[ladytiger]

Hi. My new job has been great and gonna be doing some training on help desk not exactly on the phones yet just going through stuff until I get my own phone account at work. I gotta see what's gonna happen in July since budgeting is gonna get even more tighter. I have been looking at other avenues on making money on the side and I feel like a chicken without a head still looking for an idea. I haven't worked in a job for a long time and just got back into the workforce, I don't have much of a business sense (know a few things) to do something.

I am looking for something weekly in between getting paid every other week. I have been doing a great job saving a certain percentage of my check every payday, but my savings was going up then I had to spend it on that lousy car of mine (two new tires and an oil change other stuff that needs to be checked but can't spend everything on the car). I am in no position to buy/sell my car and have no choice but to keep it (didn't buy the car at all and live in a state where having your own vehicle is required and no I don't live a small town/boonies, live in a city and the bus line is terrible). I am trying to break away from codependency (doing stuff on my own) and want to meet my ultimate goal of getting my own place, but I am not making enough I am below the poverty line!!

Forget section 8, a lot of them are still closed and was told Phoenix was gonna open up but saw it is closed. My credit isn't good, but there aren't many organizations who can help. I have been looking at subsidized housing, but will not settle for a P.O.S. apt nor will I move into a place where the landlord is like the one we have at our place! I still don't have enough money in the bank to afford my own place and wanted to start looking for apartments in August so I can have enough paychecks for them to look at and get a good idea as to what they are looking for or wanting. Yea, I am long term, part time of 25 hrs a week, and getting a board approved job at the school will take a really long time because of budget constraints (not many part timers are staying). The temps can't go over 25 hrs we could get in big trouble by the school. Everywhere you go, it's still part time especially if you haven't worked in xyz field in the past.

I need the training and I finally got into the IT field somewhat. I need the help desk skills plus I have been doing some readings/online tutorials on my own (there was no training again budget issues) to help myself. I never worked in the IT field after college in 2010 and still have no certifications as I don't make enough to afford to take the tests to get my certs! I still see my social worker who helps me out a lot (better than my ex-therapist) on my goals and what not.

I also want freedom away from my situation and be at peace that is very important to me and want to leave asap. I don't have many job skills the only thing I have is customer service skills. My coworker asked me have I thought about a 2nd job? I told her well....I just barely got hired and the idea of a 2nd job is iffy which I am not sure yet what to do on that.

I looked at side income ideas and don't find them matching up to something that would be interesting to do.

-Babysitting (was never one of those girls in the past who did that and not going to learn now, not interested in kids)
-Freelance (need to be at the job more than 5 years, I know this because you need people to vouch on your work and need to know contracts)
-Direct Market (looked into those and you gotta pay for the package which is your own biz no thanks)
-Having a business (again, where's the money to afford it?)
-Pet sitting (really fun but it's been a long time since I've owned a dog and have no references to back me up)
-House sitting (don't know anybody where i could do that again no references)
-Caregiver (doesn't interest me, I don't want to be a caregiver. feels like I am babysitting my own parents which is why I would never enjoy caring for someone else)
-Photography (i want to sell, but it is time consuming to take and edit photos and been told I am great at picture taking)
-Web design (haven't done that in a long time)
-Selling (not good with that and don't enjoy it)
-Acting (not good with that)
-Garage sale (I got books but it's in storage and it is hoarded somewhere it's my dad's storage that's a lot of crap to go through)
-Selling my IT skills (again, never worked in the field in the past and relearning /updating everything)
-Rent a room (live at home can't do that)
-Rent my car out (no thanks, not a good car and my car is for myself)
-Teaching (don't have teaching experience or background in teaching and don't enjoy teaching anyway)
-Contract work (again, need more job experience to do that)

I can't think of any at the moment. Anyway, I am looking for something to do on the side and make money. They say turn your hobby into a job, it's more time consuming to turn it into something. I am already burnt out on finding a job back then, going to different places to help me find work, etc and would have to do more stuff that's even more time consuming plus reading/watching tutorials for my job? Way too much work for me, i still have headaches from doing extra work and feel sick physically at times. I don't know, I have no idea what to do and don't find I am good enough to do something on the side as I lacked job skills. I went back to the workforce to face my fears since I have a better understanding about jobs now than when I was 18.

I am looking something that isn't so time consuming and will bring me money in weekly. I am sure some would say you could get a roomie but I have nothing against that, I want a place of my own whereas I can have peace and don't have to answer anybody. My ex-therapist/social worker told me that's what you need is to be alone and feel what it is like not to have someone screaming at you 24/7 because you never experienced that before. I want to meet my ultimate goal and what am i suppose to do if I still can't? I am trying to make an effort, but the lack of money isn't there yet and getting just 25 hrs is all I can get and don't have control over anything else.

Does anybody have any suggestions?

[Perna]

I would just get an evening or weekend sales job at a Mall for the money or whatever kind of job I could get quickly/easily (McDonald's/fast food even). I did that when I wanted to go to graduate school (was working full-time) and needed to save to afford that. I would not worry about whether I liked a second job or not, I'd be in it for the money/my goals and promise myself I'd only work it for 6 months or 1 year or 5 years, whatever time period you want.

Since you want to get your own place, I'd look and see if there were any apartments or rental properties that needed office bodies a couple evenings a week or weekends, etc. or if they had front desks/security, if they needed someone on the desk evenings/nights, etc. You like to take photographs, I'd see if any Realtors needed assistants to help make brochures, run errands, etc.; they are all independent contractors for their agency and have to do their own keeping track of their leads/customers and advertising, etc. Maybe you could help with that/mailings, etc. There's a lot of simple clerical work happening there. I started a whole little business with that, "Minuscule Mailings" :-) for all the independent contractors (that use UPS/FedEX as their office, etc., go hang out in one of those mailing places, get to know the owner and see if there are individuals that could use your help with administrative tasks; get enough of them and the $10-$20 here and there might add up?

[unaluna]

I think they always need people to take orders from catalogues. Thats a work from home job that you need a phone and a computer for. But then you set your own hours.

[ladytiger]

Sales = commission and I just want an hourly wage. The thing is if someone is looking for someone to take pictures, they want someone who knows all the functions of the camera and I am still learning the functions of the camera especially the advanced/intermediate levels. Making brochures would be using Photoshop not good with that but will learn it soon. I know my uncle is an Independent contractor for the government going around evaluating schools in Georgia.

Office people? I have looked for those types of jobs before I got hired and a lot them wanted you to have rental experience. I work at a school in an office environment and didn't have the experience but I had connections at the school that's how I got in. Hmm, I will do some more brainstorming and see, will keep checking online to see what's out there.

[ladytiger]

Originally Posted by hankster

I think they always need people to take orders from catalogues. Thats a work from home job that you need a phone and a computer for. But then you set your own hours.

I've seen those lost interest in that a long time ago.

Webdesign: learn wordpress. It's almost free. Wordpress.org has a whole network of user groups all over the world. I went to a weekend seminar for 25 dollars. Most supportive community too. They have all sorts of ideas as to where you can focus. SEO is coming into high demand. You can learn google analytics for nothing too. Google provides just about all the tools for free.

Photography is hard but if you have a body of work start selling on etsy. Or put it in local shows. Won't make you any money to start but you have to start somewhere.

Phoenix? You live in the bike capital of the world. Ask for a bike on freecycle or buy one off Craig's list. Rei has cheap or free beginner maintenance classes. Biking a couple days a week will save you money and keep you fit.

None of these provide immediate income so I agree with getting a retail job. If you sit all day it would probably be good to stand. That's usually my choice when I need a few extra bucks.

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[ladytiger]

I know about Wordpress someone at the school wanted me to learn it so he can help me find a web design job. Again, that is...time consuming. I was doing web design on Dreamweaver CS3 but stopped. SEO? That pays good again you need experience, all of this stuff is great but these companies want experience behind it I know how the IT field operates.

I have seen google analytics too. Right now, I am reading stuff on Windows software, a lot to read and not sure if I can keep up. I have been looking at positions in other help desk jobs seeing what they are wanting you to know for skills wise. I will figure out something....

[Perna]

Could you work at other jobs at the school (or other school, if it is not a college/university). I know there are always temp jobs at schools for registration weeks, special events, etc. Does the school have a theater/sporting events and need ticket takers, etc.?

The thing is the only jobs that don't take time and experience to master are McJobs. There's always the occasional lottery. Most of the time you do have to give up some time or money.

I am in IT. When I started I got crap from some people for taking data analyst positions after making double in another industry. But it got me a paycheck and experience. I invested a lot of indie time and eventually some money learning database skills. I even volunteered off hours at a museum building their mailing list. Dumb little project but besides being around art I took the cashier position originally because I could teach myself java while minding the store. Did not have access to a computer at the time so what I learned was concepts. It really didn't take long to surpass that original paycheck. How did I learn operating systems? I took an old Mac and installed lynx and used it for my personal computing. Apple is easy. Unix not so much. Command line is command line no matter what. Since then all of my desktop computers have been bought as components and put together by me. If you enjoy aspects of help desk technical support is more lucrative. That leads to corporate cs which is very lucrative. But yes you will have to put time into learning it.

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[ladytiger]

Originally Posted by Perna

Could you work at other jobs at the school (or other school, if it is not a college/university). I know there are always temp jobs at schools for registration weeks, special events, etc. Does the school have a theater/sporting events and need ticket takers, etc.?

Yep, only if you work in that department. Special events? Only if you volunteer that is not paid. it's a college i wrk at where i graduated from in 2010.

[ladytiger]

Originally Posted by Michanne

The thing is the only jobs that don't take time and experience to master are McJobs. There's always the occasional lottery. Most of the time you do have to give up some time or money.

I am in IT. When I started I got crap from some people for taking data analyst positions after making double in another industry. But it got me a paycheck and experience. I invested a lot of indie time and eventually some money learning database skills. I even volunteered off hours at a museum building their mailing list. Dumb little project but besides being around art I took the cashier position originally because I could teach myself java while minding the store. Did not have access to a computer at the time so what I learned was concepts. It really didn't take long to surpass that original paycheck. How did I learn operating systems? I took an old Mac and installed lynx and used it for my personal computing. Apple is easy. Unix not so much. Command line is command line no matter what. Since then all of my desktop computers have been bought as components and put together by me. If you enjoy aspects of help desk technical support is more lucrative. That leads to corporate cs which is very lucrative. But yes you will have to put time into learning it.

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I agree, Unix is not easy. At my job, I don't have to know everything. I do know at other IT jobs in help desk or network admin, you have to know quite a bit. What's the point when they are not gonna hire you when you never worked in the field in the past, no certifications (too costly), etc? I was reading at the career center on time on O Net that it takes 7 years to be a network admin that's not what i was told in college!

They say keep up with your skills, shouldn't they be utilize in the workforce? Being unemployed doesn't help and nobody wants to work for free that's a fact! I did my share of volunteering and I do go back and help out at times but I get a paycheck so I don't have to worry about gas all the time. At my job, I can only do so much and what they tell me to do that's it. I used to do Unix when I was a kid when it had no GUI in the 90s, programming, etc. Been reading/watching tutorials online over and over again. Finding other sources to read is a lot....

Yep, there is a little bit of luck involved but less than movie stars . I think help desk promotions are very dependent in the company. I know two people that work in companies that gave them oppors and one that was desktop for 5 years and then got some minor promotion. If you don't see growth I'd move on until you find it.

Given where you are I would save volunteering for anyplace that will give you experience. Also go to user groups. Pick an area you like and go regularly. Also talk to recruiters and get some feedback. I was lucky and made contacts with recruiter way before I was qualified. Lucky because nobody gave me that advice and I just happened to meet a newbie. But you can go to user groups and pick your brains. That job is usually relegated to jrs so they want connections. They will be happy to tell you where the local need is and give you whatever quick advice the can. If they see drive they will eventually call you. For that reason get some cards printed up from vista print with your email, linkedin account and for safety set up a google voice account (free). Hope that helps

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Oh yeah... You did unix? Learn Microsoft powershell. Beautiful scripting language and you should be able to pick it up easily. Its replacing dos and batch.

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[ladytiger]

Yea, when I was a kid. I have a google voice I need to start using it lol. I got some training today at work on help desk boss wants me to use my network admin skills. I was told I got approved for the rest of the fiscal year, the school's fiscal's year doesn't start till July 1st this year. Hmm, even though there are budget issues, I may need to have a background in case something else happens later on. You never know what's gonna happen with budgeting at companies...

since one part temp left and took a job full time elsewhere, another temp's scheduled changed because he is a student and can't do the help desk, now my boss is down to two full time help desk employees.

[Mylittlpwn13]

When I've been tight on money, I've always gone back to waitressing/bartending. I end up making at least $10 per hour. The jobs are easy to find and the schedules are flexible. Give it a try...