Ask anyone looking for work and they will concur, the current job market is tough! Few positions coupled with an abundance of job seekers inevitability means that some may find themselves unemployed or underemployed. Are you a recent graduate or soon to be graduate on the job hunt? Does the current job market have you dismayed about finding employment that will match your education and experience? If you answered "yes" to either of these questions, you might want to consider "giganomics" as a way to ride out the present conditions.

"Giganomics" is a concept that was birthed in response to a tight economy and labor market. Derived from the term "gig," giganomics speaks to the creation of employment through the piecing together of several "gigs." In less favorable economic climates job seekers will often encounter fewer full time job opportunities and more requests for part-time or contractual employees. Educational institutions have been known for stretching their staffing dollars in the past by hiring adjunct faculty and contractual limited-term researchers. Although it takes creativity, social science professionals may find a number of gigs that when woven together can pro-vide new professionals a variety of experiences. Additionally, giganomics can facilitate the marketing of oneself for future employment.

Possible Gigs

Training and experience in the family and social sciences is often interdisciplinary which can be beneficial when seeking out available gigs. Gigs can be found both within and outside academia and can include research, teaching, as well as clinical and applied opportunities depending upon your own training and expertise. Here are a few places that social science professionals may find gigs:

• Adjunct or part-time faculty teaching opportunities are available at most colleges and universities (be sure to look into departments to which you could contribute such as anthropology, human development, human services, sociology, social work, women's and gender studies, psychology, and education).
• With the growth of online degree programs, online instructors are often needed. These positions typically allow you to work remotely with minimal travel.
• Research institutions look for part-time or limited-term researchers to manage or assist grant projects and research activity sponsored by the university.
• University-sponsored academic/career/ counseling centers such as centers for career development, global education, service learning, teaching excellence, and counseling may seek individuals to run programming and provide supportive services to students.
• University-sponsored centers that conduct research or provide services to the community, such as a center for families, employ a wide range of staff depending upon their focus.
• Cooperative Extension offers a broad array of applied programming and services that puts research in the areas of human development, nutrition, family life, and education into practice. Cooperative Extension offices often seek agents and community personnel to develop and deliver such programming.
• Social/community service agencies seek professionals with the skills to effective work with individuals and families in a number of clinical and applied capacities in settings including schools, homes, and community clinics.
• Local and state governments typically have children, youth, and family offices as well as intervention services where a social science professional may lend their expertise in human development in such capacities as evaluators, grant writers, and directors.
• Local public school systems serve a wide range of children and thus are in need of professionals who can facilitate and execute these activities. These systems often seek professionals in the areas of family/ student support, curriculum, and disabilities. Substitute teaching is another gig here that may provide flexibility when creating a multidimensional career.
• Private and nonprofit organizations, which conduct research that informs education and services, can benefit from the research experience and interests of many social science professionals.

Benefits to Giganomics

Currently, it may be difficult to see a silver lining among the gray clouds surrounding today's job climate; however there are several benefits to using giganomics to meet your employment needs. Assembling several gigs together to complete your work picture will undoubtedly provide you with a variety of experiences. Since many of these positions are time limited they give you the opportunity to "try out" career possibilities and further identify what type of work best suits you. Additionally, employment in multiple gigs can potentially expose you to individuals who may seek employees in the future. In otherwise, giganomics can also serves as a means for marketing oneself and networking.

Although the current job market is not ideal, many students and new professionals have received broad training and education in the social sciences which can be transferrable to a number of employment sectors. Thinking "out of the box" and being creative can help you weather the storm.