Job ideas...

Ok, so we all know the economy here in the states BLOWS right now so I'm not going to go into detail about why I have to get a job. But I have to get a job.
My "plan" was to get a job at a local school (perferably my son's) so that I could work while he's in school (my mom is watching my toddler) and have the same days off and summers as he does. We can't afford childcare on what I would make so its either work while Cam is in school or don't work at all which is just not cutting it these days.
I've applied to about a dozen jobs in the school district, but the administration secretary told me they get an average of 100 applications PER job opening so I'm not hedging my bets on those jobs.
Does anyone have any ideas of different jobs out there that I could do that have the type of flexible hours I need? I'd need summers off (yeah, there's the problem right there) as well as spring breaks, christmas breaks, etc.
Ugh, this looks hopeless just seeing it typed out.
Ugh. I'm so screwed.

Jenny-do you have a local special education co-op...like one serving body that does special education.
Although I work at my kids school, the program I work for is through the special education co-op in our area....
I would also suggest a job like I am doing this summer, at an assisted living center...they are much more flexible than say a nursing home or a hospital.
I love this job and will be sad to leave when summer is over.

Hmm..... I have no idea! How would I go about finding out about a special ed co-op? Call the school district maybe? Sounds promising...

Yes-call the school district, and ask if there is a local special education co-op.
Ours serves like 7 counties and covers I wanna say 22 districts...lots of jobs here!

Maybe one of the local daycare centers is hiring. Then you could take the kids there with you when they have no school.

Another option might be being a substitute. I was a substitute teacher for 2 years before getting a full-time position. I don't know where you are but subs are always in high demand around here. Many areas don't require an education background for subs, just a degree or even a hs diploma.

It also never hurts to drop by schools to introduce yourself. In some districts, however, this is a big NO NO, so ask around.

Have you thought about a night/weekend job? I work a retail job on nights and weekends so my son isn't in daycare. So, I'm home with the kids during the day while my husband works... and then on nights and weekends I'm working and he is home with the kids. It's been a really nice solution and a lot of retailer look for night/weekend workers.

Julie, thanks for the suggestion but that won't work. You see, my husband works night (7pm-5am) so I have to be here with the kids. We are a far cry from a "normal" household with my hubby's work schedule. But thanks anyways hon!!

how about at a bank? I just got hired on at one and the hours are super flexible, pay is really great! And the bank I work at is open till 4:30...maybe you could just get a after school sitter for the 1 hour or so? Hope you find somethikng that works into your home life! Good luck

If you can get a job with the school district that would probably be the best scenario for your family as far as the hours and having the same off times. If you can hold off for awhile longer I know in our district many times they don't hire for paras and other support staff until the end of July or early August right before school starts. I would just keep applying for anything that comes available and let human resources know you're interested in anything they might have coming up. Also if you know anyone that is a teacher maybe talk to them and see if they can put in a good word for you. I worked as a para about 7 years ago right after we first got married and I actually didn't get hired until a few days after the school year started. I also worked as a substitute while I was pregnant with Kaylie and then for a few months after she was born before I found a full time job and I was called to sub almost every single day! And the money is usually pretty good, in our district a para can make anywhere in the $7-10/hr. range depending on how many college credits they have (if any) and subs make around $85/day last I heard. Your district may be more or less though. My DH is a 4th grade teacher and in his district they are desperately in need of good subs, I know a lot of times unless they request a sub way in advance they can't always get one. Like if a teacher is sick and has to call in that day most times they have to split that teacher's students up between the other teachers in that grade!

Does your school district have busing Jenny? I know that around here a lot of moms are school bus drivers because the hours match their kids and they can also take younger ones with them when needed.

how about a bus aide? I know our local bus companies that run for the city schools are always hiring-- and obviously they follow the school schedule... It wasn't a TON of money ( I can't remember, I had friends who did this) as it's only like 3-5 hours a day max dependant on t he routes you get.. but there were always extra things you could sign up for- school trips etc to bring in a little more.

mrs_jb said:

Does your school district have busing Jenny? I know that around here a lot of moms are school bus drivers because the hours match their kids and they can also take younger ones with them when needed.

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haha.. soo had the same thought.. well, aide.. driver.. same idea though LOL

I know you need a special license to drive the bus though.. I Forget what those are called LOL

Maybe you could somehow find out or research or ask if anyone at your son's school needs day care or a 'nanny.' There may be other moms out there that are thinking about going back to work or finding jobs, but they would need someone to watch over their kids. It could be a nice way to earn some extra money while also having some playmates for your kids.

When my cousins were in elementary school, I remember hearing about how my uncle and aunt p aid this lady to pick up their kids from school to drop them off at our grandparent's place. Maybe there are some families with that kind of need?

My DH has a client who is a fireman, but he also has a side-business doing foreclosure tours. I think this fireman makes/takes calls and drives those little mini-buses. Maybe you can try to contact a company in your area that does something like that to see if they need help with fielding calls, scheduling appointments/tours, and maybe possibly making flyers.

Repo companies are probably busier nowadays as well. I don't have much knowledge on companies like that or if they are mainly 1- or 2-men operations, but if they also needed a phone person that may be something you could help in.

I'm not really too optimistic in schools. In our city, there were supposed to be budget cuts and teacher lay-offs. At the last minute there was news that no teachers would be getting a pink-slip because they were digging into the rainy-day fund, but there are still people that are no longer employed because of the budget. My BIL was a permanent substitute teacher at a school in our city, they did not give him a contract for the upcoming school year I know of a private school in our city that has laid-off some of its teachers (I talked to one of the teachers that were laid-off...she's due this Oct!).

I know there are day-camps galore going on now. Maybe you can try to contact some to see if they need extra help. Even if camps are underway, there may be a chance that some are swamped and need extra workers. Find out if your son is able to be part of the group.

I know you mentioned the graveyard shift that DH works. What days is he off? Maybe you can see if you can find a job (like retail that others mentioned) on those days. I'm not sure how well retail stores are doing. I would think that Target and Costco are doing better than Macy's and Nordstrom's. That's just my guess.

The swim school we go to just opened up a new site in June...this time in our city. They've been hiring for months, and I think they still are. Looking especially for swim teachers. BUT...there are always front-staff, phone-line, and on-deck people that work there. One of the moms in DD's old ballet class just started working there...just on weekends when DH is with the kids. So maybe you can look to see if there are any new things like that that opened up that may need some help. You never know if they need help.

You know how in high school there used to be career centers/companies that helped high school students find jobs. Is there anything type of job-placement assistance like that for adults?

Good luck! It's tough because the times you are willing to work are very limited.

Well, considering that you've got some education behind you (I'm assuming, if you want to work in the school district), this might not be a popular answer, lol...

I always tell people that are desperate for work...apply at a fast food place! The hours are flexible, and it's not just "easy" work (it's pretty easy, lol...but can be challenging at times). Restaurants are desperate for people who are reliable and will actually WORk, lol...unlike the 15/16 year olds that they HAVE to hire because they're the only ones that apply. And they like smart people, too. I've worked at McD's for 4.5 years now (will be 5 in Sept) and honestly, I do like it. My brother thought he was "too good" to apply for it, and he ended up having to move back in with my parents for a while because he couldn't find a job where he was living - but there was lots of work available! Now I think his new wife just may be applying at a few of those places because they pay almost as much as what she would make as an esthetician (just out of school), have flexible hours and are desperate for workers!

The bonus to something like a job there is that there are a LOT of high school kids - so when they need off during school hours, those are the perfect hours for you...and during breaks, the managers are covered because the kids are out of school. Win-win...it's how it will work for me next year when I go back full-time.

lauren grier said:

haha.. soo had the same thought.. well, aide.. driver.. same idea though LOL

I know you need a special license to drive the bus though.. I Forget what those are called LOL

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I'm not sure how other places work, but I know here, the busing companies will pay for you to get the license that you would need, totally forget what it's called. One of my aunt's is a bus driver and she had no trouble at all with learning to drive and everything.

mrs_jb said:

I'm not sure how other places work, but I know here, the busing companies will pay for you to get the license that you would need, totally forget what it's called. One of my aunt's is a bus driver and she had no trouble at all with learning to drive and everything.

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It's called a CDL :thumbup: Just like a trucker has to have!!

A few of my friends work in the sort of home-based businesses like Avon or MaryKay (also Pampered Chef, Usborne Books, Music for Young Children educator etc. etc.) and some of them work hard at it during day time hours and make enough to definetly make the time worth their while. Does this sort of thing appeal to you at all?

Do you have local tutoring centers? Some of them around here pay a very good wage, although it is usually two hours afterschool that you are working...sometimes it is in the afternoons if children are in special programs or homeschooled, etc.

I don't know if you are a church attender and/or religious but throwing this out there too, our church and others like us are always looking for motivated and talented childrens ministry directors. Often these are part to three quarter time positions, mostly during school hours

and definetly, I agree with Bree on this, working fast food and restaurants is kind of fun! I worked at a Subway for two years and a little coffee shop for two years and even though I have a university degree now I would go back in a minute after my kids are in school just because I loved talking to the people, and found it fun and relaxing.

I've applied to about a dozen jobs in the school district, but the administration secretary told me they get an average of 100 applications PER job opening so I'm not hedging my bets on those jobs.

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I'm a teacher and I know at our schools you totally have to know someone to get a non-instructional position, its the same with sooooo many other moms...wanting to work the same hours as the kids, those jobs are really hard to get.

I was also going to suggest the school with the mentally challenged/physically challenged or applying to be an in-class teacher's aide. Also, if you check into some staffing agencies, there may be similiar opportunities there where you would go "ride the bus/van" to school with the kid, and either go to school with him/her or meet up with the bus again in the afternoon and do the bus ride home with him/her.

Alot of times, staffing is needed on the bus/van so the kids don't hurt themselves by hitting themselves etc. Money would be decent and basically you'd be doing the same school year as the kids.

PS...this type of job with the mentally challenged would be paid through the school but from the counties so there wouldn't be job cuts here. the "aide" wages are built into their yearly budget from their supporting county/state.

Well, I'm a teacher in a large school district. You almost have to sub or know someone in order to get most non-instructional jobs here, and that even includes the custodians. Check into subbing not just for teachers, but for paraeducators (that's what we call our teacher aides here). We can almost always get a teacher sub, but trying to get one for a para is not likely because there just aren't enough of them, and they're prioritized.

Only look into special education if you think you can handle working with children with special needs -- you could get hit, spit on, called names (and I work with 3-4 year olds, so it's all ages). You have to be able to face that without losing your cool. Don't take a job for the money if you can't do justice to the kids. Not saying that you would, but a lot do. There are more jobs on the special education side, especially if you're willing to work with children with severe disabilities/autism/behavior issues.

Two jobs we always need -- lunch aides and bus drivers/aides. These are not necessarily easy jobs. The lunch aides only work for about 2 hours a day, and it's right in the middle of the day. I have seen bus drivers in tears from dealing with unruly children. However, here you can bring your preschool aged child on the bus with you, so that helps a lot of parents who need a job. Neither of those is full time hours, though, and I'm not sure if you need that.

If the school district doesn't work, try for a day care or an after school program. Something that would allow you to bring your children with you sounds perfect for your situation.

I have no ideas for you, but I did want to wish you the best of luck!

Thank you so much for all of your ideas and support. I'm going to look into a lot of these jobs that ya'll suggested. So many of them are great ideas that I'd never even thought of.

On a positive note, I talked to my sister last night. She's a kindergarten teacher at my son's school and I applied for a job as their Library Media Assistant. Turns out, my sister is the one picking out applications for interviews so she's going to put mine in the interview pile. Its not nepotism or anything because 1) she can't actually get me the job or anything, just an interivew and 2) I am actually VERY qualified for this job. So, we'll see how that goes.

Again, thanks so much girls! I love that I have this support system!!

Lilcameronsmommy said:

On a positive note, I talked to my sister last night. She's a kindergarten teacher at my son's school and I applied for a job as their Library Media Assistant. Turns out, my sister is the one picking out applications for interviews so she's going to put mine in the interview pile. Its not nepotism or anything because 1) she can't actually get me the job or anything, just an interivew and 2) I am actually VERY qualified for this job. So, we'll see how that goes.

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Woohoo! That's awesome. Good luck!

Good luck w/ the interview Jenny!!