NationStates Jolt Archive

Bit of a pickle here.

I have 2 months of summer left and I need a job. 3 weeks of which I cannot work because I'll be taking my clinical rotation and will be just too busy in all likelihood (not to mention that I'll be around biohazards all day).

As you can see this will lead to problems when I go looking for unemployment (and it has already since an old employer won't take me back) because they'd like me to be around a bit longer than that.

What I need are ideas for work that will bring in money despite my shitty schedule so I have the cash next year when I start school away from home.

Working at home is a good (and probably the best) idea but I need suggestions on what to do and where to go since I know nothing about work-at-home jobs.

(just so you all know I am Canadian just in case that has an effect on what you suggest, like if the job is for American residents only)

I spent a summer selling Kirbys ....

Those are big, heavy vacuum cleaners ... door to door ... in Houston summer. I also did a summer as an apprentice roofer (that means I'm the guy who sorted shingles) ... in Houston summer.

Whatever you do, I don't advise either.

Find a nice air-conditioned place.

Do you have a car? Deliver pizzas for a non-chain.
Most of the time, you get minimum plus tips, but you're off the books (no taxes) and the hours are flexible. You get to meet people, make some dough, get a free meal (probably), and have a little fun doing it.

I'd like a summer job as CEO of Disney. Just for 2 months. Then I can retire.

I'd like a summer job as CEO of Disney. Just for 2 months. Then I can retire.

I'd prefer being a servant at the Playboy Mansion, too, but hey...

Do you have a car? Deliver pizzas for a non-chain.
Most of the time, you get minimum plus tips, but you're off the books (no taxes) and the hours are flexible. You get to meet people, make some dough, get a free meal (probably), and have a little fun doing it.


Now that's a good suggestion! Though I'll add to it that you should save about $100 a month just for vehicle expenses. Pizza delivery is hard on a car.

Okay #1 thing to do if you are looking for a work at home job is to go to companies and ask them if they have positions open with that type of ability. I would say most if not all work at home job advertisements in newspapers and that are online are scams. I suggest trying to figure out what type of work you are interested in doing and researching companies that would be able to allow you to do it at home. Ask questions about the pay, hours, materials, etc.

Now that's a good suggestion! Though I'll add to it that you should save about $100 a month just for vehicle expenses. Pizza delivery is hard on a car.

I did it for four years. It wasn't bad, since we only had a 3 mile radius, it wasn't in a city, and as I had a 1979 Chevy Malibu (AM/8 track! Yeah!!) I could fit up to 6 orders at a time, if they lined up right on the map. ;)

BABYSITTING! No, seriously, you can make serious dough ($10-$20 an hour based on age, gender, location, and if you have taken a Red Cross babysitting course or something of the like.)

I did it for four years. It wasn't bad, since we only had a 3 mile radius, it wasn't in a city, and as I had a 1979 Chevy Malibu (AM/8 track! Yeah!!) I could fit up to 6 orders at a time, if they lined up right on the map. ;)

Ahaha ... fun. You got lucky. I killed a 92 Chevy S-10 *and* an 88 Hyundai Excel delivering pizzas in west Houston. To be fair, the S-10 lasted longer ... I miss that truck. It was a hoss.

I could always use a good lackey who'll work for peanuts and dried bread. :)

I'd prefer being a servant at the Playboy Mansion, too, but hey...


Oh... were you suggesting that Disney wouldn't hire me for 2 mos. as CEO?

hmmm... I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up! (Well, I'll never grow up). Imagine 7 yrs of college (econ.), had to quit because of a series of heath problems. I try to go back and they added a ton of extra classes that weren't there before, in order to get my degree. And I don't want a job in econ anymore. I just wanted the degree.

Everyone says I was a born entrepreneur... I NEED INVESTMENT CAPITAL! For my next greatest idea!

I came up with an idea, at least 12 years before it hit the market: multi sized tampons in one box, instead of buying 4 boxes. Sure as shit, they have it out now. THAT pisses me off... Sorry, I'm going off on a tangent ... the "what am I going to do with my life" tangent. Ugh... I'm too old for this.

No CEO of Disney? Back to the drawing board... :rolleyes:

Okay #1 thing to do if you are looking for a work at home job is to go to companies and ask them if they have positions open with that type of ability. I would say most if not all work at home job advertisements in newspapers and that are online are scams. I suggest trying to figure out what type of work you are interested in doing and researching companies that would be able to allow you to do it at home. Ask questions about the pay, hours, materials, etc.

What do you suggest for someone who likes to write? Newspaper article writer? I wonder how I would get into that.

What do you suggest for someone who likes to write? Newspaper article writer? I wonder how I would get into that.

Well ... (and, yes, I am speaking from experience here, I promise) ... mostly you have to apply. It would help if you've got samples of your writing and a good portfolio. Like anything involving the arts, you have to really kick in some doors to get in there.

Otherwise, try submitting some articles to somethingawful.com or some other site that may fit your style. Get your name out there.

I don't know if you could do it in a single summer, but if you want to be a writer, there is a career in it.

While this isn't something you can do this summer because of your shitty schedule and the fact that its way to late to sign up, maybe you should think about it for next summer or over weekends from january to may, is joining the army reserve. I'm spending my summer at ATC Meaford and CFB Petawawa, its fairly good pay and according to the recruiters and my brother's friend who also did it, you get weekends off as well. I'm doing the summer BMQ/SQ course, so if you aren't booked for next summer, and need like $5500 and a fun summer you should try for that. The babysitting suggestion probably isn't that bad, I know a bunch of people who get like 10 or 15 bucks an hour doing it, but you wouldn't have a definate schedule or stable hours. Golf courses give decent pay, though I don't know how many hours you could get.

In which area are you?
Canada is a large country.

True, it is pretty big...southern Ontario, I'm with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, 31 combat brigade group.

True, it is pretty big...southern Ontario, I'm with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, 31 combat brigade group.
Do you happen to be bilingual or at least knowledgeable in French? And do you have a good writing style?
If so, try to find contracts in French->English translation. It's a HUGE market in Canada.
If you're interested, I will post a few links to get in touch with the marketplace.
It's freelance work.

Otherwise, being a guide in a federal or provincial park can be fun and good for the health. But I don't know if it could be compatible with your schedule.

While this isn't something you can do this summer because of your shitty schedule and the fact that its way to late to sign up, maybe you should think about it for next summer or over weekends from january to may, is joining the army reserve. I'm spending my summer at ATC Meaford and CFB Petawawa, its fairly good pay and according to the recruiters and my brother's friend who also did it, you get weekends off as well. I'm doing the summer BMQ/SQ course, so if you aren't booked for next summer, and need like $5500 and a fun summer you should try for that. The babysitting suggestion probably isn't that bad, I know a bunch of people who get like 10 or 15 bucks an hour doing it, but you wouldn't have a definate schedule or stable hours. Golf courses give decent pay, though I don't know how many hours you could get.

Funny you should mention this because when I was working at McDonalds last year (my old employer) one of the kids there was signing up to the military (he be having arctic training someday. Brrrrrr! I can't even stand shovelling the driveway!).

Anyway a discussion showed how much better the pay was. If I had known I would have likely signed up. Something tells me I would have fit in well.

EDIT

Next summer could be a possibility. Being a phlebotomist by next summer is also a possibility since I'll be qualified by then.

If push comes to shove I may have to work while studying but I'm sure as Hell going to keep from doing that.

In which area are you?
Canada is a large country.

Nova Scotia. Near Halifax (should be in my profile to the left of this post.)

EDIT

LOL. Nope I changed it long ago. Ah well. Still Halifax.

Do you happen to be bilingual or at least knowledgeable in French? And do you have a good writing style?
If so, try to find contracts in French->English translation. It's a HUGE market in Canada.
If you're interested, I will post a few links to get in touch with the marketplace.
It's freelance work.

Otherwise, being a guide in a federal or provincial park can be fun and good for the health. But I don't know if it could be compatible with your schedule.

No but I was very good at it in school (should have taken the high school courses but that's childhood stupidity for you. I was really good.).

I would love to improve my french. And I have dictionaries to help me out when I need it (grammar shoulodnt be a problem).

Besides French -> English would be a LOT better for me than English -> French.

Think I should bother?

Post the links if you think I should.

No but I was very good at it in school (should have taken the high school courses but that's childhood stupidity for you. I was really good.).

I would love to improve my french. And I have dictionaries to help me out when I need it (grammar shoulodnt be a problem).
You could give it a try, but I'm really not sure you'd have a sufficient level.

Besides French -> English would be a LOT better for me than English -> French.
Professional translators always translate TO their native language.

Think I should bother?
Hmmm I'd say no, but... you could consider the option.

Post the links if you think I should.
Start with http://www.proz.com/
Try to answer to a few "free" question in the Kudoz section, to see if you're comfortable.

(I hope this won't be considered advertising...)

While this isn't something you can do this summer because of your shitty schedule and the fact that its way to late to sign up, maybe you should think about it for next summer or over weekends from january to may, is joining the army reserve. I'm spending my summer at ATC Meaford and CFB Petawawa, its fairly good pay and according to the recruiters and my brother's friend who also did it, you get weekends off as well. I'm doing the summer BMQ/SQ course, so if you aren't booked for next summer, and need like $5500 and a fun summer you should try for that. The babysitting suggestion probably isn't that bad, I know a bunch of people who get like 10 or 15 bucks an hour doing it, but you wouldn't have a definate schedule or stable hours. Golf courses give decent pay, though I don't know how many hours you could get.

That, and unlike the American army reserve, you won't be going to Iraq.

That, and unlike the American army reserve, you won't be going to Iraq.

True. But maybe Afghanistan.

Have you considered self-employment?

Lawn mowing, painting, odd jobs. Run an ad in the local paper, hang ads in public places.

Painting is a low-skill lucrative job. I don't diminish the skill of professional painters, but much of that skill translates into speed of work. If you're inexperienced it will take you longer to do the work but quality won't suffer if you care about your work.

Your investment in tools and equipment is low if you stick to interior work or small exterior jobs.

Mow lawns. Take care of people's pets while they are on vacation. Paint houses. That way you can pick and choose your hours and days you work.