<p>I am at a point where I don't know what to do. I am not welcomed home by my parents this year due to being 18 years of age. I have attempted, without prompting from my parents, to get a job. I have applied to 80+ positions affiliated with the school, on craigslist, and on monster.com. I have received 4 interviews. I was turned down for a telemarketing position, and doing office work thus far. I am not optimistic about the interview I just had due to constant coughing(i made a bad impression), and feel that I am in over my head for the interview I have tomorrow. I have been dressing well, I feel more than qualified to do the work, I have experience in customer service, and feel like I am a hard worker. I have applied everywhere, including fast food, and cant get hired.</p>
<p>I am at a loss on what to do in this situation. I have 2 weeks to find a job, and am starting to get nervous. I have been applying for positions for weeks. My parents do not seem too enthusiastic about my ability to get a job, but yet signal to me that they dont want me back in their home.</p>
<p>Dont say summer camps, I applied to those too. I feel that I am more than qualified, and that there is nothing bad or unqualified about my applications. I know all basic computer applications, along with how to program java and create websites. I thought I was skilled enough to get a job(if i dont, i dont have anywhere to stay... I found a rent, but they dont know im unemployed), but I am starting to think otherwise. I even got rejected from mcdonalds(?). No, I don't have a criminal record.</p>
<p>I did get a job about 2-3 weeks ago for the summer at this place called the Institute for Complex Engineered Systems(I am a physics /electrical and computing engineering major from CMU), but after about a week, I got an email saying i was unhired due to them finding someone more qualified. Now most of the good summer jobs are taken.</p>
<p>Do your parents live in Pgh? Why are you not welcome at their home? Do they have a “rule” that once you are 18 you have to have a job?</p>
<p>It is hard for me to believe that parents who pay for CMU will kick you out of the house at 18 just because you turned 18. There must be more to the story. The more you tell us, the more useful advice you will get.</p>
<p>I go to Carnegie Mellon. I have an interview as an innovation intern at the Quality of Life Technology Foundry. I am a freshman, and last year they only hired graduate students from the university. Im not sure they know I am a freshman, and I am not too enthusiastic about getting the job. I am going to try my best anyway…</p>
<p>My parents dont live in pittsburgh. I am not welcome at their home because, yes, they do have a rule. Since they didn’t graduate high school, I think there might be some jealousy going on…, Im not sure what the thought process is. I called them to tell them how my interview went, and they told me they were busy and hung up the phone. I thought theyd at least like to know! Later on, she proceeded to tell me that “she told me so” (she said before I went to CMU that my sister, without a college degree, is more likely to get a job than me, with one and that I am digging myself a hole by going to college and giving myself debt.)</p>
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<p>I am telling you the exact story. My parents >>>>>ARENT<<<<< paying a DIME for me to go to school. I had to travel 10 hours to get them to sign the financial aid paperwork. I pestered them about it since february, and they gave it to me only 3-4 days before the deadline(April 15th).</p>
<p>How did I get here? I applied ED to CMU. Under the ED contract, they are to meet 100% of my financial aid need. I have an EFC of zero. So, I have some loans, but ive only been paying $300 out of pocket per semester(no, not my parents, me, and yes the payment was late). My loans consist just of dorm costs and food costs. If I eat cheap and dont get dorms, im sort of thinking that I can get out of here with little to no debt. If I wouldnt have gotten accepted from CMU, I probably wouldnt have went to college…</p>
<p>I also applied for scholarships in high school, and got more than $10k.</p>
<p>Im sorry to say that some kids outside of your little wealth bubble dont have it as easy, and I find it insulting that you are calling me a “liar” of sorts.</p>
<p>Well, be positive. My son was an engineering student at Pitt and he attended the job and intern fair several years ago, not knowing what to expect. He ended up being hired as a freshman by a company who didn’t normally hire freshmen. It worked out great! I would go into the interview with confidence. Be friendly, smile, have a firm handshake and sell yourself. Don’t focus on your freshman status, but focus on your enthusiasm and what you can offer them (like maybe you are a quick learner and could continue to work for them in future years, or maybe you have some relevant knowledge). They must have seen something they liked if they invited you to an interview. </p>
<p>That being said, there is a big difference between what a freshman and a grad student can offer them. The company may need more experience. You would have lots of company if you went home and applied to normal college student jobs (mall, food service, lawn services, painters, parks and recreation, etc) - there is nothing wrong with an honest day’s work.</p>
<p>If money is not an issue, you could go to companies that apply to your major and see if you could get some non-paying internship job. That would help fill out your resume for next year.</p>
<p>I have to ask you too, how the heck can your parents pay for the huge CMU tuition and not let you come home over the summer? Do they live in this country? Do they expect you to rent an apartment on a monthly basis? Where do they want you to live?</p>
See, thats what I have been doing here. My home is in the sticks(in the middle of nowhere), and the unemployment rate literally rivals something from detroit. Theres some fast food jobs, but I heard the there are 80! people applying for one position for those. One time i went door to door, and literally applied to every single place in the whole entire area, and didnt get hired. I ended up working about 20 minutes away(by car), for $6.50 an hour. That would not be profitable for me right now since I dont have a vehicle, and cant afford insurance. </p>
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Thats why im making this post in the first place. Its definitely an issue. I got some unpaid work doing psychology research here(not physics or electrical engineering, but its research), but that was the best I could manage this summer. I know to plan further in the future for next year.</p>
<p>Any summer programs at CMU that need program aides? Kennywood? With the student population, some businesses need less help in the summer. Who needs more help? How about private landscaping companies? Our community college runs camps and needs young people although I know you said that you have applied to camps. </p>
<p>Can you take the bus for free with your CMU ID? Maybe you can expand your search area a bit. What about the Carnegie Museum? or the conservatory? Good luck.</p>
<p>CMU has this system called “tartantrak”. It lists job availability that could be of interest to students. I applied to every single summer program at CMU that I qualified for. I applied to Kennywood(I havent heard back, its getting close, im nervous, I have RELEVANT work experience at a different amusement park). See, I thought the business thing too. I assumed before I came here itd be cake to get a job, but I am having some major difficulty.</p>
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Well, I havent seen any ads on craigslist for landscaping. I did apply to UPMC as a groundskeeper, but I havent yet heard back. Maybe I could look at this some more.</p>
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<p>Yes, I can take the bus. I have been applying to search positions all over pittsburgh. I have applied to Carnegie Museum, but the conservatory jobs were snatched up before I could put in application in. I havent yet heard back from the Carnegie Museum.</p>
<p>“Now most of the good summer jobs are taken.”
You are very unlikely to find a “professional” summer job as a rising sophomore, unless it is an internship arranged through the school.</p>
<p>If there are food venues around the campus or other businesses that have “help wanted” signs, try there. Panera Bread sometimes will hire students for the summer (they have a website that shows job openings). </p>
<p>I am not sure that these kind of jobs will be enough to pay rent though…</p>
<p>Go to the engineering dept and ask (beg) for a research position over the summer. Ask every prof that you can find. Tell them you are willing to do anything. Tell them you had a position and it fell through. Good luck.</p>
<p>Folks…His parents have a 0 EFC as he made clear on his post. </p>
<p>You are a perfect example of why need based aid is far more important than merit based aid. I wish I could offer you some advice. How was your relationship with your parents before you went off to CMU? Can you talk to them about needing the family home as a place to live this summer? I am also wondering if you could get some work as a tutor for SAT prep this summer. Is the area that your parents live the type of place that you could pick up odd jobs such as mulching, painting, pet sitting or errand shopping? Would you be able to do this in Pittsburg? Are their students who would pay to have their rooms cleaned? I am just trying to think what you could do in the meantime. It is not easy for an 18 year old freshman to get a job with a company right now. </p>
<p>Have you been to career services at CMU to check over your resume and or interview skills? I hope you get that job tomorrow but in the chance that you don’t, what would it cost you to stay in Pittsburg this summer? Are there any professors you could talk to regarding your financial situation that might be able to diresct you to someone that needs your type of skill set?</p>
<p>metalforever - I have no advice that hasn’t been given already. I just want to say that you are obviously smart and have a drive and determination to get to the place you are without parental support. I hope someone can see that and give you the opportunity you need this summer.</p>
<p>Honestly, kind of terrible. I didnt even have a bedroom until I decided to refurnish the attic myself(it needed floorboards. I painted it. There was this fake linoleum stuff that was on sale, covered the holes in the wall, that sort of stuff). Once I was up there with a bed, i sure as hell didnt come down. My parents would shut off my wireless every time they knew I had a big assignment due. I was dying to get out. My parents had a better relationship with my other siblings. We’re sort of opposites. For my freshman year of college(not this year), it came down to me having to tape the financial aid paperwork to their bedroom door. I asked <em>every day</em> for over a month.</p>
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<p>I am not sure if they offer this. I will look into it, I know they offer paid housing options.</p>
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My SAT scores werent hot.<br>
SAT I: Math: 620, Reading: 640, Writing: 590
SAT II: Physics: 550, Literature: 530, Math I: 590
I usually dont qualify for these. Honestly, I dont even qualify to be here.</p>
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<p>Its mostly people living on welfare checks. The only jobs I know they get fulfilled are people fixing cars. I dont have this ability. People there dont tend to hire for odds and ends, as they kinda cant pay the bills. There is no “ghetto” and “nice” area. Its all kind of a bad place to live.</p>
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This is an idea. Maybe I could advertise services in the paper too.</p>
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<p>Im willing to take anything. See, im at a disadvantage here. A lot of kids are able to score jobs because they have all this outreach experience, experience with research in high school, and all the stuff I NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO. Its a constant uphill battle during a 40 day flood, if you understand. I lost my job to someone with more “outreach” experience. The reason I dont have it is because I was the one being “outreached” to.</p>
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I did this. It would cost me $1000 without food costs. I can sort of swing $1300 if I eat ramen noodles, and maybe sell some of my stuff on ebay(i did this to get to school).</p>
<p>metalforever, I know how incredibly difficult it can be to get a job, especially in an economy like this one. I admire you for having the brains and drive to go beyond the limited views of your family.</p>
<p>Other kinds of jobs you might consider are dishwashers and busboys at restaurants and resorts. Busboys can do quite well from tips at upscale places. Caterers are also looking for RELIABLE summer help. Since you are a student at CMU, you can tell them that you would be available for part time work or stray shifts all year. If you don’t see jobs on Craigslist, you might consider simply going to the businesses and asking. Also, chains like Radio Shack and Staples seem to do their hiring through their websites, and have online applications. Radio Shack does hire guys like you. And the fact that you have some customer service experience is good.</p>
<p>Noting your screenname, I have to ask you about your appearance. Please bear with me and don’t be insulted. Do you have piercings, tattoos, a beyond-edgy hairstyle? If so, I suggest that you moderate that look before interviewing for jobs anywhere except a retail store where kids with that style are the clientele. (Of course you will probably turn out to be a metals engineer instead of a devotee of Korn. ) Most employers want young employees to be polite, reliable, and clean cut. Projecting that image is important.</p>
<p>I would second the recommendation that you go to career services at your school ASAP and ask for help with your resume and almost more importantly your interview skills.</p>
) Most employers want young employees to be polite, reliable, and clean cut. Projecting that image is important.</p>