Job Search - The Voice of Job Seekers

Good Side Hustles To Buffer The Bills Right Now

I know, it’s been a while on this platform. I’ve been busy with “The Job Scam Report” as a lot has been happening over there (with good reason). The questions I’m asked never stop. They may get postponed, but I got a few I’ll do over the next several weeks.

Please continue to send me job search and career questions. Here’s a question I responded to last fall.

What viable side hustles can I pursue while working an underpaying job?

Here are a few potentially viable side hustles. While success may take time, they could play the long game. The strongest one is number one because it is proven and an ongoing process.

1. A business to help disabled veterans, an underserved group, can fill gaps the federal government may not fill as quickly, or possibly abandon with imminent budget cuts and RIFs. Side hustles, helping this group survive, and securing grants could be beneficial once needs are reset through administrative changes.

2. Some grants serve lower-income older Americans who wish to get back to work. One reason is the Medicare cuts (or anticipated ones). Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). If an organization or educational institution applies for and is approved for the grant, it can pay the facilitator the funds from the grant.

3. Colleges offer non-accredited classes or workshops on the weekends (you’ll need to research because not all do this). They often need facilitators for those classes. Colleges experiencing federal cuts may be open to these opportunities. The requirements vary, but the possibilities are many. They may need an AI specialist or a swimming instructor. The more creative you are with your offerings, the more opportunities you create.

4. Online notaries are becoming more common, but not universal for all types of notary needs. To succeed, networking is essential for securing frequent opportunities. In industries such as real estate, successful notaries work with a team that has an efficient workflow and a comprehensive understanding of the entire process.

I hope this helps.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Today’s Job Search Really Looks Strange And Uncertain Like 2021

For two years, Jack Kelly and I hosted a LinkedIn Live series, “#jobseekernation.” It was a panel show that still survives on LinkedIn, but is easier to find on YouTube.

Those shows are time capsules of what was going on in the job market. I noticed similarities: It was turbulent then, as it is now. Many of us who regularly watch these trends are noticing the differences, but the feeling of uncertainty always makes for uneasy viewing.

I liken it to watching a dog turn against its owner, not aggressively, just enough to feel the air thicken with tension.

Strange and uncertain.

It’s nonsense, yet it aptly describes today’s job search.

I mentioned in an episode of the LinkedIn Live series, “#jobseekernation,” a few years ago, retail stores would copy Best Buy’s business model by rehiring their workers part-time.

I’ll try to provide some context for 2021. You can correct or debate in the comments. I’m going off some notes, so here goes:

The economy was adding a significant number of new jobs, with one report showing almost a million new positions in a month.

Financial institutions, such as Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, were predicting that hiring would increase and a “Goldilocks Economy.” The Federal Reserve Chair described the moment as an “inflection point.”

There was stimulus monies, PPP loans, and unemployment trials and challenges, only to be cut off in late September.

Businesses were buying land like candy. We now know why.

We were talking about jobless recovery. While some sectors were booming, others, such as the airline and hospitality industries, continued to struggle, leaving fewer options for those with experience in these fields.

We learned mental health didn’t understand the political party divide, as everyone was trying to gauge and protect their own state of mind, maintaining some sense of balance. It’s the investment everyone will need to be intentional about.

Unemployment gaps were and still are weapons of hiring destruction. I know there are many to disagree, but, yeah, this is real.

So, companies continue to copy each other, and they always will. Layoffs, unemployment, and pay debates. We might as well call this the “Great Reset.”

There’s much more. It felt so hard to bear them for many, but it feels that way now. Some of you are still recovering. Others of you have gone through two or three rounds in the last four years.

I hope you’ll find a way to navigate this transition as well.

What appears to work right now.

It’s counterintuitive to only apply for jobs for which you’re best qualified. We naturally think the more options, the better. The successful job seekers who seem to navigate challenging job search climates can be narrowed down to two factors: what they want to do, and where they want to do it. When they eliminate the noise from the places they don’t want to be, they can focus on where they want to go.

Many experts I talk with regularly agree that being open to everything appeals to no employer. They don’t try to fit your skills into the buckets needing to be filled. They won’t say where you’re better qualified, nor will they put you on a waiting list unless you’ve impressed them.

Here are a couple of action items:

Change begins with a mind shift.

Approach today’s job search as if you were training your body for better health:

It takes a solid individual plan to make bigger strides. You may need to take small steps at first, but just like your body adapts to small steps, your mind adapts to creating small wins first before the big ones.

This is the mind shift you’ll need to make: While many gurus and coaches advise applying for jobs for which you’re 70% qualified, my recruiter friends discourage this approach. Candidates are being more scrutinized than ever. I can’t tell you a magic percentage where it’s OK to apply, but neither can recruiters. They will interview the best-qualified candidates before them. That’s why even the 80% don’t and won’t get interviews for positions.

In other words, a good recruiter might see a candidate with seven out of ten skills and be able to advocate for them by explaining why the missing three can be learned or are less critical.

You must connect the dots.

As a job seeker, you must present a no-brainer case for your hiring. You’ll need a few stories to tie what you can deliver to their needs. If they have to do the thinking for you, don’t expect to get hired. In other words, a good recruiter might see a candidate with seven out of ten skills and be able to advocate for them by explaining why the missing three can be learned or are less critical.

If your skills aren’t creating demand for you to find work…

There comes a time when you’ll need to create demand for your work. If what you do is so unique in quality or quantity, then create an ecosystem around the results, sharing how people benefit and how it aligns with their work. I must add that creating demand isn’t the only thing to do. You also create demand through conversations. I told Fast Company, “Get to know those professionals whose career paths you want to emulate and get to know their work deeply.”

Notice that I didn’t mention expanding your network. Instead, let your network lead you to your next contacts. It’s easier than meeting new people without the exhaustion.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Before You Apply for Unemployment and Social Security Benefits

Untangling Common Misconceptions About Benefits, Eligibility, and Strategies for Stability

When Woman’s World asked me to weigh in on the complexities of collecting Social Security (SS) and Unemployment Insurance (UI) simultaneously, I realized how many myths and outdated assumptions persist. Because the systems overlap in confusing ways — federal vs. state control, retirement vs. disability, work vs. health — many people end up leaving money on the table or feeling discouraged.

Here, I expand on the questions I addressed in the original article and provide additional insights that were not included in the print version.

Misconception #1: You can’t collect Social Security and Unemployment at the same time

This is one of the biggest myths — and it’s simply not true in most states.

How it really works: Social Security is federally administered, while the states administer unemployment benefits. That means you can receive both simultaneously, though the exact amounts vary.
Impact of other benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), pensions, or part-time work can all affect calculations differently. Age also plays a significant role in how much Social Security you’re entitled to.
What to do: Check both your Social Security statement and your state unemployment guidelines. Transparency is essential: disclose all sources of income and benefits to avoid clawbacks or overpayments later.

Misconception #2: Social Security never reduces unemployment checks

Another common misconception is that retirement benefits are entirely separate from unemployment benefits. That’s not always the case.

State variations: Some states apply a “Social Security offset.” For example, Illinois and Minnesota reduce unemployment by up to 50% if you’re also receiving Social Security. Most states, however, have eliminated the offset and won’t touch your unemployment check.
Why it matters: If you live in an offset state, your unemployment check could shrink — or even be eliminated — once Social Security is factored in.
What to do: Contact your state unemployment office directly. Ask specific questions about offsets and how they calculate benefits when Social Security is involved. Don’t assume; get it in writing if possible.

Misconception #3: You can collect SSDI and unemployment without conflict

This one causes the most confusion.

The contradiction: SSDI requires you to prove you cannot work due to disability. UI requires you to prove you can work and are actively seeking employment.
Result: Trying to claim both often leads to denial of one or both unless you have unusual circumstances (for example, you can work part-time in a limited capacity).
What to do: If you’re in this position, legal guidance is essential. An attorney specializing in disability and unemployment can help navigate appeals and exceptions.

Strategies for Financial Stability When Using Both Systems

If you need to rely on both Social Security and unemployment — or anticipate doing so in the future — here are steps to protect your financial stability:

Transparency first. Always disclose your benefits status to the unemployment office. Failure to do so risks repayment demands.
Document your job search. For UI, you must show active job-seeking efforts, even if your benefits are reduced.
Explore part-time work carefully. It can reduce both UI and SS payouts, but in some cases, limited earnings are worth the trade-off.
Seek legal or financial counsel. A professional can help navigate appeals or unusual benefit overlaps.
Plan for the long term. Social Security reserves are projected to pay only about 77% of benefits by 2034. Building other income streams, such as small businesses, freelance work, or investment income, will become increasingly important.

Gender Differences in How Benefits Play Out

Strategies may also differ between men and women:

Women are more likely to take time out of the workforce for caregiving, which reduces their Social Security contributions and eligibility for unemployment benefits. They also collect spousal or survivor benefits more often — and live longer, stretching their retirement dollars further.
Men traditionally work longer, earn higher wages, and may hold larger pensions, resulting in a different benefit structure.

Final Thought

The rules surrounding Social Security, SSDI, and unemployment are complex and vary from state to state. The best defense is staying informed, asking the right questions, and planning for the long term. Benefits can be a lifeline, but they rarely cover everything. Supplemental income, part-time work, or a small business can help fill the gaps and protect your future stability.