Landing a part-time job

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- There are over 11 and a half million people looking for jobs. And almost 8 million people have settled for a part-time job, simply because they couldn't find a full-time position.

If you're unemployed, should you consider getting a part-time job?

1. Alternatives to full-time work

Anecdotally we've been hearing that more and more employers are more likely to offer part-time or telecommuting positions because it reduces their own costs - The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't keep track of this data. And people who want to work are finding part-time jobs as a solution.

Sara Sutton Fell, CEO of Flexjobs.com says that job seekers who may not have explored telecommuting and work-from-home opportunities are starting to do that now.

A part-time job can be a good way for someone to supplement their income and make professional contacts.

2. Know who's hiring

There are companies that are hiring part-time workers right now.

Let's take a look at some of them: Kaplan test prep...you know those guys, they help prepare students for tests like the SAT, the GMAT, the GREs...they plan on hiring two to three thousand instructors this year to teach classes.

There are requirements though - you must have scored well on the test you plan on teaching, and you have to be able to engage students.

The pay is pretty good - for starters, you can make $20-$25 an hour - but that varies widely. To apply, go to www.kaptest.com.

Aramark operates 10 staffing centers around the country. They recruit seasonal hourly employees to support various events. They plan on hiring about 500 positions for a rodeo show in Houston, Texas. They're also hiring part-time workers to staff stadiums for Major League baseball in cities like Atlanta, Boston, Baltimore and New York. To apply, just go to Aramark.com.

Fetch Pet Care - a professional pet sitting and dog walking service says it will hire 1,500 part-time professional pet sitters in 37 states. Jobs include giving private dog walks, doggie day care, yard cleanup, pet taxi and dog fitness. Pet sitters should be over 21 years old. Go to Fetchpetcare.com for more info.

3. Making part time into full time

In this kind of job market, it's just not that easy to land a full-time job. But getting a part-time job can be a first step to getting in the door.

Getting a part-time job isn't just about making that position into a full-time job. It lets you make contacts and advertises your skills for a full-time job in another company or field.

A word of advice - devote as much attention to your part-time gig as you would a regular 9-5 job.