Major Job Issues in Pittsburgh, Need Advice

Parents Forum
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<p>Yes…as frustrating as this is you will muster the strenght to get this situation resolved. It is time to also think out of the box and consider jobs that other college kids may not be looking for. Are there apartment buildings that you could could talk to the super and see if if he knows of anyone in the building that needs a caretaker or babysitter? Things like this require determination and stamina. You could do it!</p>

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<p>As someone who has hired people for a caregiving role (I am the parent of a child with autism and profound MR), I will note that many families do not have the funds during this downturn to hire the usual college students, and those that do would usually want to stick with students who can also commit part-time during the year. (I know that I did.) With elder care (thinking of my late parents), families similarly prefer to hire someone who can commit to a longer term.</p>

<p>If an agency is paying (do not assume that all such families are getting money from agencies), they could have further qualifications required - such as a need for a college degree - or could prefer to hire for longer-term than during the summer. Many more parents are down to one income in any case, and parents who are out of work are somehow doing it all themselves because it can take weeks to train someone and get the child used to a new person. What I am saying is that these positions are not as easy to come by as many people seem to think.</p>

<p>I still think that getting a lab position-not an “internship” but a job that would give you training in how to operate in a lab, good references, perhaps even your name on a publication somewhere down the road - would be a very strong possibility, given your academic background, and especially seeing that you are a freshman who is likely to be around during the school year and for an extra summer or two. I would strongly encourage you to ask your professors if they know of any labs at CMU who are looking for undergrads, and also ask for contacts with research professors at Pitt.</p>

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<p>If you are going to stay in Oakland, you could try all of the stores, bars and restaurants there. Then, go the other way and go through Shadyside. Try grocery stores and movie theaters. See if you can be a waitress or maid at hotels in Oakland or downtown. </p>

<p>I think you need to say that you plan to continuing working throughout the school year, because nobody is going to hire you for any job (except seasonal summer work like the amusement parks, landscaping or swimming pool staff) if you only will stay for 3 months. It’s just not worth their time to train you. Have you been asking for summer work only? If so, that might be the problem.</p>

<p>Work is tough to get these days. I know a recent grad who looked for a year and only recently got a job working the night shift at a job far beneath his credentials. It’s not just you.</p>

<p>Still, don’t totally discount the mom who told you to reassess your resume and interview skills. I find that most employers would rather hire a cheerful and reliable employee than one who is smart but lacks those qualities. Maybe it would be helpful to contact some of the people who turned you down for a job and ask them to frankly tell you what they felt your shortcomings were. It couldn’t hurt to know.</p>

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<p>Are they still hiring for the census?</p>

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<p>It might be even cheaper to rent a room in a private house than to rent an apartment. Then the job income would go further. </p>

<p>Although you say you don’t have access to a car, I would still check to see if you could watch kids on summer break whose parents are working. Perhaps even begin with the CMU faculty and staff. Post in the classified section of your school paper and also papers at Pitt, Chatham, Carlow and Duquesne.</p>

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<p>Just another stab in the dark. Are you going to any religious services ay all. Many religious communities have lists of people that are lookimg for help.</p>

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<p>

I know that most/all positions at Pitt have already held interviews and been filled, but it couldn’t hurt to ask. Yet other options would be working at one of the UPMC hospitals or even at a nursing home (such as Wightman in Squirrel Hill). These jobs would likely not want to hire for summer work only, though. </p>

<p>Do you have work-study in your financial aid package? What if you took a summer class? Could you be eligible for an on-campus job over the summer? Does CMU hire non-work-study positions over the summer? I’m thinking of jobs like dorm desk security, library, convenience store, bookstore, food places, cleaning, etc.</p>

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<p>I haven’t read the whole thread–but often, professors leave their homes for the summer to do research or teach somewhere else, and are happy to have a responsible person housesitting/taking care of pets on a rent-free basis. If you could score a position like this, you wouldn’t have to be making a lot of money in order to support yourself. I did this myself several summers as an undergraduate and grad student–once I took care of the school-age kids while the parents worked, but the other times I had the house to myself and it was lovely (much nicer than I could have afforded on my own).</p>

<p>Advertise at Pitt as well as at Carnegie Mellon, and as widely as you can (not just among professors you know) and see what turns up.</p>

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<p>Try PNC Park - baseball stadium needs many employees on a seasonal basis.</p>

<p>Also try: [Web</a> Design Intern Job, The Resumator - Pittsburgh Designer Job Board](<a href=“http://pghdesigners.jobamatic.com/a/jbb/job-details/199934]Web”>http://pghdesigners.jobamatic.com/a/jbb/job-details/199934)</p>

<p>UPS: [Package</a> Handler Job, UPS - UPS](<a href=“http://ups.jobamatic.com/a/jbb/job-details/235167]Package”>http://ups.jobamatic.com/a/jbb/job-details/235167)</p>

<p>Home Depot is supposedly hiring in Pittsburgh.</p>

<p>Sears Portrait Studio is willing to train new employees.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>Other ideas:<br>
Keysservicecorp (dot) org is hiring right now for summer Americorps positions in Pittsburg APPLY NOW! Great pay, includes help for college expenses.<br>
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<p>respite care for families w/autistic kids (check social services agencies and the Ymca’s.) </p>

<p>Political action: clean water, environmental groups are looking for canvassers.</p>

<p>Gathering signatures for ballot initiatives: My S is doing this in CA and making lots of money, especially now, because he gets paid as much as $2 per signature! Does this exist in PA? </p>

<p>You can do this, metal! You’ve achieved so much already. Show your future employers how confident you are (act as if you feel totally confident, and you will be just that!)</p>

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<p>“Gathering signatures for ballot initiatives: My S is doing this in CA and making lots of money, especially now, because he gets paid as much as $2 per signature!”</p>

<p>Wow, that is amazing. I always thought those guys were volunteers. How does one get a job doing that? We have some initiatives that need signatures for them in my state.</p>

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<p>You can do it.</p>

<p>Are there any nursing homes that you can transport yourself to? Sometimes they have jobs available that there is not a lot of competition for. In this economy, though… Augh.</p>

<p>Are you religious at all? Spend a little time with the people from Newman Center, or Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship, or Chabad, whatever your religious preference - they might have some ideas for you, too.</p>

<p>Live “on-the-cheap” during your summers. Sometimes fraternity houses rent rooms to college students over the summer. I lived in a frat for two summers. It was cheap. Another summer I was a summer school RA at my own college for a free room. That was great. Another summer I rented the small third bedroom in a lower duplex that had two 20-something women in it. Again, very cheap. (I am also from a hometown with no jobs for teenagers.)</p>

<p>You can do it! You’re doing a great job. Please, keep us posted.</p>

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<p>OP – what’s your living situation now? Are you in a dorm or in an apartment that you need to vacate by a certain time? How much time do you have until you’re done with finals and have to have a summer job? If you have until mid-May, I would keep pounding the pavement, but there isn’t any need to panic yet.</p>

<p>At this point, it’s great if you’re getting internship interviews or interviews for jobs that will look good on your resume, but you should be focusing on getting a ‘survival’ job; if internships fall through/don’t pay or whatever, you’re still going to need money to pay the rent this summer. Is there a Target or Walmart nearby? Retail jobs are hard right now but lots of these stores have night-time jobs to stock shelves; people don’t tend to stick to those jobs due to the schedule, so there tend to be openings. Also, are you going to these places in person or submitting apps online? You will have a lot more sucess in person – fill out the app, take it down to the store/restaurant whatever and wait around until you can submit it to the manager. In such instances, it’s possible that once the manager sees you there, he’ll just interview you right them. There’s a lot greater chance of being chosen if you’re one of the few who came in person rather than one of thousands who just submitted an online app and then waited around for a call.</p>

<p>I’m sure you’re not doing it, but don’t be too picky about the job or the schedule – if you go on an interview and someone indicates that it would be more convenient to have you start working now or to keep you working past the summer, be flexible and say yes and then find a way to work it out. If you don’t do that, especially these days, managers are more likely to go with a candidate that is looking to take the job indefinitely.</p>

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<p>“managers are more likely to go with a candidate that is looking to take the job indefinitely.”</p>

<p>I’m usually the last one to recommend being disingenuous, but in this case, it is survival. If you are looking at retail, stores, something not seasonal—don’t say it is just for the summer. Nobody wants to train a 3 month worker. Say you’re looking for something permanent, and you can schedule your classes around it. You never know, it might end up being true (at least to the point that you may want to stay on part time).</p>

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<p>In college, I did inventory work in the summers and break periods. At the time, the job payed quite above minimum wage. Not sure if you would need a car (usually a van took us to our jobs from a meet up place) </p>

<p>[RGIS</a> Inventory Taker Job Listing in Pittsburgh, PA | 502806 | SnagAJob.com](<a href=“RGIS Inventory Taker in Pittsburgh, PA | 502806 | Snagajob”>RGIS Inventory Taker in Pittsburgh, PA | 502806 | Snagajob)</p>

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<p>How did the job interview go that you mentioned up thread?</p>

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<p>

I was going to say that, too. For jobs at stores, you really have to say you are looking for a job that you can work full time during the summer and part time during the school year. And if you end up loving that mundane job because your boss or your co-workers are pleasant to work with or there are neat perks, maybe you will want to work at it part time during the school year.</p>

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<p>I know a college student in a similar situation (can’t live at home during the summer).
He’s working at Cedar Point (amusement park, Sandusky, OH). You can get housing there, have a great time with all the other college students who work there. Worth a try.</p>

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<p>I told my 16-year-old about working at Cedar Point and I said they provided housing. His response: “Do you get paid?” lol He thought just working there would be enough reward. He was ready to sign up. I loved Cedar Point when I was a kid. Please apply there!</p>

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<p>You do have to pay for housing, but you can have it taken out of your check. (At least that’s how it used to work. . .)</p>