Accepted but jobless

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

Ohtobeagunner

M-0
7+ Year Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2013
Messages
18
Reaction score
8
Unfortunately, I have been been out of a job for a couple of months, as my lab ran out of funding and couldn't afford to keep me any longer. In the past month I have received a couple of med school acceptances that have at least eased my stress levels. I am now in the weird position where I need a job just until school starts in the fall.

Over the past couple of months, I have had interviews with many labs but have been told by PIs that my inability to even commit one year means they can't even consider me. As a result, I've resorted to applying to random part-time jobs but have not had much success on that front, which I think is due to my lack of experience. Does anyone have any advice on finding a temporary job for 7 months? Would love to travel and just have fun but need money to pay the rent! But that said, I would love a suggestion for a fun short-term way to make money! Anyone been in a similar situation?
 
If you are healthy, maybe look into becoming a research subject for studies that require healthy volunteers. They pay pretty well depending on the study.
 
Got any hobbies? Work in something pertaining to that.
 
Starbucks. Good pay, benefits and you will probably make some good friends. Plus they expect you to be short term and won't mind hiring for 7 months.
+1. Plus you can buy one of their Baratza grinders at the employee price and sell it to me for less than retail 🙂

Everyone wins!
 
Work a restaurant. Makes a good amount of money and you can gain a fair amount of muscle if you don't currently work out much. That or you can sell your plasma and semen.
 
Here's a hint: don't mention that you're going to school in the fall or you'll never get a job.

This too. I wouldn't lie about it...but I would lie by omission. It's just the reality of the situation. 🙁
 
Here's a hint: don't mention that you're going to school in the fall or you'll never get a job.

+10000000

It's only lying if they ask you directly if you're going to school in the fall. In which case, lie your ass off and feel bad about that later.
 
I agree with the others -- don't mention med school. I just got a job offer at an accounting firm after I graduate this spring. The hard part was truthfully answering the question in my interview, "Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?" In short, I said something along the lines of having a career that offers new experiences and gives me a chance to give back to my community. Not one lie in that answer! 🙂
 
Here's a hint: don't mention that you're going to school in the fall or you'll never get a job.
This. Whenever you are applying for a job, pretend you are going to be the best, most long-term, loyal corporate slave they've ever hired. Enthusiasm and potential longevity are two big factors in hiring people for crappy jobs. Even more important than actual qualifications or experience much of the time.
 
Unfortunately, I have been been out of a job for a couple of months, as my lab ran out of funding and couldn't afford to keep me any longer. In the past month I have received a couple of med school acceptances that have at least eased my stress levels. I am now in the weird position where I need a job just until school starts in the fall.

Over the past couple of months, I have had interviews with many labs but have been told by PIs that my inability to even commit one year means they can't even consider me. As a result, I've resorted to applying to random part-time jobs but have not had much success on that front, which I think is due to my lack of experience. Does anyone have any advice on finding a temporary job for 7 months? Would love to travel and just have fun but need money to pay the rent! But that said, I would love a suggestion for a fun short-term way to make money! Anyone been in a similar situation?
Have you tried using a temp agency? You have a degree and that should be enough.
 
You could donate plasma, a lot of college kids do it for extra cash.
 
Figure out where you're going to med school, find a job in that town, keep it until the classes crush it out of you.
 
You could donate plasma, a lot of college kids do it for extra cash.

My bro crashed while donating plasma. He's fine now, but it's not risk free. Try a temp agency first imho. 😛
 
Nannying is awesome money too...$15-20/hr under the table. I'm in the exact situation. I've resorted to waiting tables, nannying and freelance web design. Hectic but it pays the bills and gives me time to finish my masters thesis.
 
This. Whenever you are applying for a job, pretend you are going to be the best, most long-term, loyal corporate slave they've ever hired. Enthusiasm and potential longevity are two big factors in hiring people for crappy jobs. Even more important than actual qualifications or experience much of the time.

Mad Jack, you are spot on in most of your posts.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. Got offered a one month position doing basic video editing shortly after posting this. It's like someone out there was listening to my desperate plea for a job haha. Video editing is something I love to do and the position could turn into a longer deal depending on performance. Woo!
 
If you are healthy, maybe look into becoming a research subject for studies that require healthy volunteers. They pay pretty well depending on the study.

Seriously! Do some sleep studies. The long ones pay 7-10k per month. What this means, however, is that you will be locked in a hospital/research area, unable to leave, for a month. That said, I would do 1-2 of these studies, and kick back for the remaining time!
 
Seriously! Do some sleep studies. The long ones pay 7-10k per month. What this means, however, is that you will be locked in a hospital/research area, unable to leave, for a month. That said, I would do 1-2 of these studies, and kick back for the remaining time!
There's a study in my area which provides all of your food for 8mo (varying your diet periodically) and then pays you 2k at the end...the payoff is less but you can live grocery-free for a long time!
 
There's a study in my area which provides all of your food for 8mo (varying your diet periodically) and then pays you 2k at the end...the payoff is less but you can live grocery-free for a long time!

Good EC?

😉
 
Lol..."I'll skip the 2k if you agree to be the contact info for my 'contributed to a long-term clinical study conducted by xyz hospital system'"

Atta boy girl. Now you're thinking like a top 10 gunner.
 
Last edited:
Atta boy. Now you're thinking like a top 10 gunner.
Nah, if I had any balls (which I don't due to my being lacking in the Y chromosome department) I would take the $2k and just list the experience knowing a) it's technically true if syntactically and morally grey, and b) no one calls those contacts anyway!
 
Try substitute teaching only requires a degree in some states or college credits in others

You're contracted per day for a different school or a different classroom and it's noncommittal can do it everyday pick up an absent teacher job or not what ever you want. The more districts you sign up/apply for the more options you have

Look at edjoin.org

Pays about 90-130/day depending on district/classroom for 6 hours of babysitting
 
Nah, if I had any balls (which I don't due to my being lacking in the Y chromosome department) I would take the $2k and just list the experience knowing a) it's technically true if syntactically and morally grey, and b) no one calls those contacts anyway!

Edited my post to reflect your genetics.

And yes, you're probably right. Someone I knew once said they were part of the Slovakian Olympic bobsledding team. No verifying call was made.
 
Seriously! Do some sleep studies. The long ones pay 7-10k per month. What this means, however, is that you will be locked in a hospital/research area, unable to leave, for a month. That said, I would do 1-2 of these studies, and kick back for the remaining time!

Waittt....you can get paid for going to jail?
 
Have you contacted PIs at the med school you will be attending? Many offer research the summer before matriculation. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to convince one to hire you early.
 
Unfortunately, I have been been out of a job for a couple of months, as my lab ran out of funding and couldn't afford to keep me any longer. In the past month I have received a couple of med school acceptances that have at least eased my stress levels. I am now in the weird position where I need a job just until school starts in the fall.

Over the past couple of months, I have had interviews with many labs but have been told by PIs that my inability to even commit one year means they can't even consider me. As a result, I've resorted to applying to random part-time jobs but have not had much success on that front, which I think is due to my lack of experience. Does anyone have any advice on finding a temporary job for 7 months? Would love to travel and just have fun but need money to pay the rent! But that said, I would love a suggestion for a fun short-term way to make money! Anyone been in a similar situation?

Restaurants are pretty much always hiring. You could do that, and if you find something that pays more then do that. You could also go the temp agency route. For something short term, I would just get any job. If you got a choice, take the one that pays more. It's not like this will be a career or even long-term, so it won't matter much whether or not you actually like the job. Just get money and **** bitches for the next seven months.
 
ugh just give me your acceptance, I'll give you my job 😉
 
Target! they pay pretty well compared to other retail places
 
Restaurants are pretty much always hiring. You could do that, and if you find something that pays more then do that. You could also go the temp agency route. For something short term, I would just get any job. If you got a choice, take the one that pays more. It's not like this will be a career or even long-term, so it won't matter much whether or not you actually like the job. Just get money and **** bitches for the next seven months.
They are rarely hiring for the short term, though. I once spent over 1mo trying to find a summer job. Every day I went door-to-door to every restaurant I could find, resumes in hand, etc. If I hadn't been living rent free with my mother at the time (and using her car with her gas money), I would have been SOL. Even the fast food places were in a slump...they 'hired' me just enough to make me do all of the training (w/o pay), then conveniently forgot to ever schedule me. On the plus side, one of the workers stole my number off the employment app and texted me relentlessly for a date due to the amazing chemistry we had when I told him "sorry, I'm not buying anything, I just need to give this to the manager" , then spent 2wks texting me about how racist I was for turning him down and how he bet I never dated *insert race here* guys because I was a bigot.
 
In Orange County (Socal), there's a study for healthy volunteers where you go in for 4 days 3 nights in a row and then 15 outpatient visits over 5 months = $3700. I got $100 just to do the screening visit.
 
Unfortunately, I have been been out of a job for a couple of months, as my lab ran out of funding and couldn't afford to keep me any longer. In the past month I have received a couple of med school acceptances that have at least eased my stress levels. I am now in the weird position where I need a job just until school starts in the fall.

Over the past couple of months, I have had interviews with many labs but have been told by PIs that my inability to even commit one year means they can't even consider me. As a result, I've resorted to applying to random part-time jobs but have not had much success on that front, which I think is due to my lack of experience. Does anyone have any advice on finding a temporary job for 7 months? Would love to travel and just have fun but need money to pay the rent! But that said, I would love a suggestion for a fun short-term way to make money! Anyone been in a similar situation?

Dude DONT tell them taht you hare going to medical school. People mind disagree with me and call me an dingus but thats ok. Tell them you are interetsed in a long term career with them. Get the job. Tell them in 7 months you have to leave. If they get mad, who cares. The most important person in your eyes should be yourself. So go out there, get that job interview, tell them you're passionate about research and dont mention medical school at all.
 
They are rarely hiring for the short term, though. I once spent over 1mo trying to find a summer job. Every day I went door-to-door to every restaurant I could find, resumes in hand, etc. If I hadn't been living rent free with my mother at the time (and using her car with her gas money), I would have been SOL. Even the fast food places were in a slump...they 'hired' me just enough to make me do all of the training (w/o pay), then conveniently forgot to ever schedule me. On the plus side, one of the workers stole my number off the employment app and texted me relentlessly for a date due to the amazing chemistry we had when I told him "sorry, I'm not buying anything, I just need to give this to the manager" , then spent 2wks texting me about how racist I was for turning him down and how he bet I never dated *insert race here* guys because I was a bigot.

So, don't tell them you're there short-term.
 
So, don't tell them you're there short-term.
They always ask. What do you want me to do, lie?
Maybe if it's "this job or go homeless/starve", but otherwise, no.
 
They always ask. What do you want me to do, lie?
Maybe if it's "this job or go homeless/starve", but otherwise, no.

Yes. You're not the first BA with a job waiting tables/serving coffee. I doubt managers are under the illusion that you're planning to be there long-term.
 
Yes. You're not the first BA with a job waiting tables/serving coffee. I doubt managers are under the illusion that you're planning to be there long-term.
Sorry, I try not to lie. I can fudge and avoid questions as well as the next person, but if someone asks if I've got something coming up or will have to leave after a certain time...I'm not going to lie and say I have nothing upcoming.
 
Sorry, I try not to lie. I can fudge and avoid questions as well as the next person, but if someone asks if I've got something coming up or will have to leave after a certain time...I'm not going to lie and say I have nothing upcoming.
Same here. I told the truth at my Starbucks interview and they didn't give me the job. :/
 
In Orange County (Socal), there's a study for healthy volunteers where you go in for 4 days 3 nights in a row and then 15 outpatient visits over 5 months = $3700. I got $100 just to do the screening visit.

What study is this and how do I sign up? Lol
 
Did you tell them Dunkin' Donuts was better or something?
 
If you own a car and live in a metropolitan city, you can do lyft or sidecar which means you'll essentially be a "cab driver". You can earn anywhere from $20 -$30/hr and you set your own schedule.
 
Top