Getting a semi-decent job before school?

[TheAppleCore]

I am in all likelihood going to be attending four-year university in the fall of this year. However, in the mean time, I'd really like to be able to get a step up from my job, to have a little more cash to spare, maybe even *gasp* refrain from spending it hedonistically and save it for college-related expenses. Right now I just have a part time job at minimum wage, the hours are pretty low, and I barely earn enough to buy myself a pack of bubblegum every once in a blue moon. 8)

I called my sister's friend, whom I consider a fairly wise, experienced, and motivated member of society, and he told me that basically nobody will offer you anything decent if you're going to quit in a matter of months to go off to school. Is this true? If not, where would I even begin to look? The only "special" skill I have, that I'm thinking I may be able to try to market, is the ability to do some basic web coding with JavaScript and PHP and MySQL, etc. But I'm sure kids like me are a dime a dozen.

How does this crazy world work?!

 

[alasdairm]

put yourself in the shoes of a hiring manager. if you're hiring for a permanent position, you're not going to invest time and money finding, interviewing, hiring, orienting and training somebody only to see them walk out of the door four months later.

if you're looking for short-term work, you should look for a temporary contract. you could start with craigslist, dice.com or guru.com.

there are a million web resources for this kind of thing. a brief search on google should produce many relevant results.

alasdair

 

[jazz hands]

Why tell them you are only going to work for a number of months? Why not keep that to yourself (especially if you're unsure that you're even attending)? Do you have to move away for school, or could you feasibly still work the job while going to school?

 

[TheAppleCore]

if you're looking for short-term work, you should look for a temporary contract. you could start with craigslist, dice.com or guru.com.

Thanks for the links. Guru.com looks like it could be a valuable resource. Browsing the open projects, it looks like I would need to develop a more specific and focused skill set before applying for anything. I wonder what the best way of doing that would be? I had the idea that I could look at a project description, complete the project (or a mock version of it) on my own time, just for practice rather than pay. Rinse & repeat until I feel confident enough to actually make a real application. Does that sound about right?

Why tell them you are only going to work for a number of months? Why not keep that to yourself (especially if you're unsure that you're even attending)? Do you have to move away for school, or could you feasibly still work the job while going to school?

Good question. I can always just keep my mouth shut about it, can't I?

 

[alasdairm]

I had the idea that I could look at a project description, complete the project (or a mock version of it) on my own time, just for practice rather than pay. Rinse & repeat until I feel confident enough to actually make a real application. Does that sound about right?

while it sounds ok in theory, it may not work in practice. you're not going to have access to the level of detail (e.g. a functional spec.) you'll need to mock up a project. i think a better use of your time would be to fully specify your own mock project and create/code them from scratch. do you have any friends who need work web done? you could take on a friend's project for experience.

Good question. I can always just keep my mouth shut about it, can't I?

how would you feel about looking a potential employer in the eye and lying to him/her to get a job? doesn't seem like a very firm foundation for a first step towards a career, does it?

alasdair

 

[jazz hands]

^ It's February, and we're talking about something that may or may not happen in September. If he decides to go in the fall, he can tell his boss then. As of now, he's undecided and looking for a better job. I think it's pretty clear that you don't mention school in this case.

 

[alasdairm]

he's not undecided - he's going "in all likelihood".

you seem to value wisdom, experience and motivation, the applecore? thoughts?

alasdair

 

[TheAppleCore]

while it sounds ok in theory, it may not work in practice. you're not going to have access to the level of detail (e.g. a functional spec.) you'll need to mock up a project. i think a better use of your time would be to fully specify your own mock project and create/code them from scratch. do you have any friends who need work web done? you could take on a friend's project for experience.

Good suggestions. Thanks.

you seem to value wisdom, experience and motivation, the applecore? thoughts?

Well, I would imagine that everyone values these things. No matter where you want to go in life, wisdom, experience, and motivation will always accelerate your progress, will they not?

 

[alasdairm]

i meant, what are your thoughts on your decision to tell a prospective employer about school?

alasdair

 

[TheAppleCore]

^ I'm more inclined just to be honest. I'll see what I can do without having to resort to lying about my future plans, for starters. Try and get some temp contracts.

 

[addictivepersona]

I was in your situation a couple years ago, only when I was hired in March, I didn't know I was going to school in Aug/Sept.

Consider getting a job that will allow you to work full-time, but may not be specialized. I worked as a cleaner on the third shift, making $10.35 an hour for 30 hours a week, and had the option each week of working another 6. It was part-time (and minimum wage when you took away the night differential), but the hours were steady and allowed me to sock away my money (when it wasn't going up my nose 8)).

Not to mention, a job like cashiering, cleaning, etc--They're not a dime-a-dozen for full-time, but when you leave, they won't be devastated.