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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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How Much Work is Too Much?

October 22nd 2007 15:46

I wrote about my job search earlier this semester and how I wound up with two jobs. Since these jobs are on-campus, they pay minimum wage. (Here, that's $5.85. Very sad).

This is enough to make my car payment and to pay the tuition that I put on my credit cards (To pay a little above the minimum payment on the cards, that is). However, it's not enough to do fun stuff that I want to do. Like visit friends in other states.

This is why I'm thinking about taking on a third job. Is this too much? The on-campus jobs only amount to 19 hours a week. I have it planned out, if I did get a third job at the mall (or other retail place for seasonal work) I could work these hours:

Mon: 4-8, Tues: 3-8, Fri: 4-9.

The rest of the times are either already taken with work or classes. Except Sunday which I have decided will be my one day off. (Plus, that's football day. I promise it is extremely necessary to watch 12 straight hours of football).

If I have one full day off, that means it's not too much right? I did write about a few friends here that work fulltime while being fulltime students. If they can do that, I can definitely do this.

Later today I'm starting my search!

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Posted By: Ashley - Category: 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.

Related Posts:
Why It Pays to be a Good Worker
Finding a Job

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Posted By: Ashley - Category: college life, working

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Dress Nice for Interviews People!

September 13th 2007 19:28

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I had an interview at 8am that morning. It was for one of the on-campus student jobs in the library. Apparently some people think you don't need to dress up for certain interviews!

Now, I'm not saying I wore a suit or anything (I don't even own one!!) but I had a nice sweater on with gauchos and close-toed shoes. The guy I watched walk in after me was wearing gym shoes, jeans and a regular old t-shirt. Is this serious? While I don't know if he still was offered a job or not, I think it's silly. Wouldn't you want to look somewhat decent when going to a job interview, so that maybe they would think you were serious about getting a job there?

Maybe the reasoning was it's just a student job on a college campus. I can somewhat understand this excuse, since the dress code for working is basically jeans and a reasonable t-shirt. However, it is still an interview!

Promise me you won't look sloppy when you to go an interview, no matter where it's for. The last job I worked at, we even noticed how you looked when you came in to ask for an application! Look presentable when you want a job. Please.

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Posted By: Ashley - Category: working

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Job Search Update

September 12th 2007 15:29

I thought I would update everyone on how my job search is going. You probably remember that the ideal situation was to get an on-campus job because it wouldn’t require me to drive anywhere, and therefore none of my money was going to buy gas. Well, I did it!

It actually took me three weeks since I moved back into my dorm to land a job. It also helped that one of the few people I’ve met on this campus works in the same department and talked to the supervisor there! Oh, the power of networking!

I will be working in the Public Safety department. Apparently it’s similar to what I’ve done in retail (read: dealing with angry people who don’t have any clue what they’re talking about). Haha! I start tomorrow!

What’s even better, I got a call yesterday from the library about a job too! (Things always seem to happen in clusters). I had an interview this morning at 8am. It would be nice to have two on-campus jobs. The first one is only going to be for 3 hours a week on Thursdays, so I’ll have time for a second one. Plus, I’m an English major so working in the library is right up my alley!

Were any of you looking for on-campus jobs? If so, my advice is don’t give up. I applied for so many on-campus jobs through the online application, I even went to the on-campus job fair, and only now have I finally gotten a job.

Happy job hunting!

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Posted By: Ashley - Category: working

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Job Search

August 9th 2007 13:06

I thought I would add to the On-Campus Job post to give ideas for other jobs one could do if the on-campus thing doesn’t work out. My own job search is not going so well thus far, which is why I am making another list of ideas. I applied to two jobs on campus already; one position was “withdrawn” (their words) and the other said I was not hired. Today I applied to one in Traffic and Parking services, so we’ll see how this one works out.

If an on-campus job doesn’t pan out, I’m going to have to look at my other options. Those would be

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Posted By: Ashley - Category: working

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