How many jobs did you have while in college?
@highflyingxangel (9225)
United States
September 20, 2008 9:54pm CST
I think I've done pretty well. I managed to go about three years of college without having to take on any jobs. However, this year is definitely different. I'm currently a playmate for a 4 year old while his parents (which are also students) study and do a few things around the house. I get paid $10 an hour and it's usually just one hour at a time. I get paid as soon as I walk into the door and the family is very nice. I'm planning on putting some money away to save just in case. However, that's not a reliable job and the hours aren't always constant so I'm debating on taking on another job.
This job is working the football games that my school has. It seems that it's extremely flexible and can work when you want. It's 7.25 an hour which doesn't seem so bad for a really flexible job. However, I am wondering if taking on two jobs is something I could handle. And, since I could use the money, I know it would be beneficial, I'm just wondering if I should actually do it or not.
How many jobs did you have while in college? Did it turn out to be too stressful or did it help you manage your time better so you could work and still get your class work finished on time? Any other words of wisdom you'd like to share?
2 people like this
8 responses
@Stegeo3 (199)
• United States
21 Sep 08
I'm actually planning on going to college in a little less than a year. I haven't had a job in my life yet, but I'm considering to get one as soon as I get comfortable as a college student. I feel guilty that my parents are paying my entire tuition at a time when the economy is hurting them more than myself.
2 people like this
@lizard211 (240)
• United States
22 Sep 08
If you can keep up with your studies - go for both jobs. The first time I went to college, I worked two jobs - one was an on-call weekend job and the other I was a waitress working about 25 hours/week. During that time, I was able to complete to Bachelor's in 4 years. Well, being "young and dumb", I still didn't know what I wanted to do with my life after getting two degrees so after a couple years of I decided to go back to another school for another degree. Thankfully, that did the trick! Anyway, during my second college experience, I also worked between 20-30 hour/week.
Personally, I think it helped me to manage my time more efficiently - in studying and in my life in general.
@AmbiePam (85181)
• United States
21 Sep 08
When I started college at 16 I worked in a daycare. Later they changed the age requirements so I got a job as a telemarketer. But I couldn't take how mean people were, so I became a nanny. I was a nanny for a year, and then I took a job at my college library. I'd like to back and finish (I'm at the senior level), but my health is no where at the point I can go back. And I don't know how I'd pay for it. I think I would qualify for a pell grant, but I don't want to take out any more student loans.
1 person likes this
@k1tten (2318)
• United States
21 Sep 08
Of course you know I've only had one so far. That was a library job. I had enough time for classes and I could do work a little bit on school work when not doing anything there. It wasn't stressful at all. Unfortunately that's all I've done and going into a new job is going to be stressful because I don't know anyone there really and I've never done anything in that line of work.
1 person likes this
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
21 Sep 08
Let's see, the first time I went to college was in 1986, I had three jobs. I was a newspaper subscription salesman, I worked at Wal-Mart and I had a paper route, and I took 12 hours. Then I went back to college 10 years later (1996) and worked for a music company full time, I went to school part time. Then I went 6 years later (2002) and worked part time to get my Paralegal Degree and my Associates Degree. Then I finished up my B.S. in 2005 while working full time for a law firm. If you think you can do it then go for it, money is money, don't think about neglecting your studies for money or you'll be wishing you hadn't. If you're in your 4th year then you should have the hang of studying down so adding a little extra curricular activities won't be too stressful. I loved working while I was going to school, I could have just gone jobless but I didn't want to be one of those people who acted liked they just woke up from final exams and found out they had to get a job to survive. Good luck.
1 person likes this
@dpjddh03556462006 (348)
• China
21 Sep 08
you must be living in USA, bacause you earning each hour is so high ,i come from China and i am studing in a collage in our country ,because of my family is poor and i often have enough time ,so i often manage to find a job ,if in winter ,you ever can get two or three jobs ,because in winter ,it is very cold, many people espacially student rather go their home than find a job .but l must ,last winter ,i found two jobs ,i must go to other after i had ended one,i often worked six to seven hour each day .
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
23 Sep 08
I am glad to see that you got the job of being a playmate to the child you talked about in previous discussions but sorry to hear that you are still short on cash and although I never experienced the college setting I know how hard living is and how life can take a toll if you over stress yourself. So maybe get the job on a trial period see if you can handle it and them if all goes well and you have time for school work and other things you do then I would say go for it, just be careful not to overextend yourself.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
27 Sep 08
Hey thanks for the best response I really appreciate it.
@amritasikka (27)
• India
21 Sep 08
i was absolutely jobless...blowing all money never cared abt life while i was in college...working was liek a big nooooooooooooooooooooooo
