Losing a job can be a scary experience for anyone. Faced with the reality of dwindling income, most people don’t know where to turn. Finding ways to make extra money on the side or to replace the income that you have lost as a result of being laid off or due to being underemployed is essential.

Side gigs are great because they can help you make extra money and give you a sense of purpose. If you’re looking for ways to make money on the side, check out these tips.

How to Make Money When You Lost your Job

Use Your Talents That You Didn’t Know Were Marketable

Many people have talents that they never knew could be marketable. It’s worth exploring what your talents are, as they may lead to work opportunities. What if you’re an artist? Could you design graphics for a company? Could you make or teach music? There’s no reason why not!

How to Use Your Talents to Find Work

If you have certain skills that you didn’t know were marketable before, now is the time to put them to good use. Good Financial Cents notes that one of the easiest ways to make money on the side is to use talents that you might not know are marketable.  For example, if you’re skilled at making great photos on your phone, then it’s possible that there are companies out there looking for someone to take photos and videos who would be willing to pay you for your services.

Similarly, if you’re a skilled writer, there are plenty of opportunities out there for freelancers who can help businesses market themselves on social media. As a writer, you can develop content for businesses in the form of blog posts, write white papers on company developments, and more.

Find Work Helping Businesses Market Themselves

There are many businesses out there who want to reach a larger audience but don’t have the time or know how to do it. They may need help with their social media profiles, or they may want someone to write blog posts for them.

If this is something that interests you, Workpajama suggests putting up a profile on a site like Upwork and waiting for offers from businesses in need of your skills. This will allow you to find work that suits your schedule without compromising pay!

Do Odd Job Gigs

If none of those ideas sound right for you, then consider doing odd job gigs. These are jobs where employers post what they need doing, and then people bid on completing the tasks. Some examples include data entry, transcription, editing photos, and even designing logos!

Develop New Skills and Knowledge

When looking for side work, you may find that there is work you are interested in but you lack the requisite skills or knowledge to qualify for it. This can be discouraging, but instead of letting it demoralize you, use it to propel you to learn more. Returning to or starting college degree work online can significantly boost your knowledge and qualifications for work, and a degree in criminal justice is a great way to give back to the community. Plus, flexible scheduling online means you’ll be able to work while going to school.

There are many strategies for finding work when you need to. All it takes is the ability to adapt, along with a little patience. Carefully examine your own skills and interests to match an employer’s needs, or apply yourself to learning new ones.