<p>Well, no. Im a female. I dressed in these nice grey dress pants and this dressy black shirt with brown boots. I have to wear dress pants to cover the fact that my shoes are boots(it still looks highly appropriate, they are “dressy”). I have skirts but cant wear them becuase I dont have nice shoes that arent boots. Im kinda broke so i cant buy them . CMU is nickel and diming me on printing.</p>
<p>I have no piercings, I have a normal hairstyle, a normal hair color, and no tattoos. I look normal, as far as I can tell. </p>
<p>As far as the “metal” thing. Its an older username. I was part of the metal and punk subcultures in highschool. We had this club(it has since closed), where kids would talk about their problems(punk music, metal), and there was a lot of circle pits, slamdancing. It kept people out of trouble. I know most people dont look too positively on this sort of thing, but it was really good for the youth of my area.</p>
<p>This time has since past, and I look presentable for my interview.</p>
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<p>I did this.</p>
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<p>I will look into this some more(especially the upper scale ones. I went to eat and park with diner dollars from CMU the other day, and a cockroach literally crawled across the table, ew ew. I left promptly). I have no experience in this area. Most of the craigslist ones seem to want experience.</p>
<p>Have you looked into the Allegheny County summer jobs programs for youth? I haven’t lived in PGH in a while, but when I went to grad school there I went down to the county building in desparation one summer and they had a sort of general app you could fill out for anything the county had available. I ended up working for the free summer lunch program. Not the greatest job in the world, but it was in the middle of Schenley Park, and very nice people worked there. It was through the park district, I think. Anyway, worth a shot–call the county if you haven’t already.
And of course there’s always the dreaded babysitting. Day care centers often need help in summer, but you might be able to get a full time gig taking care of kids, if you look on care.com.</p>
<p>Country Clubs also hire more in the summer months for waitstaff, hosting, busboys, caddies and daycamp counselors. Also look for (and post availability) for babysitting/nanny jobs.</p>
<p>Have you tried a summer nanny-type position? Families with school-age children often need someone to take them to lessons, activities, help with meals, supervise kids at home. These types of jobs may be advertised in the local pennysaver, craigslist, and the free family magazines. You could definitely offer math tutoring for elementary/jr high age kids along with this.</p>
<p>metal, you are doing everything right. Everything. Just hold on, keep it up, and be patient – it’s going to work out for you. (It’s much more likely to work out for you in Pittsburgh than back home, though.)</p>
<p>I have applied for nanny-type daycare positions. I have experience with the mentally handicapped(more than 1 relative, one parent), and I have experience taking care of them for awhile. I have had multiple child psychology classes, and have experience babysitting. I didnt hear back, but im trying. I cant really do the summer nanny thing because I dont have a car to tote kids places.</p>
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The ones I saw mentioned that they wanted experience. The daycamp thing i tried. Hosting i didnt, for the experience reason. I think you might need to work your way up from like, mcdonalds or something. I might put in apps anyway.</p>
<p>If you have an Allegheny county address that should address any residency requirement. This is not the same (stiffer) residency requirements that most college/university have. When in doubt-ask!</p>
<p>How about the hotels around campus? Think about who might need help around the Pitt campus. They have those PittStart sessions all summer. Have you applied to the CMU bookstore. They do lots of work in the summer getting ready for the fall.</p>
<p>metal: don’t rely on emails to profs. as they are too easy to dismiss. go to office hrs or research labs and present yourself to them. Have a small one page resume in hand with your email and phone number on it. Again state you are very interested in research positions and you are a hard worker and that you have 100% availability for any hours. If you have time do a quick look over of their particular research so you can reference it. Be determined. Do not give up. Do not easily take no for an answer.Go get em!</p>
<p>In addition to checking with professors (go in person…not just e-mails) also check out the employment office at CMU. They may have campus summer jobs posted. Pitt probably also has an employment office with campus summer jobs listed. </p>
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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>
<p>I did this."</p>
<p>Did you do any role play interviews? Did they film the interviews? Try to see if you can take advantage of this type of help. Your initial post indicated you don’t think your interviews went well. The career services office should be able to help you improve on how you come across to potential employers. </p>
<p>I’m not trying to play psychologist here, but your posts have a lot of self doubt, insecurity and resentment in them. If you come across this way in interviews, it will be difficult to get hired.</p>
<p>Metalforever, I feel your desperation and badly hope that something comes through for you. I really commend you for what you have done to get into and stay at CMU so far. As a last ditch backup, do you have older siblings or friends that might let you stay with them for the summer, and can you look for temporary work as you stay there? </p>
<p>Will CMU let you stay there for the summer program? Would your financial aid cover that? Can you go to the career center and specifically tell them the difficult situation you are in, maybe they don’t know how critical it is.</p>
<p>As far as getting some money quick, perhaps helping kids clean their rooms out and pack (after your final exams are complete)? I have a freshman son there with few cleaning skills and a horrific mess of a room that would love some help. I’m sure there are tons of messy, helpless guys at CMU!</p>
<p>Absolutely agree with sax. Your best bet is to focus on jobs that most people can’t do, rather than the fast food, telemarketing jobs, etc. I would also suggest contacting physics and engineering labs at UPitt, ASAP. Make yourself known - sometimes a position is not available but opens up at the last minute when someone else ducks out to take something better, or a professor is waiting for funding.</p>
<p>I agree with preparing better for interviews. Starting with the one tomorrow-review any information you get about the company, their goals, current projects etc. </p>
<p>Another place to look may be the medical centers (I know Pitt has a large teaching hospital). These may not be in your field, but their are often less glamorous jobs in hospitals, medical centers and nursing homes. If you are not afraid of hard work, think about food service/cafeterias, custodial, orderlies, patient transporters etc. There may also be clerical, unit clerk positions but those are often harder to land.</p>
<p>How about jobs at the Waterfront area? I think there may be a bus from Oakland that goes there as I have seen kids from CMU and Pitt shopping there when I visit family in Pittsburgh. There are all kinds of stores and restaurants there as well as a hotel. Sandcastle and Kennywood are probably hiring for the summer. Good luck!</p>
<p>Agreeing with JHS, you are doing “everything right” and will find something if you don’t give up. I also can picture your hometown very well, so some of us get it. When you interview, put it out of your mind and focus on what you can bring to THEIR situation (even though you might be thinking about what you need to address your situation!). </p>
<p>You mentioned some prior work with children and family with handicaps of different kinds. Have you looked into UPMC? (UP Medical Center, hospital)</p>
<p>It was hard to find a working job link, but I got this far, in case you want to continue looking in that direction. Or go back to their website and follow it where you think you should. </p>
<p>You don’t want a career right this second, but that’s the area where their the regular “job listing” links weren’t functional. But there were phone contact points elsewhere on the website. TRY BY PHONE if the website is dorky. </p>
<p>Your ability to work with kids or adults under stress is not everyone’s cup-of-tea. I was thinking along the lines of physical or nursing aide at a very entry level. Even do a night shift, which isn’t popular among people with families at home. Hopsitals employ a lot of people if you’re willing to work at any level. Private Nursing homes, also.</p>
<p>Ok I have an idea for you. If you get this job can you get out of your summer sublet. Apply to Cedar Point. Apply right now, I’ll bet they are still hiring. Wait a week or two and if they haven’t called, call them and ask if you can have an interview. Jobs that have lots of hours but not a lot of applicants are in food service, I also know people who received lots of hours in ride operations but for optimal hours/getting the job, food services is the best. Also put down that you have computer skills but it is probably too late.</p>
<p>Cedar Point has housing on site. You don’t need at car or really much money to start working there. Just enough to buy food until you get your first paycheck. They will take out of your paycheck your housing and uniform cost. </p>
<p>My D had a friend last year who had a somewhat similar situation to yourself. She took the train to Sandusky and a cab to Cedar Point. There are really nice people who work there and also Cedar Point runs buses to shopping venues so you can grocery shop and buy what you need. They have a lot of foreign workers and provide linens but if you can the rooms are like dorms and you can bring your own bedding. Idk if you can catch a train from Pittsburgh but you could take the bus.</p>
<p>I hope this helps and good luck to you. As long as you don’t have tatoo’s or piercing that are visible you will be able to be hired by Cedar Point.</p>
<p>deb922, Funny you mentioned Cedar Point! I almost did but didn’t think the OP wanted to leave Pittsburgh. But you are right. That is a creative idea and they may have openings. My husband and I met there over 30 years ago when we were both college students! We got bonuses at the end of the summer because we stayed through our contracts. It was a great place to work.</p>
<p>Metal – Take a look at companies offering elder care at home, and also look in the newspaper (not so much Craigslist, at least in our area) for ads looking for elder care. There are almost never enough people to take all the jobs on offer – even more if you’re willing to work overnight shifts. Some offer housing, which could be an added bonus. Your experience with family members with mental illness or handicaps could be really beneficial, especially with elders who have mild dementia. </p>
<p>We hire caregivers to take care of M-I-L, who is quite frail (but very competent mentally), and it is always a challenge to find people. Always. In her area, we pay $12-15 per hour for a 12 hour shift. She needs help transferring from/to bed, toilet, and the living room, and assistance making sure she doesn’t fall in the shower, preparing and carrying her food and coffee to her. </p>
<p>I would first try for private listings – they’ll pay better, and are more likely to include housing. PM me if you have questions. </p>
<p>Best of luck to you. You’re doing everything right; something will come along. (Though I agree with earlier posters that it is much more likely to come along in Pittsburgh.)</p>