Can your work as an employee and then do work on the side as an independent contractor. But if you as an I c and your employer don't have any work can you claim unemployment

If you work independently you would have to check with the company policy. If you signed a no compete form then you definitely have to follow what it says. As far as unemployment it looks like different states have different policies. What is your state?

I live in Montana I didn't sign a no compete clause and my company doesn't care if I do small jobs