Is a Job Search Worth Spending Money On?

Is it worthwhile spending money to improve your job search?

If you don’t have a job, and don’t have much money, spending money to improve your chances of getting a job is seen as a risky move.

On the other hand, not having a job means you aren’t making money. And, every day without a job, you are eating into your savings a bit more to cover essential expenses like food and housing. Unless you are staying with your parents, and they pay for everything. In which case your parents are bearing the cost.

To put it another way, there is also a cost to not improving your chances of getting a job.

The Potential Return on Investment

Let’s say, that if you don’t spend anything in your job search or to help you improve your chance of getting a job, that it will take you 300 days to finally land a job.

On the other hand, let’s say you decide to spend $100 on books, short courses, and attending events where you can network, and estimate that this will help you get a job 20 days faster. Its probable that your living expenses over those 20 days will be more than $100, possibly a lot more.

And maybe that investment will help you get the job 250 days faster. In which case its just made you a lot of money!

So, if you really want to get a sustainability job, but you aren’t willing to spend anything to help you improve your chances of getting a job… well to my view that’s a false economy. Better to take some calculated risks, rather than do nothing.

What do you think? Is investing in job search worth spending? Leave a comment below.

Read also: How to Get into Sustainability Careers: 7 Careers to Start Your Journey