Let me begin by saying that this is not one of my usual health related posts. But it has some relevance to health as I see how much of a stress unemployment creates.

Unemployment has a negative effect on us – it is a well known fact. These days, not only has finding a job become hard, keeping a job has become harder.

In a previous post, we discussed how unemployment can affect your health. We also included a few suggestions as well that many found useful.

Fortunately, unemployment rates have fallen in India over the last 10 years. However, a large proportion of people with education and skills remain unemployed.

With the end of the year approaching, it is important to plan ahead and be prepared for any eventuality in 2017.

So if you are worried about unemployment, here are 5 ways you could keep income coming in or find yourself a new job quickly.

1. Get Certified

If you find that you have some spare time and have nothing else to do, try and learn a new skill or trade.

By doing so, you become a part of the ‘knowledge transfer group’. Employers recognize that knowledge transfer can improve the companies bottom line, according to a report by the American Management Association.

For example, if you are tech savvy and are good with computers and social media, then you could take up a course in digital marketing.

If you are already in a job and looking to get ahead in your career, then get a new certification in an area you are familiar with.

There are numerous online courses these days. Many of them come from authentic and reputed organizations, and are considered as relevant when you apply for a job.

For example, you could take a look at course websites such as Simplilearn or Udemy. These have courses that have been designed by experts that will not only train you, but will also help you get certified.

Simplilearn

Simplilearn is a unique online platform developed by a blogger, and has grown by leaps and bounds over the years. They are now a fully functional course provider, offering courses in various fields. Their reputation means many of those who do the course end up with employment or a promotion.

You can try out their trial access here.

Udemy

This is an American based company that offers courses in a variety of different professional areas. Take a look around on their site, and chances are you will find a course that could help you get ahead.

Check out what Udemy has to offer here.

Other great course sites include Coursera, Google Developers and Alison Courses. There are many other that are available online from reputed universities in India.

Just browse online and you can find the course you want.

Note: Always make sure that the certification you get are recognised by relevant authoritative bodies before you sign up.

2. Start A Business

These days, starting your own business and becoming your own boss seems to be the norm. If you think about it, it is really the best way to work as you are in charge of your own life.

Starting a business is not without its risks, so make sure you weigh these first before you decide to put down any money as investment. There are many kinds of businesses you could start, ranging from brick and mortar ones to online businesses.

Starting a business is exciting, and owning a ‘start up’ is clearly a proud moment for those involved. However, there is one harsh truth to face.

According to the website ‘Statistic Brain’, 25% of start ups fail in the first year, and over 70% fail in 10 years.

The primary reason for failure is incompetence – biting off more than you can chew. Other reasons include lack of work experience, lack of managerial experience and fraud.

There are many ways to start a business. If you are looking to start a brick and mortar one, choose carefully as the overheads tend to be quite high.

A good business to start is one based around something you have a passion about. Take for example Cocoa Diva, a chocolate company started by Mrs Jayanthi Shivaram.

Mrs Jayanthi started out making chocolates for friends and family as gifts. With the positive feedback she was receiving from them, she realized she had a talent as a chocolatier. She now runs a large gourmet chocolate business ‘Çocoa Diva‘, supplying chocolates to large hotel chains and corporates across Bangalore.

If you want to keep your investment low, try starting something online from an ‘office’ in your own home. It could be something as simple as giving advice to people and charging for that, or developing a product that people need.

Have you got an arts and crafts hobby and are good at it? You could check out Etsy – a great place to sell personalized items.

The choices are just too many, but don’t fall for those programs that promise to make your ‘rich quick’. Nobody is going to just hand your their cash; you are going to have to earn it.

3. Sell Your Services

Got a talent that you think can earn you a living?

You might be surprised how people might be looking for something that you have.

Websites where you can offer your services include Fiverr and Upwork.

Fiverr

Fiverr is an online platform and the largest provider in the world for online services. You can pretty much sell anything on Fiverr, and with their high traffic, chances are you will start to sell your services.

There is another side to Fiverr. If you are looking to start your own business but need someone to help you work, you could outsource your business to people on Fiverr. That way, you can concentrate on the finer details of your business.

Pretty much every service you offer or buy starts at $5. As you build your reputation, you could offer more services at higher costs. There are many people making a living from home working on this platform.

You can check out what Fiverr has to offer here.

Upwork

Previously called Elance, Upwork is another service hiring site that is very popular across the globe. If you have a skill, then you most certainly look at Upwork as a platform.

Unlike Fiverr, Upwork is a little stricter with taking people on as sellers. They require certification to ensure that people offering services know what they are doing.

Complete a certification course from the ones I have listed previously and use this to demonstrate your skill set.

Check out what others are doing on Upwork here.

4. Write!

Are you good at writing? Did you know that there are thousands of people looking for writers of different caliber.

If you think you have a flare for writing, and are good at researching a topic, then taking up a job as a writer can be quite rewarding.

You don’t even have to use your own name, unless you are looking to build a reputation. Just use a pen name and communicate with your customers using that pen name.

You can find writing jobs on Fiverr, Upwork and other similar sites. You will have to bid for jobs though, but once you become a seasoned writer with good reviews, people will hire you without questioning.

Make sure you decide on what niche you want to pursue. For example, if your interest is in history, then be clear on your CV regarding this.

Note: Always make sure the articles you write are unique and are not copied from elsewhere. You could end up in trouble!

5. Start a Blog

Not only could you write for other people; you could start a blog of your own. There are millions of bloggers online, and many make an income through advertising online or selling a product of their own.

Blogging can be free or paid, and usually requires a small investment to start off with. If you are looking to start a blog, do get in touch with us by emailing us at contact@heartsense.in and we can send you our guide.

There are numerous free platforms where you can start blogging, such as Tumblr, WordPress and Blogger. These make blogging very easy, and you can get people viewing your blog fairly quickly.

The problem with blogging using these ready platforms is personalizing it. If you are looking to create a blog of your own that has a look and feel that describes ”you”, then try a paid platform instead. You will have to pay a small amount for hosting and a website name annually, along with other small expenses.

One drawback of starting a blog to earn money is that it takes time for people to recognize the blog and its value. You need to have decent traffic before you start making an income.

So if you are looking for a quick solution to earn a living, blogging is certainly not the answer. But if you are willing to persevere, then blogging can be a good source of recurring income in the long run.

Closing Remarks

There are many ways to fight unemployment and build an income from home. It takes time and perseverance, but the effort can be quite rewarding.

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