I need some advice

[hideincarnate]

I've noticed that this school year, so far, I haven't gotten a lot of calls to work, particularly this month. Maybe it's because there are federal holidays and teacher work days aplenty. Maybe because there are field trips. Maybe not a lot of teachers are sick/need to make appointments/are having babies. But whatever it is, it's...disheartening. I

Comments

[sumeragiskank]

I am not sure about subbing etiquette or what the schools would want you to do in terms of showing you are available.

As for part time work, what you could do is state your availability is only nights and weekends, say due to school, and see if you can get hired for that. A lot of seasonal positions should be opening right now due to the holidays, and it's always hardest to get dependable people who will work weekends.

[hideincarnate]

I'm not sure either which is why I haven't done anything...it was one thing when I was first starting out to go around to schools with my resume and information...it's another when you're already in the system and I would say a fair number of schools know who you are.

So do you think I should inquire at like the local mall then? Since shopping malls = shopping = need more workers on the holidays?

[sumeragiskank]

I would definitely check the mall and hand in applications there. Most stores hire a lot of extra workers for the holiday season because of increased traffic and longer mall hours. It won't be amazing hours but it will still be income. But be very up front about your availability. If they hire you knowing you can't work days and attempt to schedule you for that, they're actually in the wrong.

You may end up having to go from subbing to retail work some days, but eh, you gotta do what you gotta do.

[windup_bird]

I agree with this. Retail has pretty flexible hours, especially if you let them know your availability in the long-term, and would be steadier work than the subbing as well. You'd know you had money coming in which is better than where you're at now.

[nieuwnederlands]

I can't speak to etiquette for subbing, but as for part time work, employers for part time positions tend to be very okay with flexibility for school, especially when it's only one night a week.

Just make sure you're willing to give up your nights, and say you are available nights and weekends. Maybe you'll end up going from subbing to work somedays, but you'll be making an income.

[hideincarnate]

My concern with this is if, for some reason, I get really busy subbing and doing part time work, when will I have time to do my graduate school work? At the moment I do it in my free time - nights and weekends, and days like today where I have no work.

[glitterburn]

Since you said that some schools didn't call because they knew you were subbing elsewhere, maybe they took your name off the system or assumed you weren't available or whatever. As it gets closer to Xmas I'm sure they're going to need substitute teachers because of the weather and people getting sick and whatnot, so I reckon you should give your old schools a call just to let them know you're interested. It's just a call, it's not like you're hassling them for work, you're just letting them know that you're available as a resource if needed.

[glitterburn]

Also, you could look into part time jobs with the postal service? If your mail service is anything like ours, they hire a load of people (often students) specifically to handle the Xmas rush. The downside is that the hours are ungodly but it does leave the rest of the day free and it's usually only for a few hours each morning (my shift was 4-8am ).

[hideincarnate]

I did get a hold of HR and calling schools is perfectly fine. So I am going to be doing do that - I already called one school. If I don't work tomorrow, then I'll start calling other schools I have worked at last year.

I did look up careers on our postal service site and nothing was listed for this area. =/ I'll check again after Thanksgiving though - they might not hire for Christmas/New Years until closer to December.

[karadin]

I'd say just call to say you are available, that can't hurt! And why not try selling your stuff on Printfection, the service is free, so you don't lose anything, you can also set your own royalties.

[hideincarnate]

Calling is the current plan of action.

Mmm but would anyone by my art? You have a very marketable style I think. Mine...not so much. I suppose I can give it a try and see.

[windup_bird]

I agree with everyone saying to look into retail work, especially with all the seasonal positions opening up right now, because you can tell them up front that you can only work nights and weekends (and honestly most retail locations are looking for people who are willing to do that). This would leave your days open for subbing.

Also, if subbing kicks off again and you start getting busier you can always cut back your availability to allow you time to get your school work done. :)

[hideincarnate]

Right. I did apply to Target since they were hiring seasonally but they just replied with a "we don't have anything to offer you." Maybe it's because I said I didn't want to work overnight? But I listed my evenings and weekends as free - minus Wednesday night since I currently have classes on those nights.

I suppose the next place to try is the mall? And I guess Best Buy - I'm trying to think of retail places that would be hiring extra people for the season and not just making regular employees work over time...