Well, after my PhD I did get a postdoc right away, but after that it took 6 months to get a job. In terms of creative stuff, start small I recommend: * Create

Well, after my PhD I did get a postdoc right away, but after that it took 6 months to get a job. In terms of creative stuff, start small I recommend: * Create a YouTube channel explaining some highly-technical stuff and promote it. If it's unique content, it will get hits. * Find some remote technical writing job, do it part time for some money * Tutor -- you can tutor 2-3 days per week and make enough to live As for some time without a salary, well, I got a job as a programmer, and saved up enough until I could quit. But that 6 months between postdoc and job was a harsh time in life indeed.