Need some suggestions...

[Alibi]

Hey guys, I've got an interesting situation that I would like some extra input on. Basically, I was a student worker at my university but I was laid off due to "restructuring". My boss' wife works a local internet provider as the head of human resources and I have a very good chance of getting a job there... but I don't know if I want to be involved with computers anymore.

So, these are my options:

1. Apply at local internet provider. High possibility of being employed as a phone operator helping people troubleshoot internet connectivity problems or viruses, etc.

Pros: Good pay, part time, set schedule around my classes

Cons: People in general piss me off, I'm a little deaf so phone conversations with quiet folk is near impossible, and I hate the idea of sitting behind a desk for a job, I don't enjoy messing with computers as a job

2. Apply at a local O'reily's thats hiring. I've got some pretty good backyard mechanic skills, but I don't have any certification. So I'd prolly just be your normal stand behind the counter guy.

Pros: I'd learn a lot about cars, I'd get to roam around the store, I get to play with cars, Discount on car parts, I'd be getting paid for something I actually enjoy doing

Cons: I may not get the job, pay wouldn't be great, scheduling and hours aren't constant (could be a pro tho), I'll get annoyed at people who ignore maintenance, by applying here I wouldn't be able to get on at the IP (they're looking to hire very soon)

3. Just enjoy the small vacation and get another on-campus job for minimum wage but would be ridiculously easy and with an infinitely flexible schedule.

Pros: Easy. I can not show up to work and not have any problems (usually). I'll have enough idle time to work on homework and get paid at the same time.

Cons: I'd have to find a job over the summer unless I take a summer class, poor pay, boring.


Soooo.... Just any thoughts would be nice as I'm pretty torn between decent pay vs doing something I like.

[00accord44]

It really depends on your financial situation imo. If you can afford to make less money and possibly enjoy work a lil more then by all means do it. Being able to enjoy your job is teh shizz. But in my personal experience, having an easy low pay job in college was cool, but it would've been even cooler to eat on a regular basis

[turtlecrxsi]

Hmm. I know what you're going through. When I was in college I worked as a student worker in the Library and it was extremely easy. I lived off of financial aid (sucks paying back now though) and lived at home and commuted to school/work. After graduating I got a full-time job at the same library making more money while studying for my Masters. The thing that really sucks is having to pay back thousands of dollars of borrowed financial aid money...

Another reason I can emphathize with your situation is because I too am hearing impaired and yet I work at a desk job full time in front of a computer. However, my employers are extremely understanding about my hearing condition and luckily I don't have to deal with talking on the phone very often to other branches of our firm. Unfortunately, my phone extension is constantly being confused by mental health patients dialing the number 8 consecutively twice instead of the zero on their phones. Talk about bad/weird luck. LOL But I'm done with school now so having a job that pays fairly well with a nice office and great benefits is satisfactory in comparison to say working at a parts store. But I understand you're younger and your situation is different. And I can completely understand how you would rather work as a student worker next semester to concentrate on your studies and enjoy your free time while you actually have some.

I would still suggest you look into that computer job though. From what I've seen computer jobs pay pretty well and this may certainly be a stepping stone to bigger and better things later on.

GL

[Alibi]

Money-wise, I'm not too bad off. I pay around $200 a month for bills (I rent a duplex with my brother and we get some help from our grandmother). So I need enough money to pay for gas, food, car parts, and anything else that comes up. I also take out loans and use them to live on throughout the semester so that helps lot financially.

I was going to go into CIS (computer stuff) as a degree, but I've now decided to go into IET (industrial engineering) so a computer job wouldn't do much for me career-wise but it would get me a nice paycheck. ....but I don't really have enough interest in working there. I keep leaning towards trying to get a job at an auto store and if that doesn't work out then I can always pick up an on-campus job. Hmm....