Part-Time/Summer Employment Options

[Saffy]

I feel a tad desperate posting this topic, but I'm hopeful some advice might be found.

For the past year I have taken a financially-difficult path in order to obtain relevant work experience. I have worked as an intern for nearly seven months and as a Teacher's Assistant for two semesters. Prior to that I had been looking for work, even a part-time job, with no success; though, I did have a few interviews with game companies. As it stands now, I have finished my Teacher's Assistant contract and am without a source of income. I am looking for a part- or full-time job to last me from May until September.

Thus far I have had no response. While this is only my third week of searching, I can't help being stressed due to my current financial situation. Padding my resume forced me to go with next to no income for a year. Quite simply, I need some sort of employment this month lest I run into serious problems.

Would anyone happen to have any advice for my situation? Is anyone having or has had a similar circumstance?

[IdlersDream]

There's not much advice to really give, I think a lot of people are in your situation, unfortunatley.
If you're just looking for any job to help you through the summer, I suggest trying at a grocery store or a big department store since they're usually hiring people all the time. Or if you're really desperate, maybe a McDonalds or Burger King, since they usually have teenagers that will quit after a week, they're always hiring.

I haven't gone through trying to find a job since I've only ever worked for one summer and that was thanks to my dad. I'll be working there again this summer {even though I reeeeeaaallly don't want to}, I'll be without my old b-tch manager, so that's great.

What do your parents do? Maybe they know of a job you could do, if that's possible.

I really hope you find something soon but there are soooo many other people doing the same thing you are. :(

[ZBoy]

I've also been looking for a job for the past few weeks, and yes it is very hard. I suggest you either try applying to the bigger stores that could easily use people, such as a department store or grocery store, apply to smaller businesses that could use the help (be careful with this though because you don't want to get by a small company that could easily go out of business), and then see if any friends or family could connect you to something at their work for at least the summer. Best of luck to you Saffaroo. ;)

[Guitar Smasher]

It might be a dinosaur-move, but if you absolutely need employment, indicate that you'd be able to stay on past August. You're in a tight position where you might be hired by a game company at any given time, or at least an employer may be concerned with this (seeing how you're a graduate). It takes a certain amount of investment in getting you trained, so the employer wants to be sure that it won't be wasted.

I can tell you from experience that when I hired university students after spring exams, I always checked whether they'd be around after the summer. Of course I wasn't the least bit surprised when some of them quit, that's just the nature of that situation.

Also, consider what type of industries you're looking in. Retail sales tend to go down a little after June, but tourism skyrockets.

[Saffy]

I am regularly told that I should be misleading about the length of my employment. I completely understand the concerns in hiring a university graduate, given they likely will not be around for long. While I'm not interested in being deceitful, there is the reality that it's something I might just have to do.

Come September I intend to either return to university or find a career-related job.

What exactly did you hire students for, Guitar Smasher?

I appreciate all of the employment suggestions. Tourism sounds great for a summer job.

[Guitar Smasher]

Customer service / sales jobs for a large department store.

[Oscar]

I'm in the same boat as you, Saffy. I've been looking at some places, haven't applied yet, I'm still waiting to finish school, but really just try a grocery or department store. One of those telemarketing or customer service places usually are hiring.

[General_Wolfy]

I've been looking for a summer job too, but my situation really isn't dire since I still live at home and have only average teenager expenses.

My cousin on the other hand, went through a very similar situation last year, and she got a job at Blockbuster (which she hated) for a couple of months in order to pay the bills until a real job came along.

[Lindstrom]

No problems here, a local college gave me a lab to perform studies on Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. I work when I want and how I want and I get free lunches too. Odds are I can keep using the lab well into the Fall and then some.

[Saffy]

I was a Research Assistant for my university during one summer and then throughout the following school year. I was offered a chance to come back, but the same funding was no longer available as I had graduated. I quite enjoyed the work, though I regret not getting more out of it. The money paid well all things considered.

[Celia]

I can't tell you how many times I was at a store and someone thought I worked there. Is that an insult?

[EBWonder]

I can't tell you how many times I was at a store and someone thought I worked there. Is that an insult?

LOL...I'm not going to mention the number of times I've been in Target and cutomers have come up and asked me questions.

in regards to a job, have you checked with your college career center. they usually have some advice or leads that can potetntially lead to something even if you are an alumni.