Even as the country begins to open back up, and we emerge from shelter-in-place orders, the job market and economy could take a while to recover. Have you been searching for a job for weeks, even months? Are you starting to lose hope? Here are five tips to help you get through this time.

1. Don’t Give Up

The first thing you need to remember is to keep applying. You can’t get a job you don’t apply for so keep submitting your resume to any openings you are a good fit for. Don’t give up on your job hunt even if it’s getting difficult or taking longer than you thought. The right job is out there for you. You just have to be persistent and keep going.

Read More: Finding A Job In A Tough Job Market

2. Do Volunteer Work

Now is a great time to give back to the community by doing volunteer work. Use a service like VolunteerMatch to find opportunities in your community. This is also a great way to meet people and network. Not ready to leave your house? Consider volunteering for something like the Crisis Text Line where you can volunteer remotely. Not only is volunteering beneficial for the community, but it will give you something to add to your resume.

3. Consider Freelance or Gig Work

It may not be your first choice, but now could be a good time to try freelancing. A lot of companies want to hire part-time, temporary, or contract workers during this time of uncertainty. Drivers for services like UberEats, DoorDash, and GrubHub as well as shoppers for services like Instacart and Shipt have been in high demand.

4. Learn New Skills 

Right now is a great time to work on your skills. Consider taking a free course from places like EdX or Coursera or look up tutorials on YouTube to learn how to do things specific to your industry. As you browse through job postings, keep a list of any preferred skills that you either don’t have yet or could use some brushing up on. Use this extra time to sharpen any skills that may help you to get a job.

5. Work With a Staffing Agency

It’s best to work with the professionals. With a staffing agency like firstPRO, you can rely on professional recruiters to help you find the perfect position for you. Show initiative, and let them know you are serious about your job hunt. The next time they hear about a position you would be a good fit for, your resume will be fresh on their mind.