I tend to avoid the blog when I’m in a particularly bad mood. I am one of those people that gets down and depressed sometimes and try to not be a debbie-downer in the blog world (especially since I already complained in my recent Foodie Penpals post and my last WIAW). This time my anxiety and stress about school and my stinkin blogger feed (please let me know if you can help!) lowered my immune-system fighting powers and I was struck with a cold that’s lasted since Friday.
I haven’t been able to do my running with my cold and that is making me one sad Amanda.
I was going to do a post today on baking with Chobani, and don’t worry, that post is coming. But really all I want to do right now is rant.
About what? Maybe a rant about part-time jobs, those jobs that are essential in order to carry us through our college years, mine of which are entering their fourth but not final year (I still have over two left), but they still kinda stink sometimes.
The thing about part time jobs is that you have to find the perfect one that will be flexible in hours, yet give you the right amount of hours you want for the rate you need.
Since that is nearly non-existent, I’ve always had more than one part-time job over my college career.
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| My first waitressing job at the ripe age of 19. |
I started at Chili’s and that was going okay for about three years (until I ran into a very disrespectful manager that made me cry). I made lots of friends and adopted my nickname “Nammy Cakes.”
A friend told me about a restaurant job far superior to my Chili’s job (really I would find out that all restaurants are really the same…each has it’s advantages and disadvantages and at all of them you are subjected to serving the patrons for not enough money) so I went to Bdubs in search of greener pastures.
Up until last night, I was employed at Buffalo Wild Wings for over two years (according to my phone…three years?? is that possible?). I felt relief walking out of the restaurant (although a little sad at leaving some of my fellow employees), telling myself I could hold my head up high and not have to pick up chicken bones off the floor or clean out the greasy inside of a trash bin ever again.
It’s the little things in life, right?
I’ve also kept a job at a coffee catering job for almost four years (which shall not be named as the rant is actually sparked from an encounter with my manager there).
Over the past four years I have had various availabilities from whenever-the-heck-you-want-me, to, by request, a “back-up” employee (when I tried to quit). A catering job can be stressful since at times there are literally no hours and at other times, we are booked to the max. I have had weeks where I worked 40 hours, plus waitressing, plus school and other times where a couple of weeks went by with no hours.
I’ve also worked outdoors in some very crummy conditions ranging from sweating out of my eyeballs to freezing my fingers off.
I’ve dealt with it all at the job, even sharing my Facebook and Twitter skills to help my boss spread the word about her small business.
I’ve stuck through it because, well, I like coffee, the job isn’t too hard, and what the heck else do you do besides part-time jobs that kinda stink but do the trick while you’re in school?
I’ve had availability there on Tuesdays and Thursdays and weekends as of late, since I have classes Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. All sounds good an peachy right? I’m open when I’m not in school.
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| Look at that rockstar barista. Helping spread the word with a picture for the Facebook page. |
Well..I wasn’t getting scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays and since there are other employees there, I thought I would just find some other way to make money on those days. Makes sense right? I have bills, I need money.
I got a job watching a little baby on Tuesdays and Thursdays (that I’m pretty excited about) so I let my boss at the catering job know that last night. Welp, apparently I should have waited to tell her, because she informs me she is taking me off the schedule now. Basically.
I had an event I was going to work this Saturday…it’s been scheduled for over a month and they are tipping a hundred bucks per barista. It’s a long event, so lots of hours and did I tell you about the tip??
But my boss informed me that since I was no longer “committed” to working, she was putting someone else, an employee who has been there a month or two, on the event. She said this employee is more committed than me. Really?
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| I was all like “excuuuse me??” |
Don’t worry, I told my boss how I felt about this in a professional manner (after I cooled off a bit), and she said I have basically “quit” the job. *sigh*
What should I have done? Waited around for hours that may not have come? Or find another way to make money? It seems that I hit the proverbial “You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”
I don’t know about these part-time jobs, guys. Maybe I should just quit college and get a “real” job. Wait, I don’t have a degree….
I need your help friends!
Tell me something good going on in your life!
OR
Something that will give me perspective on this situation.
You can also share a little rant below about your job if you’d like. It helps to get it out!
Ah, juggling school and jobs – I remember those days! If I were you, with your barista skills, I’d move on to a more established coffee shop. I worked a coffee shop in college and for the most part, really enjoyed it. Since they are open pretty much all the time, you don’t have to worry about them cutting your hours. It sounds like you boss doesn’t appreciate you, so it may be time to move on anyway. Why work for someone who doesn’t see your value?Anyways, that’s my little suggestion. Like you, I did that and was a regular nanny for two of my professor’s kids. Easy money!
Thanks for the empathy Maria! That is definitely a good idea to just get another barista job (duh Amanda) but I do make pretty good money at the catering gig so it stinks it’s working out this way.
I might be moving to the city I go to school in (an hour away) so that is probably what I will try to do for money there.
Thanks for the suggestion friend!! <3
Ah, juggling school and jobs – I remember those days! If I were you, with your barista skills, I’d move on to a more established coffee shop. I worked a coffee shop in college and for the most part, really enjoyed it. Since they are open pretty much all the time, you don’t have to worry about them cutting your hours. It sounds like you boss doesn’t appreciate you, so it may be time to move on anyway. Why work for someone who doesn’t see your value?Anyways, that’s my little suggestion. Like you, I did that and was a regular nanny for two of my professor’s kids. Easy money!
Thanks for the empathy Maria! That is definitely a good idea to just get another barista job (duh Amanda) but I do make pretty good money at the catering gig so it stinks it’s working out this way.
I might be moving to the city I go to school in (an hour away) so that is probably what I will try to do for money there.
Thanks for the suggestion friend!! <3
Ugh. Part time jobs blow. I once got scheduled over christmas break in college. When I lived in the dorms. And the dorms were closed. So, um, duh, I wasn’t going to show up. In fact, I didn’t even LOOK at the schedule because I’d said I wasn’t going to be around. So I showed up to look at the schedule when I got back and they were like, “YOU are in HUGE trouble.” Say what?? Um, you scheduled me when I clearly stated I had nowhere to live this past month.
Here’s my advice. Get a job in grocery or at Target. Target apparently is really good with their employees. And I’ve worked in several grocery stores and I’d have to say those were the best part-time jobs that I’ve had. If you find one that’s closer to a “college neighborhood” you’ll likely have more flexibility. Also, meat departments and bakeries pay more. Those are usually $10ish an hour (not as awesome as getting tips, but still, less busting your ass).
Hmm very good advice! I know the HyVee in Lincoln (if I move there) hires dietetic students so that would be awesome if I could do that! Plus I spend most of my money on groceries anyways! Good thinking! 🙂
Ya scheduling for part-time jobs stinks for the most part. Especially since my schedule changes each new quarter/semester!
One of my friends actually is the manager (or assistant manager?) of a HyVee in Omaha. Let me know if you want me to see which one she’s at and if she’s hiring.
Ugh. Part time jobs blow. I once got scheduled over christmas break in college. When I lived in the dorms. And the dorms were closed. So, um, duh, I wasn’t going to show up. In fact, I didn’t even LOOK at the schedule because I’d said I wasn’t going to be around. So I showed up to look at the schedule when I got back and they were like, “YOU are in HUGE trouble.” Say what?? Um, you scheduled me when I clearly stated I had nowhere to live this past month.
Here’s my advice. Get a job in grocery or at Target. Target apparently is really good with their employees. And I’ve worked in several grocery stores and I’d have to say those were the best part-time jobs that I’ve had. If you find one that’s closer to a “college neighborhood” you’ll likely have more flexibility. Also, meat departments and bakeries pay more. Those are usually $10ish an hour (not as awesome as getting tips, but still, less busting your ass).
One of my friends actually is the manager (or assistant manager?) of a HyVee in Omaha. Let me know if you want me to see which one she’s at and if she’s hiring.
Hmm very good advice! I know the HyVee in Lincoln (if I move there) hires dietetic students so that would be awesome if I could do that! Plus I spend most of my money on groceries anyways! Good thinking! 🙂
Ya scheduling for part-time jobs stinks for the most part. Especially since my schedule changes each new quarter/semester!