Jimellow

Lately, the place I'm working at (produce in a grocery store), is cutting hours, and thus I may need to start looking elsewhere for a job.

I'm currently going to college and will generally be looking for a part-time job (20 hours a week approx.) and was curious if any of you TFP'ers had experiences or recommendations regarding good places to work during college, or just good jobs in general?

By good job, I don't necessarily mean pay, because realistically, entry-level/part time jobs don't pay well. Instead, I mean "good" in that it's a job that is somewhat enjoyable, with time going by reasonably fast, and the working environment also being enjoyable.

Obviously, you and I likely live in different places, therefore I'm just looking for general suggestions.. IE, working at a video store sucks.. Being a bus boy at a restaurant doesn't.. Things like that. Just some general recommendations or suggestions that might help steer where I apply at.

As I said above, I've been working at a grocery store for over four years now (through college), and I might like to try something else.. Depending on what kind of job I can get around here, I may work the two days a week at the store, and pick up another job for weekends.. Anyway, I would greatly appreciate any sort of feedback relating to good (or bad) jobs for a college student looking to get 15-20 hours a week. Not a career, just something to do while I finish up school..

Thanks!

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Charlatan

I had a lot of part-time jobs in my day... the best one was working for Repertory Cinema (second run art house cinema)... All the popcorn you can eat and free movies on your days off. The hours are not too bad and it is only busy between films.

I also liked working for the campus store. It was convenient to get to and was no more or less annoying than any other retail experience.

I didn't like being a waiter... not in my personality... but I had some friends who like working at the campus pub or other local pubs... the tips were nice.

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boom29

I would recommend getting a job on campus. Whether it is at the campus library(ies), student store, mail clerk in the residence halls, etc. Plus, campus jobs usually pay better than a similar job on the outside. Another benefit is that many of the campus jobs are designed for students to work part-time, giving you lots of flexibility. Since the employers know that you go attend the school, you'll be able to arrange your work schedule to that it doesn't interfere with your classes.

Psycho Dad

I'd suspect that telemarketer jobs may have hit the skids since the advent of the "Do not call" lists. But if not I'd think that a right spiffy job for a student.

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ngdawg

If you're getting any financial aid at all, you can apply for a workstudy grant and work on campus as an employee of the college.

maleficent

Back in my college days, UPS was the job of choice for college students. Mostly it was working in the warehouse, loading trucks and such. They had flexible hours, great pay, and you got a good workout.

My favorite job was bartending.. Did that for 3 years in college and had a blast, it wasn't a high end bar, more of a local watering hole that didn't do fancy drinks. It was called Margaritaville and we had margaritas on tap and beer -- that was pretty much it. Tips were great and on slower nights, I could get some reading done.

Workstudy job that I had for one semester was working in the cafeteria-- it sucked the big one--it was truly the most disgusting job I have ever held having to clean up trays deposited.

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Jimellow

Thanks for the replies..

I'd rather not work at college, as I commute 30 miles there, and there are places closer than that around here in the city.. Also, the college I'm going to doesn't schedule well around classes, etc. from what I gather, so it's not really an option for those that live off campus unless they intend to drive there multiple times a day..

UPS is intriguing to me.. I checked their website and it says they have part time openings for Package Handlers in my area... Something I could see myself doing for 4-5 hours a night during the week.

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

__________________
Desperation is no excuse for lowering one's standards.

la petite moi

Starbucks! I work there, and it's fun to relate with the customers, most of the time. Starbucks has very high standards, pays a little over minimum wage (at least where I am), and offers benefits for part-time employees (if you work 20+ hours on average in three months). Also, you get a free pound of coffee or tea, and 30% discounts on everything in the store.

Temporary_User

la petite moi, I can make coffee with my machine @ home...
what is all required knowledge for working @ starbucks?

la petite moi

You have to have very good social skills (we stress legendary service though not everyone lives up to this requirement), you have to learn drink formulas for hot beverages as well as the cold beverages, you have to learn the pastry names. Also, you should learn about tea and coffee flavours, which are the most liked, as well as recommendations for customers. You should know about retail products too (espresso machines, coffee grinders, coffee cups, etc.). You have to learn correct ratio of coffee to water (make sure you grind the right amount of coffee for a 1/2 batch, whole batch, etc). Making some drip coffee at home is a bit different from what Starbucks does (for example, we have big brewers). Also, we make sure we keep things very clean, so we sanitise a lot.

It's not too strenuous, but you gotta remember lots of things, and it can seem a little overwhelming in the beginning.

streak_56

depends where you live, I can hook you up with a great job that I have now with a marketing company... you make 14.85 and whether or not your comission is higher... you make that too... and you start out with a comission of 10% but it can go as high as 50% depending on how much you sell. Along with other perks of the job... message me if you are interested... I can't say the name of the company publically because they prefer to be very private... along with what they sell. Just message me and I'll try to hook you up with a office in your area.

cj2112

sounds like a multi level marketing job(Amway is a well known MLM company) to me....give us 150 bucks for your kit, and then we'll tell you what you have to sell

Cycler

Have you looked around at your campus facilities to see if they are hiring in their trades departments? I worked in custodial, electrical, and pumbing departments as an assistant to the licensed guys (electrical and plumbing). Lot of fun good bunch of guys.

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la petite moi

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Not a very good idea for a student. (I know, because I tried, and it was basically a scam of my money and time.)

Manic_Skafe

Your local Barnes & Noble is a great place to work.

I've been working at a B&N in an area not too far from my home since August and other than a few factors that are due to the area that I work in - it's a great place to work. There's a nice 30% discount on books, 20% on music and DVDs, and 50% on the B&N Cafes (which are Starbucks with a different name). You get to borrow hardcover books from the store free of charge, the benefits are good, there's a 401k plan, and most places around here hire at least 4 or so dollars above minimum wage. You also get discounts at the several chains of stores that are owned by B&N as well as the website.

They're just a good company that knows that the books sell themselves so there isn't too much pressure on you. They do their best to keep morale at a high, and as a company - they listen to you and treat you like a person. As with any job it can be a bit montonous and frustrating but the benefits outwheigh anything bad you'll have to deal with. Also, as a student in college, to have a discount on books is probably one of the smartest moves you can make for yourself - not that I do it, but imagine borrowing all the books you need for school and never shelling out a dime on them....

And I'll have to agree with La Petite Moi - Starbucks and the B&N cafes might not be the same companies but they do the same exact job and it's hard to be the positive atmosphere in retail when you're dealing with or working in either place.

Best of luck.

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keeb

I currently work at Best Buy, i have been there for only a couple months but i asolutely love it. work as a customer specialist so im on the floor working with thte customers helping them find movies, cds and video games. Pay is great and most of the time the other people that work there are really cool.

joemc91

The best part time jobs I have had are on campus. If you have good computer skills, the IT department almost always hires students (non-workstudy too) to help out. I know someone else mentioned it, but the campus library is a great place to work. During slow parts of the day such as morning, you can get quite a bit of homework done. If you live on the east coast, I've been told Eastern Mountain Sports is a great place to work too. Good luck finding one you enjoy though!

Carno

Coincidentally, I applied for a job at UPS a few days ago. They called the day after I submitted my application and wanted to know if I could come in sooner than what the appointment time listed online was.

I'm going in to meet the manager tonight and to see what my job would be if I were hired. From the looks of it, it would be an awesome job. Just sorting packages several evenings per week. And you get your weekends free.

kutulu

Deliver pizza. Easy job, short hours, great money. The least amount of money I'd make would be about $10/hour plus min wage ($5.50?) but at times I'd make $30 an hour total.

I have a friend who sorted packages at UPS. The managment were Nazis about mis-sorts.

Carno

Well, considering that UPS' entire reason for being is to get packages where they are supposed to go, I'd say that's understandable and necessary.

I hope your friend wasn't surprised or put off by that.

Trickbe

Get work in your field of study. If you are studying architecture, get a job as a runner at a local firm. If you are studying art, get a job as a shipping clerk at a local gallery. If you are studying philosophy or poli sci, well, you're screwed anyway and obviously not serious about a job. (that was funny)

kel

pornstar, seriously. Start your own website, mardi gras, parties etc.

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Thome

Telemarketing and stuff pays a lot, requires no experience or qualifications, is trained on site and payed for, but is a terrible job.

It's a TRUE part time job, in that no-one stays in such a horrible job for more than a few weeks. In Britain, it's got one of the highest job turnover rates, which is why it pays so nicely.

I agree with joemc91, you can get some very cushy jobs on the campus itself. A lot of my friends are doing it and tell me it's the easiest way to earn a bit of cash. But since you're commuting, maybe not so good (local jobs > remote cushy jobs usually).

UPS: A friend of mine worked there part time, and at night tending bars, and found that UPS was the better place to work. So that's a nice idea.

howdydave

Are there any companies that you would like to target as potential employers after you graduate?

If so, I would suggest that you attempt to get a part time job with them. That way, when you graduate you will already have your foot in the door!

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Jimellow

Good suggestion, but I'm not really sure what I want to do after college.

I'm an English major, with a minor in writing (in progress), and I am not sure what I want to do with that after I graduate.

Lots of good suggestions here..

I filled out an application at UPS' site, but it says they don't have any interview times available right now, so I assume that means they aren't hiring at the one I submitted my application to. Kind of a shame, as it seems like a nice job..

There is a Barnes and Noble around here, and I am considering checking them out. I assume I would be put on register if I got that job, and while I used to be a cashier at my current job, and wasn't overly thrilled about it, I would be rining up books instead of ringing up (and bagging) groceries.

I don't think the pay at BnN here is that great, but it might be a better job than the one I have now; especially considering it may allow me to get more than eight hours a week.

Starbucks is a good suggestion, but I don't think it's my "thing." Seems overwhelming to me, as I don't drink coffee and am not familiar with anything relating to coffee and it's various flavors, etc.

Working on campus is a possibility, but again, I commute 30 miles to class, so it isn't a local job for me.

Has anyone worked at Borders (book store)? I ask because there is a Barnes and Noble and a Borders around here, and I was just curious about which would be the better to apply to, and work at.. Or if they are about the same?

Thanks again for all the replies, and if any of you have any more suggestions, please share them.

Take care.

__________________
Desperation is no excuse for lowering one's standards.

la petite moi

Barnes and Nobles Cafes are different from Starbucks because it's run by B&N. It sells Starbucks products but is definitely not Starbucks. Sorry, had to clarify.

Jimellow, I must say that Starbucks was not my "thing" either because I'm not some super attractive blonde bombshell like most of the Starbucks workers here. I knew NOTHING about coffee (and don't like it, either), but really, you just have to memorise a few statistics (like Verona is smoothe, Gold Coast is bold, Breakfast Blend is mild, etc.). Just gotta know a few that a lot of people like for recommendations. Starting pay is above minimum wage and you can get great benefits in stock, health, etc.

Oh, and PS: English majors can typically not do much, but be teachers, translators, etc. That's just something to keep in mind. I myself was going to major in English, but then I researched a little about what jobs you can get....eep.

Paq

i really hate to say this bc lately, i've been a bit aggravated, but honestly, waiting tables is about the easiest over $10/hr job i can think of. most restaurants will work around your school schedule very easily and you don't spend much time there and generally make decent money with nicer places mostly being nicer to work in. the place where i work has a theoretical long shift of 6 hrs if you open on saturday and stay till closing, but 2 people made $170 each and the ther 9 ranged from $90 to $140 and that's becoming the average for every night we work. So, it's about the highest per hour job i can think of for a part time, easy to do, job. just pick a popular restaurant and apply and as long as you're pretty polite, efficient, and sociable, you'll do pretty well. Also, most chain restaurants will easily train you to bartend, which can earn more money than serving. Also, most restaurants are staffed with college students anyway, so it's fairly social. the good part, you always leave with money, the bad part is dealing with the public all the time and not really showing any contempt for anyone

if possible, do a work study, those are the easiest and fastest, you get in, you get out, you go about your day, no special prep, and no gas mileage on the car as long as you work during your normal school day

bookstores are good spots bc you can oftentimes get textbooks shipped in for cheaper than the college bookstore..also, you're an english major....cmon, it's a book, it's 40% off or something...Also, if your BN is like any other, you'll mostly be stocking, cleaning and doing register work. Normally, they rotate out who is on register vs who is minding the store, or you just do all of the above. Normally not a boring job and the time goes by. just do your best not to be stuck cleaning the kid's section....

Cant' say i'd recommend pizza delivery but it does pay well for most...on the other hand, it has like the 2nd highest death rate...

internships are always great, especially if you can get paid. as for an internship for an english major..umm..seriously, talk to a proff and see if they can hook you up. sometimes, you can just get lucky

still, easiest, best paying i've found: bartending or serving.

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meembo

I worked as close as I could to the administration on campus. It didn't matter what the job was -- it was who I was working for that helped. I get great recommendations and commedations from these people when it was time to graduate and move on, and I got good office experience, computer systems experience, etc. I probably could have worked there for a while after graduation as well.

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Jimellow

Heya everyone, here is a quick update of my job hunt situation.

After coming back from class today, and picking up a few applications along the way, I logged in at UPS' site and noticed that they had an appointment time open!

I submitted my application online over two weeks ago, and no appointments had opened up, until now.

I'm not really sure what to expect from the interview. The instructions make mention of wearing jeans or khakis and shoes, as a tour of the facility will be given, but I am not sure if I should dress up or wear casual wear?

Ironically, the appointment is scheduled on one of the two days I work at my current job, so it looks like I'm only working one day next week.

I'm looking forward to the interview, because it seems like a job I would enjoy, and one that would work well with my current schedule. I have no idea what my chances of getting hired are, but the fact that an interview time has opened is encouraging.

I applied for a job as a package handler, and from what I gathered in replies here it is a decent job if done right.

I have a few questions to those that are still following this thread..

Regarding the instructions: they recommend wearing casual slacks or jeans and shoes. What would you recommend wearing for a shirt? Old Navy button-down or something more formal? What kind of shoes? They recommend a sturdy closed-toe shoe for the tour? Are we talking sneakers here, or dress shoes?

Also, has anyone gone through this process with UPS before? I gather that it will be a tour of the facilities and a meeting with someone from Human Resources.. But I'm curious about what my chances of getting the job are, and also things I should and shouldn't do while there.. Just general feedback would be great, if anyone has any. Granted, it's a very specific job and something the majority of the posters here can't relate to, but if there are a few that can, I'd really like to your any kind of comments you may have. Or even if you've worked at a similiar type of job, you comments would be very worthwhile and appreciated.

Thanks!

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aberkok

I worked as an usher at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. It was a big concert hall where the Symphony played, mainly. It was pretty flexible and although it didn't pay much, I got a lot out of seeing shows there. A lot of variety. I saw Tony Bennett, Bobby McFerrin, George Carlin, Bill Cosby and even Raffi!

Everybody who worked there was also in the same boat, being either a student or an artist who recently graduated and was trying to make their way in the world. I'd recommend it, but I don't know if they have anything like that where you live.

Gave me many fond memories.

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outdoor

On campus jobs are the best! They will be most understanding when something comes up (tests, papers, etc.) Plus, you'll probably get to meet more students and have more fun. I worked at the front desk of my dorm for a year...best job ever. Just sat there and answered the phone like once an hour and got people their packages.

SitizenVZ

On campus jobs ARE the best, I'd have to agree. Usually if you can find a job in and around the department that has your major it will go a long ways towards speeding along your graduation. You have no Idea how much easier my Computer Science major became after I took a job as a CSci department network admin.

Sage

Check out the lab at your local hospital. I work in the clerical secion of the lab here in town (it's a really big hospital) and the work is easy, the pay is great for "entry level" ($9.30 hour), & the benifits (not health insurance) that I get are great! The hospital has discount programs with about 150 stores around the area, and I get discounts on everything from uniforms to computers to car service to apartments to furniture, all at stores around here. Plus, every christmas my bouns is $150 worth of grocery money, in the form of a gift card. This past year, the gift card that we got could be switched to Best Buy, Home Depot, and a few other stores, so if you didn't want to spend it on groceries, you didn't have to. Also, I get to see some really really cool stuff, like dead bodies and eyeballs in jars every so often, and I think that stuff is fascinating, so the job has been a learning expierence as well. Good Luck hunting!!

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Beefimator

I worked at a pizza shop. Holy crap that was the best job ever. I ate cheesesteaks like it was my job.

Suave

If you don't mind having your soul slowly drained from every minute that you're working, you can try working in a call centre. You'll make decent money, have flexible hours, and you don't have to do much other than dial and talk.

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