Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

Alternative Careers in these uncertain times

Fil-Am Ryan Guanngga knows how to pump up a crowd. Guangga works as a DJ three times a week at a Hollywood nightclub. He used to DJ for the sheer enjoyment but now it’s become a way to make extra needed money.

"It used to be my getaway," he said. "But now, it’s pretty much a job."

The 26-year-old was laid off after nine-years working at Wells Fargo as a Customer Service Manager. Now, he has to supplement that lost income with DJing three nights a week, freelance graphic design work and collecting unemployment checks.

The extra work and unemployment check, however, is still not comparable to what he was earning at the bank, he said.

"I’m barely hanging in there," he said.

As the recession continues to deepen in the US, more and more Filipinos are looking into different careers and jobs to make ends meat.

According to the Associated Press, employers have cut 5.1 million jobs since the recession began, including 663,000 last month alone nationwide.

A survey by job placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas this year found 71 percent of companies polled had laid off some workers. More than a quarter had implemented pay freezes or cuts, according to the AP.

In Guanngga’s case, he tried looking for another job at a bank or a design company.

However, he found "that most banks are on hiring freezes due to all banks failing and as far as designing most jobs are contract work so there’s been nothing stable enough for me."

With the recession deepening, unemployed Fil-Ams like Guanngga and even those who have a stable job are seeking ways to make extra money.

Some are working as movie and TV extras as background artists; others are looking into nanny or babysitting positions; many are working from home as a medical coder.