frustrated at first and felt like I wasn’t perfectly qualified for any of the jobs I was interested in. When I did apply for one or two jobs and never heard back, I felt even more discouraged. But once I set a goal, my whole outlook shifted. I decided to apply for one job every week, even if it didn’t seem “perfect.” Then I relaxed, wrote much stronger cover letters, and got a job! Three more pieces of advice: 1) If you are currently in a job, keep a list of skills you have, the responsibilities of your position, and any special improvements you’ve made. If supervisors or coworkers compliment you, ask for a letter of recommendation NOW, “for your file.” 2) Have someone with experience and good writing skills review your resume and cover letter. Even a copy editor, like me, misses things. 3) Consider a different resume layout. Because I’ve moved and held jobs in a variety of fields, a chronological resume is confusing and shows no clear upward movement. I switched to a skills-based resume (lots of online resources to help with this), and that reflects my credentials much better.