Flexible jobs?

I'm a doctoral student looking for a way to fund at least part of my living expenses or maybe even some of my tuition (if I never get an assistantship). The main issue is I never have enough of a consistent schedule to get a regular job. Classes in my department are early morning, afternoon, and late night. Not to mention I have to be available in the evenings at least for gigs.

And in the summers, I have gigs and other obligations in other states so I can't be in one place 24/7 for 3 months. (I'll only be gone a few days to a week a few times this summer, but still). I've looked into temp work, but my specialities are in music and writing. I have a minor in math so I could probably tutor if being a tutor paid enough or if I can even figure out how to apply at my university (the applications are for several years ago and say they're only for undergrads?)… I can get money from gigs, but I need something that's more consistent than that is right now.

If there was something I could work on on my own time that would be great, because I have time, it's just not on a consistent schedule. And I can't sign up for a work study yet because I have not been informed about teaching assistantships or if I'm even eligible for a work study next year!

I've gotten a couple of job offers, but most seem to require that I drop out of school. Or they at least require that I go work in an industry that I have no knowledge, experience, or interest in. But then, that's probably what I'm going to have to do even once I get a doctorate. Or move to another country that actually has jobs and puts value on the arts…

I just want to be a responsible adult and help pay for my living expenses, if not become financially independent. But it seems I have to give up my aspirations and dreams and the work I've already done in order to do so. I guess I'm just unwilling to do that, but that probably makes me selfish.

Hello , if your studying you probably want a Job that you can learn quickly
why don't you childminding for people who work shifts?
Child minders sometimes are needed morning afternoon and evenings ?
in UK a lot of students work in coffee shops.
Liesure centre staff, they can be open at all hours

What about as a cashier at Lowe's? I hear they offer accommodating schedules to students.

Would they allow me to be gone for a week though? I have one week I'll have to be gone for a conference in July. And that doesn't include all of the out-of-state gigs I'm starting to accumulate (unfortunately not enough income on its own but I don't seem to get local gigs that actually pay).

If it is part time job they will let you go for a week

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think with advance notice they will. Worth a shot.

Just a thought - I have been offering private music lessons for close to 20 years because of the flexibility. I am fortunate to be able to do that from my home studio, and through it all have managed to get a master's degree, work various jobs including one now full time , raise my now 14-year old son, and stuff life that. I can easily tell a student that something came up for a week, etc. There are issues of course with managing a music studio, but they can be worth it! Not just the flexibility but the pay is double to quadruple anything else I do. Obviously I have worked up to a place where I have enough students but you said you could also tutor, so that adds to the pool of prospective students.

Unfortunately, I don't have the space to teach (I live in an apartment). The local music stores are not hiring people to teach my instrument (and it's a very common instrument for younger kids). I might be able to rent a room at a music store, but the problem with that is when you usually teach at a music store, a lot of your recruiting is done by the music store…not so in this case.

I really wish they'd consider me as a teaching assistant at the university because I'm the only "classical" doctoral student on my instrument. But I'm only a lowly composition major and not a performance major. They should be hiring me as a composition TA since we lost yet another faculty member…but you know they won't.

Another issue is recruitment…apparently it's more difficult here than in other places. And this is according to people who know how to do it and have no anxiety over social interaction. And of course have their own space in which to do it in.

I guess I'll just have to get another job and hope that at part time I can make enough to afford being able to rent a house. Although, at that point, I'll be moving somewhere (anywhere) else and maybe putting a studio together will be easier or maybe a music store will be ok with offering at least lessons on my instrument so I can work through them.

Besides, outside of a music store, I wouldn't know exactly how to do it. And what does one do (work wise) while building a studio? Is there any point if you know you're leaving the area in two years anyway (maybe even sooner)?

I think I'm just going to do temp jobs. I need to see what other jobs I can stand doing so I know what other industry to go into after I graduate since a doctorate will do nothing for getting me a music-related job.

How about schools? Private schools, particularly. High schools, but smaller kids as well. There might be 'teachers aide' kind of stuff, especially to start out. Once you get a reputation / some work experience behind you then I'd imagine you might be able to get a nice business going due to word of mouth. Especially if you do 'classical training' and can do (tutor) some maths, on the side.

How about restaurant? Waitressing or bar tending? In a good one you can get nice tips.

My daughter was bar tending in college and she isn't even generally the type, but it gave her nice experience. Everywhere she went after that was highlight if her resume "oh you were s bar tender so you know how to deal with people! You are hired". Even if jobs have nothing to do with food service. She is a librarian


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Typically working a a school in any capacity isn't flexible but requires some type of set schedule. Op said he/she has classes morning and day and had gigs at night

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm just concerned about the summer at the moment…I'm thinking it would be a horrible idea to try to work anything outside of my field during the school year. I don't need money in a life or death sort of way, but getting a job is mostly to show that I can actually do something that's worth getting paid for and that I'd be able to contribute to a household until I actually get paid to do something in my career field.

And that's the reality for the field I'm in. You work for free until someone decides to pay you. I've talked to several people further in their careers who say this. They also say I'm on the right track/am talented blah blah. But also say that I'm too young (I'm 26, will be 27 this summer) to really find people willing to pay me for my work and so I have to do freelance work for free. I will also perform as a musician when the opportunity arises since the pay is good…but there's not enough consistency to depend on that as an actual income.

I need to show proof to my partner that I actually am capable of paying my fair share of the bills when we graduate as he has expressed concerns that I will become dependent on him because I've never had a part time/full time job like he has had. I've been a full time student my whole adult life except for one year and there was no financial need for me to have a job and I would have not been able to get so much work done towards getting a job in my actual field had I worked anyway.

And about the year off…you can blame me for that but I can't erase the past now.

But back to the present, I would just get any random seasonal job, but I have to go out of state in late July for about a week. I've been elected as a voting delegate to a national conference of an international organization. This will get me contacts in my career field from all over the country and possibly the world. It's a very very big deal and an honor to be elected to vote for my chapter.

Also, I have out of state gigs at the end of June through early July. I was hoping to not drive back and forth between states if I didn't have to. Technically, I could still probably pull out of those, but man I'd feel like a jerk if I did as it's difficult to find subs in that area (I was asked to sub and I'm from another state and it's only possible for me because I have family to stay with in that area).

So basically, I need a "regular" job outside of my career field (so they'll have to be entry level) and I need to be able to take off at least one week (if not two) during the summer and I'll only work minimum wage if it's full time and that's the only option. So I'm really at a loss…

While teaching lessons would be great…this isn't the best market for it and it doesn't prove that I can get a day job to cover bills while I work on building a decent income in the music field (including giving lessons I'm sure) after I graduate.

I don't know if any of that made sense…I don't think non-musicians have to deal with any of this stuff. Especially the whole work for free until someone decides to pay you part.