Summer Jobs! Options

[Misti]

I've managed to find a really nice job with the National Trust this summer, working in a tea kiosk. All the waste is recycled, so no washing up, the vast majority of visitors are excessively friendly, and I've got a lovely view across the lakes where I can watch the herons fishing in quiet moments.

On the other hand, I also worked for Matalan for 2 years, doing Christmas Eve and New Years Day etc. You have to be flexible, and agree to do anything, and work any time to find it easy to get a job. Which isn't always possible when you're trying to fit it around academic work.

Perhaps the easiest way to find flexible summer work, is through friends of friends. It's never what you know, but who you know... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[Bobsie]

I've got a similar problem. I've been trying to find some work for the summer to get some money before I go to uni, but i've only got 4 consecutive weeks when i'm actually at home so nobody will employ me because of my limited availability!
My friend's in the same boat so we decided that if neither of us have any success, we're going to go busking to try and get a bit of money!! It's always an option, and i'm sure it's a lot more fun than stacking shelves!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) xxx

Busking sounds good; another idea might be for yourself and Flute-Diva to grab a pianist from somewhere, form a duo and play for weddings eg. in hotels. My wife who is a violinist and myself did this when we were in Devon and were never short of work - not bad money either!
(Alternatively, you could do what I did as a student just over 20 years ago and work in the local motorway service station! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) )

[Malone]

I've got a similar problem. I've been trying to find some work for the summer to get some money before I go to uni, but i've only got 4 consecutive weeks when i'm actually at home so nobody will employ me because of my limited availability!

One of my friends had this problem, but she got a job in a cinema chain so she was able to transfer from the aberdeen brach to the glasgow branch and there were no problems. And every holiday she transfers back up here. Works out quite well! I'm sure it music be the same for other big chains like Marks and sparks, John Lewis, Boots etc.

[Misti]

I have a friend that works for Sainsbury's doing the same thing. Perhaps their are advantages to stacking shelves...

*is feeling slightly rueful about not getting to go home to beaches, friends and family*

[Ayshah]

I've got a similar problem. I've been trying to find some work for the summer to get some money before I go to uni, but i've only got 4 consecutive weeks when i'm actually at home so nobody will employ me because of my limited availability!

One of my friends had this problem, but she got a job in a cinema chain so she was able to transfer from the aberdeen brach to the glasgow branch and there were no problems. And every holiday she transfers back up here. Works out quite well! I'm sure it music be the same for other big chains like Marks and sparks, John Lewis, Boots etc.

Absolutely. My son had a summer job with Blacks, the outdoor camping shop, near home and transfered to Millets Camping Stores when he went to University. We found out that Millets was owned by Blacks. When he comes home in the summer he transfers back to Blacks for the holidays and then back again the Millets when he returns to Uni. John Lewis and Waitrose are the same chain and have a similiar scheme. Also House of Fraser are similiar with their Group of stores.

[TSax]

I had a summer job ironing baby clothes, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.

It was in a factory that made upmarket baby clothes, lots of smocking and embroidery and I was ironing the samples that the salespeople took round to the shops.

It was hot, exhausting work on the mezzanine floor of the factory, under a skylight, during a very hot summer. I ended up with tiny burns all over my hands from the iron and I'd wake up in the morning with my hand set in place as though I was still holding the iron. Having said all that, there were other students working there too and it was a good laugh, although myself and one girl were separated for laughing too much. My niece was about 18 months old at the time and I got a discount off the trade orice, so she got some very posh frocks for about M&S level prices. She's doing her A-levels this summer, makes me feel very old...

[flutecake]

Fruit-picking?

I had a two-week job one holiday picking beans - well they were all ripe at once and needed doing quickly. It was hot and boring, but at least I got some money to get me through the next term at uni.

The rest of the holidays were spent waitressing in a cafe. I'm a rubbish waitress and didn't enjoy it that much (and the boss ran off at the end of the season with our tips) but it did remind me that one reason to work hard at my degree was to be able to get a job that I actually enjoyed.

[Malone]

That sounds like slave labour Tsax!!! I hope you paid well!!!

I hate ironing. When I was in basic training for the army we would spend the time from the end of the working day, so, about 6 or so, until sometimes 1 in the morning. We lots count of how many times we set the fire alarms off. We had to burn loose threads, and we would spray hairspray down the sleeves then iron over it so we had extra sharp creases down our arms! One of my friends thought she could use dry soap as an alternative but got beasted when the seargent noticed she was bubbling up down her shirt when we were doing drill!!