Trying to find work this summer - nightmare!

LittleSnowBear

I'm feeling to summer job situation myself, I have managed to get the odd few hours here and there but not even enough to pay the rent never mind eat.

I have been doing almost everything on the up you income forum here and managed to bring in a few extra pounds with mystery shopping etc.

I am classed as independant and have no chance of getting help from my parents (besides I think I'm old enough and daft enough to look after myself).

The universtiy are no help whatsoever, the summer fund goes only to lone parents, which they said it MIGHT be possible to get some but I'd have to wait until july to see if there is any left over. The university money helper place shut last week (so I guess that was just a fob off to get rid of me).

I have informed them that if I cannot pay my rent and survive over the summer I will not be able to return next year as I will have to quit my course and go on JSA till I can find a full time job. They said that there is nothing they can do, go get a job.

I got some leafleting work this week, I get paid for 25hrs, just enough to live on for one week, but this is a one off. My last option will be to talk to my landlord and defer payments till september, but this will still have to be paid and will leave me short next semester!

I am feeling your pain!

MarzipanFish

I've been applying to agencies all year and i've never got anything from them. I thought it would be too pushy to go & pester them but wish i had now and will do if i'm trying to use them again!

I eventually got a job cleaning the halls of residence ready for new freshers to move in. 30 hours a week for £200. Seemed so easy after all of the other job applications - every person that turned up to their meeting was given a job.
Hardly a glamourous job and i would rather have got one of the admin jobs i applied for, but i know that with only about 3 weeks office experience i'm not a strong candidate. I'm not one of those students thinking that having A levels puts most jobs below me.

good luck to everyone in the job hunting

LittleSnowBear

Every job I apply for they basicly say I don't have enough experience to pick my own nose! :mad:

Fire_Fox

LittleSnowBear wrote: »

Every job I apply for they basicly say I don't have enough experience to pick my own nose! :mad:

Then you aren't communicating your transferable skills very well. University has helped you demonstrate the ability to work on your own initiative, as part of a team, computer skills, effective written and verbal communication, listening skills .... loads more depending upon your subject area.

MissPop

MarzipanFish wrote: »

I've been applying to agencies all year and i've never got anything from them. I thought it would be too pushy to go & pester them but wish i had now and will do if i'm trying to use them again!

I eventually got a job cleaning the halls of residence ready for new freshers to move in. 30 hours a week for £200. Seemed so easy after all of the other job applications - every person that turned up to their meeting was given a job.
Hardly a glamourous job and i would rather have got one of the admin jobs i applied for, but i know that with only about 3 weeks office experience i'm not a strong candidate. I'm not one of those students thinking that having A levels puts most jobs below me.

good luck to everyone in the job hunting

Can I ask how you got the job cleaning halls? And do you suppose unis will still need people now/in September? I could really do with some money to tide me over for the summer/to help with some uni fees I will need to pay weeks before I get my loan through!

I must admit, I've very lucky in that I am living at home before I start uni, and I am awaiting my EMA bonus which should tide me over for a couple of months, so I'm in a more fortunate position than it seems many of you are! I hope you all find something to keep you all going!

MissPop

Oh, and a potentially great summer job for those of you with a high WPM rate: http://takenotetyping.com/jobs2007.asp

I have a friend who does it in the evenings and he seems to be doing OK with it. Personally, my WPM rate just isn't good enough to do typing work really, which is a shame.

tinkerbel

I've been struggling with this too!! I've ended up with some work through an agency (literaly, factory work - no experience needed and nothing at all glamorous!!) for NMW but right now, its a job, and its money. I've just done 3 full weeks and I hope that it continues but all the temps are worried and I am one of only about 10 left from loads as they were laid off last week.
I know agencies are fickle and hard to deal with and the work isnt perfect but hey.
I also have a new job for sundays at a touristy childrens place, I would love something better and more secure than the agency so I'm hoping I can work here for more hours when its school holidays but you never know! I've send off loads of applications, including one this week so fingers crossed!

fizzle2006

Just received a call today following an interview I had on Thursday and i've got the job. So pleased! its just 2 days a week, but its permanent (hopefully for a good while yet anyway lol) and should give me some extra cash just now and for when I get back to Uni. I'm so happy and hopefully I can still maybe take on some weekday work while i'm on holiday aswell

MarzipanFish

MissPop wrote: »

Can I ask how you got the job cleaning halls? And do you suppose unis will still need people now/in September? I could really do with some money to tide me over for the summer/to help with some uni fees I will need to pay weeks before I get my loan through!

I must admit, I've very lucky in that I am living at home before I start uni, and I am awaiting my EMA bonus which should tide me over for a couple of months, so I'm in a more fortunate position than it seems many of you are! I hope you all find something to keep you all going!

It was advertised on the university's job page but it was quite a while ago, they recruited a couple of months in advance. You could try emailing the accommodation people at whatever uni you're near to to see if they want more people/ if people have dropped off (might not be too late, the work here only starts on monday for most of us).

CarolynH

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

It's doable, just takes some searching...I'm in America (Nashville, TN) at the moment on a student summer visa and the place I am currently working, despite being desperate for staff, hasn't actually advertised anywhere (to my knowledge...certainly not shop windows, etc). I only found out through pure luck (happened to mention to the guy at the till that I was looking for work). It's not great ($7.50 per hour, apparently...have yet to get paid), but it's work...also have an interview for another place tomorrow for a potentially excellent job, again, not advertised - not even on the company's website (it's a well iknown venue in Nashville).

You just have to get out there and pound the streets and ask. Go in positive and upbeat, be friendly and explain that you're a student after some summer work - a lot of touristy places will be hiring extra help for the summer, for example.

I'm incredibly jealous - I spend the Summer between high school and uni working in Nashville (or Technically Brentwood) and have been desperate to go back ever since! Have a ball hun.