5 Ways to Make Money in the Middle of a Resume Gap

5 Ways to Make Money in the Middle of a Resume Gap5 Ways to Make Money in the Middle of a Resume Gap A resume gap might seem a bit scary to navigate, but it doesnt have to be. Whether you were already planning time off between jobs or lost your job due to an uncontrollable circumstance, there are ways to take control of the situation - and still earn money and valuable experience while searching for your next career opportunity.Here are five ways to make a resume gap work for you.Theres a freelance job for virtually every line of work copywriting, social media management, product design, graphic design - the list goes on. Search for freelance jobs relevant to your career field, and work on your own time.The good thing about freelance gigs is that, generally, theyre flexible. If youre busy applying for full-time jobs, freelance work gives you the freedom you need to attend interviews at all times of the day while still earning extra money .In todays digital world, its easier than ever to departure your own business. You can work as a consultant for another company or create your own consulting gig. This type of work exists in many different fields, and its important to pick a niche where you have deep knowledge and experience on a subject.While that path to becoming a consultant might differ depending on your field, its essential that you build your brand and start networking to be successful. Consulting can be a good option if your gap between jobs will be a prolonged period, such as a year or longer. This way, you have the right amount of time to build up a client base and obtain even more skills to list on your resume.Do you have a hobby or skill people would pay for ? Maybe you bake delicious cakes or are good at detailing cars. Armed with those skills, talk to friends and family, and start advertising your services.If people will pay for something you typically offer for free or do as a favor, hone in on that and market yourself as a legitimate business. Make some cheap business cards and get your name out thereThe infinitely growing gig economy is a great way to supplement your income, even if a task wont necessarily benefit your career. Look into pet sitting, ride sharing, delivering groceries or even renting out a spare room on Airbnb. Dont feel like leaving the house? No worries you can still make money from the comfort of your own home through methods like investing in real estate on the web, working as an online bookkeeper or selling old items you dont use anymore.If you think earning an income through the gig economy is right for you, keep up your professional life by going to networking events, volunteering or interning part-time. These events can still be listed on your resume while you earn an income with other jobs on the side.This might not make you much money right now, but learning something new you can put on a resume could mean more money in a future job. Maybe youre only somewhat familiar w ith CRMs- take a course and master Salesforce, and youll quickly become the go-to person in your next office.Better yet, learn some hypertext markup language or CSS coding from a free online resource . Or look into Coursera or Poynters News University , where you could earn certifications in fields such as marketing, journalism and online media.Ready to enter the workforce again? Here are a few helpful tipsfor mentioning a gap on your resume or in an interview.You dont have to be afraid of your resume gap. Leverage this time and use it to your advantage - learn relevant skills, get a certification in your field or explore new career opportunities. Good luckJacquelyn Pica is a writer at The Penny Hoarder . Find her on Twitter JacquelynTPH .