Help - How to get a summer job?

[Spartan]

Please, would someone tell me how to go about getting a summer job. I have nearly finished my exams, and I will have nearly 4 months of hanging around my parents home if I don't get a job. My mum is always bugging me to get a job, and I really do want to get one. I want to earn money to help pay off my loans and I want something to occupy my time with! Perhaps I can even meet some interesting people!

However, I have looked on job websites but can't find much. I don't know whether to look for temporary positions, or permanent part-time positions, then maybe try to fit the part-time job around my studying next year?

I would greatly prefer a clerical type job (data entry that kind of stuff) in a friendly office environment. Not too much pressure or responsibility. However, there aren't many of those jobs available for some reason, perhaps I need to go through a job agency?

Most office jobs I have looked at require some level of experience, yet I have no experience. No one seems willing to give training these days!

Also, some jobs require 'excellent phone manner' but I am unconfident at speaking on the phone.

I might have to settle for a retail job, which I hate. However, even retail jobs are scarce and some even require experience for basic duties!

Cleaning jobs are out of the question, but I'm beginning to think that's all I'm qualified for, even with 10 GCSE's, 4 A-levels and 1 year of university experience.

I don't know if my self-esteem can handle another summer of sitting at home, wondering why employers won't give me a chance. I really don't know what to do. Would signing up with an agency be my best bet?

[darkun]

So you're starting to realise that the UK is a hard place to find work eh? The problem you are facing is not new. Wages in the UK are so low that most employers would prefer to pay the extra 20p an hour to employ someone with experience, skills and ability to work unsupervised.

I dont know whether you're a chick or a bloke, but my advise would be to cold canvass all the local pubs and restaurants in your area. Summer time is the busiest time of the year and most pubs would be looking for a glass collector or barman around now. If you're a chick, then try out waitressing. I guarantee you it's a great way to meet friends and you'll enjoy it too.

If you really are keen on some kind of admin job then start applying for IT positions, most of those jobs are just looking for someone who knows their way around a pc and the net...

Other than that, there's not much else I can offer, except to get yourself out of the UK as soon as possible.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

I'm not sure if things are the same in the UK, but in the US we have temp agencies that are paid by employers to find employees. I've had great luck with these types of agencies, usually getting an assignment right away. You can specify what kind of work you want to do. Data entry is very common, you just need to have decent typing speed usually. Sometimes the assignment will be for a set period of time and sometimes it will be a temp-to-hire situation.

Good luck.

[Key2Wealth]

Hi Spartan,

The way I think about this situation is that you are just looking for a part time job for 4 months until you go back to school, so do you really need to be doing your perfect type of job. There are many interesting areas to work at and this may be a perfect time to try something that you have never before thought you would like.

Speaking from a employer point of view I would be more interested in hiring a energetic, positive person who was willing to put in more effort than they were getting paid for(these are the type of people who end up earniong more), your resume will look much better with any job than with no job.

Good luck in your search and your studies.

[Spartan]

Originally Posted by Key2Wealth

Hi Spartan,

The way I think about this situation is that you are just looking for a part time job for 4 months until you go back to school, so do you really need to be doing your perfect type of job. There are many interesting areas to work at and this may be a perfect time to try something that you have never before thought you would like.

Speaking from a employer point of view I would be more interested in hiring a energetic, positive person who was willing to put in more effort than they were getting paid for(these are the type of people who end up earniong more), your resume will look much better with any job than with no job.

Good luck in your search and your studies.

Capitalism, bah humbug! Forced to sell my labour for a minimal wage, whilst rich capital owners dictate my workload and pocket the fruits of my labour! Yet before I can have the privilege of becoming a capitalist's puppet, I must somehow experience myself in the art of being a puppet, so the rich puppet masters can keep their pockets full! Then I must summon my non-existent acting skills to feign enthusiasm, otherwise risk losing out to some sugar-rushed idiot.

[1000feet]

There's no law against starting at the top, it's just hard