COBRA Clock Ticking?

Recently, a friend of mine came to the end of her 18-month COBRA benefits: A significant event that forced her to come face to face with the fact that she had still not landed a permanent gig that offered these precious, necessary commodities. Though many workers can lean on their spouse for coverage during times of unemployment, those of us who choose the benefits of singledom over a back-up medical plan, can be left taking whatever job necessary to ensure coverage. This approach; however, may land you in an unsatisfying job and leave you miserable for which you’re forced to use the benefits to cover extra visits to your Shrink.

Unfortunately, my friend had to rush to find and then take the first job just to stay covered. I was not a fan of this decision, and felt the decision was based on benefits rather than the right job. Nevertheless, I understood why she accepted the job. In her sprint to avoid a lapse in medical benefits, I began to consider what one may consider when the COBRA clock is ticking and you’re still searching. How can you stay true to your job search while having the security of medical coverage?

The best answer: Part-time work. Today, many companies offer part-timers benefits if they work just 20 hours a week. Getting a part-time job can not only provide you benefits, but by working the minimum hours to qualify for benefits, it frees up time to continue your search. And typically, employers are much more flexible with their part-time staff and provide a lot of leeway in setting your schedule.

If your COBRA clock is quickly coming to an end, you may want to check out these companies for part-time work. It’s important to note that many companies require a waiting period to join their group plans, so it’s wise to get in before your COBRA completely runs out. And of course, you never know who or what job it may lead to.

1) Starbucks
2) Whole Foods
3) Barnes & Noble
4) Lowe’s
5) Nike
6) Land’s End
7) Trader Joe’s
8) The Container Store