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Graduating Without a Full-time Job Lined Up

November 14th 2007 12:20

I don’t know how it usually works, but many of my friends graduated and then headed off to jobs they had lined up before they graduated. As of now, I won’t be doing this. So, what do I do?

If a full-time job at a library, or as a proofreader (the two jobs I’d like to do with an English degree) doesn’t appear by the time I’m done with school, I will be out of work completely. The on-campus jobs are done when I’m done with school. (I never actually found that third job I talked about).

Here are my options:

1) wait until a full-time job in a library or as a proofreader surfaces
2) take on a part-time job while looking for a full-time job I’d really want
3) take on any full-time job (hopefully with benefits)

I’m definitely not going with option one. That’s not at all practical because I have bills to pay (and I’ll have more to pay when I graduate). Surveys will not cover my cost of living.

If I did option two, it would be because after I found a full-time job I would like to do, it would be easier to work my part-time job around it (if I wanted to do the two job thing for a while) or easier to quit.

If I did option three, I’d most likely be there for a while. What if it was a job I didn’t really want to be doing? What if I found a job I liked better while already having a full-time job? Could I just quit right away, even if I had just started a month ago? Is that right? Maybe I just have too much sympathy for others because I feel like if I took just any old job I should stay there for a while. If I quit soon after they hired me they’d have to find someone else really quick. Maybe I shouldn’t worry about this? Do any of you?

My plan so far is to keep applying (I’ve applied to two library jobs in this area so far – and one job at a bookstore). When I graduate, I’ll go for the anything goes job. If it is part-time or full-time it won’t matter because I can only last about two months on my EF (I might actually be able to make it three months – but it would be close) so I'll need some kind of income.

The one thing I know I shouldn’t do? Panic. So I’m trying not to do that. Wish me luck.

Do any of you have experience with this situation? Any advice?

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Posted By: Ashley - Category: college life, working

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Being a Fulltime Student and Fulltime Employee

September 26th 2007 15:03

Yes, doing both school and work fulltime can be done. I would not recommend it by any stretch of the imagination, but it can definitely be done.

I have two friends here at school (same age as me) who are fulltime students, as well has carrying fulltime jobs.

However, there are two factors to take into account:

1) Neither of them have kids.
2) They have jobs that let them do homework when they are not busy.

When I was telling them how amazed I am at both of them for this feat, and I don’t know how they ever get anything else done, they both replied the same way: their jobs let them get homework done.

I know that I get lazy whenever I have to do class and work in the same day. Hardly any homework gets done, and I refuse to do dishes or laundry or anything else productive on those days. But those two ladies do classes, work, homework, and probably that other stuff all in one day, all the time.

Ways this is totally feasible if you’re not lazy like me:

1) Find a staff job at the school you would like to attend. This would also get you reduced tuition!
2) Find some place that is relatively quiet, like a bookstore. Bonus: cheaper textbooks!
3) If you have a 9-5 type job, take only night classes that are one day a week, and take four of them. The day you don’t have a class is your homework day.

The first two are similar to what the two ladies I know have done. (The one actually started as a student job, but she saw a staff job had opened up in the department she was working for). I also have met another lady who does have a kid, and I believe she works fulltime as well. She fits into the 2nd one, works at a relatively quiet place (dry cleaners).

As for that third option, I knew a girl who decided to take only night classes because she only wanted one class a day. (This was due to laziness). However, that third option will probably only work if you don’t have kids. If you do have kids, you wouldn’t ever see them using that third option.

Just a little inspiration for those who need their fulltime job, but maybe want to go back to school, and get it done quickly.

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