<p>I don’t think I am wrong at all. All four of my kids did their share of menial jobs through highschool. These jobs helped each of them procure better jobs and finally great internships. Three of my kids have now graduated college and have great jobs but they never looked down on their “menial jobs” which taught them how to work with people and listen to what an employer wants. By your second year of college you should be employed in your area of interest but without any work experience good luck getting anything. Regardless of who you work for people will respect that you were not sitting at home playing video games or on FB or partying with your friends for three long months. Most people who have risen to the top have done so by starting at the bottom and they respect somebody who is willing to do what it takes to put some money in their pocket.</p>
<p>So for the poster who said I don’t know what I am talking about I could tell you that my kids knew what it was to work multiple jobs some being “menial” and some being a step up from that until they had some good paying internships. Those jobs let their employers know that they were willing to work. Upon graduation each of my three sons landed great jobs…I would like to think it had something to do with their attitude not just their ability because as smart as you might be you are nothing without a good attitude. If you believe you are too good to work a menial job than you are in for trouble when you get your first professional job because that attitude will get adjusted real quick in this economy.</p>
<p>DreamingBig…Your name suggests that you may be dreaming too much but remember that dreams happen when you work hard to make them happen. There is nothing wrong with honest work when you are young. In this current economy their are kids that would be happy to have something putting money in their pocket…that is admirable sitting on your backside is not.</p>
<p>^ My advise would be to not feed him…let him go on about the subject and ignore it. No one takes him serious :D</p>
<p>I wish I had a job, but employers in New York are ridiculous when it comes to hiring a student. Oh well.</p>
<p>On my 16th birthday, my parents said “Happy birthday! …Now go get a job. We’re not paying for anything.” (Okay, maybe that’s a bit hyperbolic.) They pay for bills and such, but since I turned 16, I’ve bought all of my incidentals, most of my extensive wardrobe, etc. Four years later, I honestly feel bad for people that haven’t had that experience. I landed an internship with a Fortune 500 company last summer after only my freshman year, and they said it was partly due to the lack of gaps in my work history-- similar to a credit score, people are more likely to take a chance on me because I have a history of doing well.</p>
<p>Until medical school, and even during, I don’t think I ever let a reasonable job pass me by. Fast food, LVN, unit clerk, ER shifts, even some modeling. </p>
<p>How can you go wrong?</p>
<p>Interesting to look at your social security statement; tire had two years gap in SS, one in medicare, since 1976,</p>
<p>Oh yeah Karrabee, I had the same experience in college. My parents paid my bills, but that was it–I paid for all of my entertainment, clothes, gas, etc. And I didn’t have a credit card.</p>
<p>Students should work. But they should really find a better way to do it than working a menial job. If you’re educated, you can provide way more value to society by doing something tougher than working at Burger King. So you owe it to society to figure out a way to be more useful.</p>
<p>I think a college student–an educated person with advanced skill sets–who works 20 hours a week at an $8/hour job is lazier than someone who puts in the effort to figure out a way to make the same money (or more) in 5 hours a week. Especially if you can develop useful skills in the process.</p>
<p>I also think that working 20 hours a week at an $8/hour job, and having nothing but a $15/hour job waiting for you when you graduate, is dumber than spending the same time in college at an unpaid internship (or some other way to develop useful skills), skipping out on expensive entertainment in college, and graduating with a $40 or $50/hour job.</p>
<p>Yes, there’s a certain value to working a menial job–realizing it sucks! After you’ve made that breakthrough (probably about an hour into your first day), you don’t really have anything else to learn from most menial jobs. Unless they’re a pre-requisite to whatever you want your real job to be eventually.</p>
<p>^one of my sons who is now working over seas in the oil industry charged anywhere from $50.00 to $80.00 an hour tutoring organic chemistry and calculus to nearby college students all while attending highschool and college. He made anywhere from $200 to $300 a week on average. Would that be considered menial? He found the market and the students and he did very well throughout college doing this. </p>
<p>Another son had an amazing job working full time while attending college. This job was probably the reason he had several good offers post graduation. My daughter making an average of $20.00 in tips waiting tables in a busy mid scale restaurant. She charges $15.00 per hour to babysit. My oldest son was working on a startup through college which took up alot of his time. He was able to pay most of his expences at MIT outside of tuition. He too tutored nearby college students by advertizing on their campus. </p>
<p>Where there is a will there is a way. I give all of my kids alot of credit for figuring out how to use their skills to earn money. All three of my sons had great internships since ending their freshman year of college. Trust me it is about hustle…how much do you need it and how much do you want it. Some kids have a work ethic because they have no choice and some do not realize they shouldn’t have a choice because mom and dad just buy into the “I can’t find anything”. One of my sons did really well cleaning up peoples lawns come every spring. Once he started with one house he landed all of their friends houses.</p>
<p>momma-three I couldn’t agree more. Personally I think its necessary to have “menial jobs” when you’re in college, if only for the work experience. Over time you work your way up to something better and if you’re lucky you might be able to land a great job straight out of college.</p>
<p>Karabee I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for you to have to pay for all of that at only 16 but I admire you for being able to do it. LOL, i’m about to start my 2nd year of college and I only just started paying for most of my stuff last year and even more this summer.</p>
<p>I’ve never worked at a fast food place or anywhere that i’d describe as menial. I’ve had 3 jobs, one of which i’m working now. The first paid 7.50 an hour, the 2nd last summer after I graduated from high school paid 8 dollars an hour and could go up to 10 with commision, and my current job pays 8.50 an hour and after 90 days it goes up to 10 an hour. I’ve been hear for 5 5weeks now and i’m happy. I’m currently looking for a 2nd job to make even more money and get more experience. </p>
<p>It seems to me that if you have the time you should find a job and take whatever you can get. If its fast food, then work there until you can find something better. You end up working there for a year, you may not like it, but you get paid and show future employers that you can commit to the job.</p>
<p>the one thing i can’t help but wonder is if dreamingbig is so good at planning and thinks he is going to be interning at a law firm next summer, why is he sitting at home playing video games this summer? i would think someone as smart as dreamingbig would have been able to find an internship this summer.</p>
<p>broken, don’t go there, man.</p>
<p>By that broken_symlink he means he didn’t get one…and while he doesn’t know why, the rest of us do :D</p>
<p>Now a physician byt have done everything from pave roads to Disney character to pay for college and med school. I know several laid off lawyers and engineers who have been out of work for months who would love a “menial job” so they can feed their kids and pay their mortage.</p>
<p>Are you ■■■■■■■■ us? Or do you think like this in real life?</p>
<p>Ohhh, this is why that other thread popped up.</p>
<p>Everyone should work a real labor job at some point in their lives.</p>
<p>■■■■■■■ hard
props DB</p>
<p>Retail blows, trust me, but it’s better than no money, and job experience is very good. My job’s not exactly in my field, but it could help should I ever go into sales.</p>