Ways to Learn New Work Skills While Being a Single Dad

​Over the past 10 years, studies have shown that the number of single-father households in the United States has risen 62% (ABC News). Single dads are dealing with the pressure of finding balance between their home and work lives. This can lead to a lot of needless stress and juggling if they are leading a 9 to 5 life. If you think that you don’t have the time to learn new, marketable skills, think again. There are plenty of valuable trades you can learn without having to give up valuable time with your children.

Pick Up Home Improvement/DIY Skills

Whether you're interested in carpentry, landscaping, window cleaning, or even painting, these are skills you can practice and perfect right at home. Home improvement stores such as The Home Depot also offer free classes regularly. These classes provide hands-on training for just about any around-the-house project you could imagine, so consider signing up for a few of these. This could just be a fun hobby, but it could also help you save money on a handyman. It may even become a way to make money by doing odd jobs for others.

Become an HVAC/Refrigeration Specialist

By working as an HVAC and/or refrigeration specialist, you have the option to work as a contractor on your own time. You'll also enjoy significant job stability. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the job outlook for this position will grow 21% through 2022 – much faster than the average career. If this is a career option you're considering, hands-on training is highly suggested. Learn more about this career and how to get started at RefrigerationSchool.com.

Learn How to Code and Design Websites

These days, the demand for talented web designers is high. Any business that wants a chance to succeed needs a good website. Learning how to code and design websites will take some time, but you can often teach yourself all you need to know. There are plenty of free resources and online tutorials for learning in-demand languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Check out w3schools.com to get started.

Try Online Content Writing

Many businesses hire freelance writers to produce quality content for their websites and blogs regularly. This is done not only to engage customers, but also to reach potential clients and customers. If you're a decent writer, you could put this skill to use by picking up jobs as often or as little as you like, all while working from home. You can work while your children are sleeping or at school for some extra cash on the side. Or, you can really dive in and earn a living full-time. Learn about getting your foot in the door as a freelance writer at WikiHow.com.

These are just a few examples of useful skills you can pick up if you’re unemployed, or on the side without having to quit your current job in the process. By honing your talents in some of today's most in-demand fields, you can make yourself a more marketable employee. You may be able to even pick up additional work as a freelancer or contractor on the side. As a bonus, your kids will likely look up to you for wanting to better yourself.

Author Bio:

Monica Gomez is a freelance education, career, and work skills writer. She enjoys helping people advance their careers.