As much as I hate to ask about money. (And yes, I have read the 101 ways to work abroad, and a whole lot of the other articles as well) I am a bit confused as to the best way to find temporary work, quickly wherever I may be. I am planning on starting my trip in May (the 20'th to be exact) and would like to go for as long as possible.
So, what is the best way to find quick jobs in the US to raise a little bit of cash, before I head on out again. I assume the best way would be to simply ask around, hang around hardware stores and try to talk to people about helping them with their projects for a little bit of cash or asking around kitchens for temporary help.
Anyway, I know a lot of this has been covered, probably many times before, just looking to clear some things up and see what works and what does not.
You pretty much have the gist of it TH. As long as you don't mind getting dirty, scalded, blistered, etc. there are pickup jobs everywhere. End up in a one horse town with a hardware store, cafe, and gas station, ask if you can wash dishes in the evenings, sweep the hardware store before or after closing, pump gas if they are full service... etc. I did janitor and bouncer work at one mining bar in the middle of nowhere Arizona for a while to get gas money. They even let me sleep in the storeroom. Wasn't fancy but I did it for three days and got enough money to get out of dodge. Same thing for washing dishes at a truckstop- started out me asking to wash dishes for dinner and I ended up staying for a week and making $8 an hour and shacking up with one of the waitresses.
Do a search and see what kind of resorts, etc are anywhere near where you are heading. All the resorts I have worked at all had jobs because of noshows, firing, etc. It may be washing dishes or working in the laundry but most provide housing and meals as well as a job. I did this for several years when I graduated from college. Worked at Jackson Lake Lodge in Wyoming for a summer(security), hit Angel Fire NM(snowmaking) for the winter, etc. Do a state and national park search to see where they all are. Just don't be picky about what jobs you will or won't work. If you don't drink it all up you can put away several grand in a season fairly easily.
Next question: where are/will you be coming from? I ask because spring and summer are coming and the summer resorts in Wyoming and other places will allready be hunting for personel. Jackson Lake Lodge I know has a website that lists when and where they will be having jobfairs. Same with Yellowstone I think.
Helps or hinders, let me know. Good luck.
good tips sasquatch...
do you have any idea where you will be, hero? it's a lot easier to get restaurant work etc... at ski resorts/parks than it is to hang out outside Home Depot and get a job when there are 1,000 Mexicanos willing to do the same thing for less money.
National Parks usually trade room/board for work, like scaring off the bears in Yosemite. No money to be made there really.
and theres always craigslist in whichever city you're in.
Speaking from experience: JLL(ie jail, what we called it anyway) ie Jackson Lake Lodge starting wage is $7.75 an hour or therebouts. When I was there the meal plan was $35 a week and dorm style housing was another $35 a week. They take it from your wages. While neither is fancy but you will have a roof and three meals a day: or more if you are into cereal. Or if you own your own RV the rate is $6 a day with free electricity, water and sewage- not bad if you have an RV.
6 day work week is standard. Though I only worked 3 days a week- 3 16 hour shifts. Swing shift supervisor(nights) for security. No one else wanted it or could stay awake that long at a stretch.
And at the end of the season they host a jobfair for resorts all over the US, some international, and provide references if needed.
Not a bad gig all told. I have been debating on returning.
I've come to realize that I can make more money teaching English in developing countries than I can working shit jobs in the states, and with the current economic crisis, it might get hard to find any jobs at all, so be advised. I think the entire world is heading for an equalization in income levels. Acciontrabajo.com has at least 50 job postings a week for english teachers in Mexico (you need to understand some spanish, at least to navigate the site), some offering up to $12-13 an hour. $10-11 an hour is standard in Cambodia, no degree required. If you have a degree, you can go just about anywhere in East asia and save about $1000 a month teaching english. If you want to teach english, that is... it's not an easy job all in all. It's not a hard job either, and alot better than most manual labor jobs.
(03-02-2009 10:47 PM)sasquatch Wrote: [ -> ]Next question: where are/will you be coming from? I ask because spring and summer are coming and the summer resorts in Wyoming and other places will allready be hunting for personel. Jackson Lake Lodge I know has a website that lists when and where they will be having jobfairs. Same with Yellowstone I think.
I am coming from North Carolina. And I am looking to leave at the end of May to finish school stuff.
Thank you very much for the suggestions, I am looking for as much information as possible. (The more you know!)
do you have any idea where you will be, hero? it's a lot easier to get restaurant work etc... at ski resorts/parks than it is to hang out outside Home Depot and get a job when there are 1,000 Mexicanos willing to do the same thing for less money.
Thats a good point. And I do have about 3 years experience. I feel silly for not thinking about this actually.
But no, I do not really know where I am headed yet.
Next question: what are your limitations?
As in transportation? Your first post stated you are short on funds. But do you have transportation? North Carolina to Wyoming is a bit of a trek. I worked with alot of folks who bussed it and absolutely hated it. They were stuck on location unless they bummed rides to town etc.
You might also look into
http://www.fs.fed.us/, the US Forest Service. They hire alot of summer help for trail clearing, etc.
Also,
http://www.coolworks.com/. Has MANY jobs for resorts etc all over the US.
Also, AmeriCorps.
Well, I was planning on walking/ hitching honestly. Funds are an issue. But I find that I can live very very cheaply, so they are not the biggest deal ever.
That coolworks place looks rather nifty, I will be sure to check keep it in mind.
Thank you all for your help by the way. The closer it gets the more intimidating it seems. Perhaps that is just from my friends constantly telling me that I am going to get raped.
Anywho, thanks again.