Job search can take a long time, sometimes weeks or sometimes months. During your job search, you tend to spend on a lot of things. Paying for resumes, transportation to interviews, and a whole lot of other things. These expenses gulp your money, and without any source of income, you could run out of money sooner or later. This is why it is essential to be prudent with how you spend money during a job search. To help you with this, we have put together a list of various ways to save money during job search. They are as follows:
1. Organize a budget-friendly wardrobe.
Even though you must dress well for an interview, you do not need to go overboard by spending too much on clothes. This is why organizing a budget-friendly wardrobe is one of the ways to save money during job search. To make a good first impression at an interview, you have to put on a nice dress or suit, shoes, and accessories. But, to get all these things, you do not need to break the bank.
Firstly, you can always look into your wardrobe for outfits you can put on. There is a high possibility that you have something you can match together in your wardrobe. For instance, if you have some staple outfits such as black pants or skirts, blazers, and some shirts, you can avoid shopping altogether. However, if you cannot find anything in your wardrobe, it is best to go to a thrift shop. Outfits are cheaper in thrift shops. This way, you can get new interview clothes for yourself without spending too much.
2. Cut down on the cost of transportation.
One of the things that gulp your money during a job search is transportation expenses. This is especially true if you are searching for jobs out of town. You spend on transportation and sometimes accommodation when you have an interview out of town. To cut down on this expense, you might need to search for jobs in your area. That way, you will not spend an arm and a leg on transportation. Besides, you will not have any need to pay for accommodation. Another tip on how to cut down on the expense of transportation is to request a virtual interview. You do not need to limit yourself to applying to jobs around you because of money. Technology has made things easier now. So, instead of a face-to-face interview, you could hop on a video call with your potential employer. Even though most companies favor physical interviews, a virtual interview is still an option.Â
3. Learn how to craft your CV.
Another thing that job seekers spend money on during a job search is crafting their CV. Many job seekers do not know how to craft their resumes themselves. Thus, they tend to hire professionals to do that for them. And hiring a professional is not cheap at all. Therefore, one of the ways to save money during job search is to learn how to craft your CV. Once again, technology has made this easier. You could watch a series of videos on YouTube to learn more about how to create one. There are many blogs on Google that can guide you on how to craft a resume. However, the simplest and easiest way to learn is by searching for resume builders. Most job boards have resume builders that can help you create a CV within seconds. These resume builders are quite free, and they are fast as well.
4. Organize your job search.
To save money during job search, you have to organize your job search. Organizing your job search does not only help you save money but also saves you a lot of time. You do not need to invest in any new software to help you do this. Software on your phone or laptop, like Microsoft Excel or Google Spreadsheet, can help you with this. This will help you know the jobs you have applied for, the interviews you have, and the ones you’ve attended. Besides, you can set up an interview alert or any other job search alert on Google Calendar. Organizing your job search will also help you keep track of your applications. Here is a guide on how to keep track of your application.
5. Make use of free services.
One of the ways to save money during job search is to make use of free services. Many job seekers think that engaging the services of a professional such as a recruiter or head hunter helps them secure jobs faster. But some of these professionals charge money, and their fees might take a toll on your financial health. And the truth is that you can get a lot of information about new jobs if you dedicate time to research. So, we recommend that if you are job hunting while unemployed, you should spend time researching rather than hiring recruiters. Besides, some job seekers make the mistake of paying a huge amount of money to access some job boards. However, you should make use of job boards such as justjobs, which are free for job seekers. On justjobs, you get access to many high-profile jobs for free.Â
6. Take on any work you can get.
For those who are currently unemployed, you should take on any work you can get. The fact that you have a master’s degree does not mean you shouldn’t have a source of income till you get your dream job. You can apply for jobs that you are overqualified for or look out for businesses that need seasonal help. The interesting thing about this step is that you can learn new things that can inform your career path. The truth is that it is better to have a source of income while searching for a job than to try to save money. This way, you will be able to invest in your job search to land your dream job sooner or later.
Final thoughts
Job hunting can be stressful and expensive. But with these ways to save money during job search, you can have time to concentrate more on finding an ideal job. While saving money while your job search is fantastic, don’t forget how crucial saving is once you land a job.
