Thinking about work when the food cupboards are bare, is almost impossible. It’s a catch-22. How do we reverse it, so earning starts solving our problems?
There is a vicious cycle that no-one talks about when it comes to money and finding work. The fact that if we don’t have work, we don’t have much money, is plain to see. But the barriers to work when we’re broke are harder to explain.
There are the obvious things that are tricky: Having the right clothes for an interview. The bus or train fare to get there. A decent computer, (more than a smart phone with a cracked screen), and broadband to search and apply for work.
But what about the worry that comes with not being able to make ends meet? How can we think about work when every day is battle to feed the kids or keep a roof over our heads?
Here are Quids in!’s top five tips for breaking out of the no job, no money – no money, no job doom loop.
- Be Inspired
The Quids in! Job Readiness Quiz helps jobseekers work out what else they might do to improve their chances of finding work. Most of us are doing something already but if we’re not having much success, we need other ideas. The Quiz generates an action plan with ideas on the next steps we might take. - Have a Mental Clear Out
Money worries can drain us of the ability to think about anything else. There are two things to do in this case: (1) See what we can do to take control of those money worries. (2) Set aside one hour, or even thirty minutes, each day to think about something else, like work, which will help with money too. The good news is the Job Readiness Quiz takes a money-first approach, so helps us with both steps. - Start with One Small Thing Each Day
We should begin by doing one thing each day that brings us closer to your goal. This could be updating sections of our CV, applying for work, or learning a new skill online. Jim Rohn, a speaker and life coach, says small, consistent actions can make a big difference: “Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.” - Take Help When It’s Offered
You don’t have to do this alone. If someone offers help, whether it’s a friend, a neighbour, or a support service, take it. Accepting help is a step towards achieving your goals. If we don’t know where to look, Quids in! can help. Check out our website and tools like our Benefits Calculator and our money Quizzes. - Take Stock of the Progress
The downside of breaking things down into smaller steps is it can feel like we’re not getting anywhere. We should take time to count up those actions and pat ourselves on the back. Another good thing about the Job Readiness Quiz is that it scores our efforts and we can go back to it and see how our score is improving.
When life, and money, is overwhelming the only thing we can really do is break it down into chunks. By tackling things one at a time, we can chip away until we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Help is out there. Soon finding work will feel doable and even a few hours of paid work will start to lighten the financial burdens.
