Recruiter's advice to professionals who've been job searching for a while: 'Be really, really open to...'

A freelance opportunity can also be an ego-boost while hunting for a permanent job, the expert said. (Representational image)

Globally, 2024 has not been an easy year for jobseekers as the hiring rate plummeted since the pandemic. Professionals in the US have had to wait for more than seven months to secure a job, CNBC Make It reported. Amid this, Emily Levine, executive vice president at recruitment firm Career Group Companies in Los Angeles, has offered a piece of advice to jobseekers: “be really, really open to freelance and contract positions."

Levine stressed that there are many advantages of taking on a temporary role in the current job market. Speaking to the publication, she said that it’s a way of earning money as you continue to look for a job and is also a great way of opening up opportunities for full-time work. Moreover, since searching for a job can be a blow to the ego, freelancing can be a way of “keeping your self-esteem high".

“More and more often I’m seeing these roles convert to permanent,” Levine told CNBC Make It. “You’re able to bypass a competitive interview process, and you’re able to get in there right away and show them what you can do.” She added that she has been witnessing these results “in finance, creative, entertainment, marketing, real estate, all over the place.”

The recruiter also recommends amping up your resume to highlight that you are available to take up freelance or contractual roles. “Put an end date for your most recent role to show that you’re available to take a contract role,” Levine said. “You can even put at the top of your resume ‘open to new opportunities’” and search for opportunities in multiple places. Make the most of the resources available on LinkedIn and Indeed, and contact hiring agencies to let them know you’re interested.