Question.

[kaoru]

Okay, so next semester, I need to start working. But before I get a job, I need to know NOW how to manage my school schedule for NEXT SEMESTER (since registration for spring is already open).

So my question would be for those of you handling school and a job at the same time. What are your school hours like compared to your work hours? How do you manage it? This is probably just common sense, but still, I'd like some advice. :) Thanks.

Comments

[just-laura.livejournal.com]

If you can manage it, it would be a really good idea to get a job now. AFAIK, you don't have much work experience, and it's considered the Christmas season in retail right now, so they'll hire any warm body. A lot of places will keep you after season is over even if you were hired as "seasonal"; that's what I did. By the time next semester rolls around, retail will be dead, and it'll be hard to find a job. Though if you're wanting to wait tables, you might have better luck, especially as Valentine's Day and stuff are coming up. I don't know much about the food service industry.

When I was taking fewer school hours, I would work nights on the nights that that was feasible, and I'd be available anytime on weekends. This semester I'm taking so much class I really only feel capable of working weekends. That's ok because my weekends include Friday, and because they've had me around for long enough that they don't mind only having me for a few days. . . if you were going to try to get the job after Christmas and you were only available on weekends, it'd be even harder to get hired. I don't know what your plan is for school or when you need/want to be out of there, but 14 hours might be a good middle ground

I do ok with managing my time. . . when I was working school nights, I'd basically see what stuff was due when and get things done early. Which is not something that comes naturally to me, but it had to be done. ^_^ If something was due Thursday but I had to work Wednesday night, I'd do it Monday night or Tuesday night, or whenever I had time free. I know you're not a morning person, and I'm not either, but it helps to have classes as early as possible so you can get more hours in at work, or have time to get stuff done before work. Alternatively, if you could have all night classes and work in the morning, that would make you much more desirable to employers. There are tons of college students available during the evening, but you'd be one of the few available during the day.

[just-laura.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. . . work hours. That depends on how well the store is doing, basically--I usually get around 20 a week, but that varies a lot. If they're giving you too much, you can always change your availability to give yourself a night off each week or something. If they're not giving you enough, there's not a lot you can do. ^_^ Other than get a second job, and two jobs + school = way too much for me.

I don't make enough to live, but I make enough to pay for things I need, including food and bills, save up for future living expenses (like when I saved for my sublet last summer, and how I'm saving up enough to pay for a month or two of job hunting after I graduate), and still have money to spend on crap. Since you're living with your parents, I'm sure you could save for a car or an apartment or whatever with little trouble.

[lovestyle.livejournal.com]

Hm, I could seriously get a job this holiday season? See, I dunno, that would be great (and my number one pick is actually what you're doing- Toys R Us, lol), but I don't know if they would hire me. I don't get off til like, 6:00 everyday (except Tuesdays- I don't even get off til like nine on Tuesdays). That by itself is alright, but I'm planning to be gone the week before Christmas- the 17th through the 23rd. Would they still hire me, you think...? Those are like the absolute busiest days before Christmas...

I just want to save for college. The animation colleges I want to go to are both really expensive (although CalArts is twice as much as Sheridan), I have hardly any money, and I won't be receiving any from my parents, so I'm going to have to pay completely by myself. All I want to save up money for is college. Everything else of mine is still being paid for.

As for whether I school in the morning and work in the evenings or vice versa, you know, that doesn't really matter to me. Either way, I'm going to be awake and not asleep, lol, so whichever is fine with me. If I get a job before the season is overwith, maybe I can ask them which they would prefer (or ask my parents. *shrugs* Not that they've ever had to balance work and school, though). I know it's ultimately my choice, but I have absolutely no preference. :P

[lovestyle.livejournal.com]

PS: I'm taking 14 hours right now, hehe. My classes are kind spread out. It just happened that way- three of my classes I HAD to take at certain times (Drawing, Design, and band)- the rest, I did what I could w/ em. :P

I guess it would be a good idea to see what classes are certain hours before I ask for opinions. If my art classes are all in the morning, I can't very well be working at that time... :P I'll most likely end up having to go to school in the mornings, and work in the evenings. Just like everyone else, lol.

[just-laura.livejournal.com]

You could! It would be the best time to do it, I think--retail doesn't care who you are or what kind of experience you have during the holiday season. ^_^

The problem with TRU is that we close at 9 right now--eventually we'll expand our hours so you could work more, but they probably couldn't hire you knowing you'd only be available for 3 hours on weekdays. Retail places that close later could be fine with it, though. Some places would have a problem with you being gone for that week, but some would still take you knowing you could be there the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.

We also have overnight stockers. . . I don't know if you'd be able to do that or not, but you could potentially sleep at odd hours and work nights. You'd get more hours and get paid more, but it would be kind of a pain.