Choose one!

[Quester]

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I know it's already been about a month since school started and I'm sorta 'late' in terms of getting my EC's together for this year.

As I'm trying to save up some cash for this summer, I've been looking for any part-time job on campus and applied for a few. But I've also been rejected by this Doc to work in his lab because I didn't have enough experience. As a result, I asked if I could volunteer in his lab instead but he's asking for 8 hours a week. Realistically, I don't think I could give him 8 hours + part-time job (if I get it) + full course load + sport.

If you were in my shoes, would you wait another week to see if you at least get an interview for a minimum wage job, or just willingly say that you would still give an 8 hour of volunteer service (even though you just wanted 2 hour) "hoping" that you would be hired later in the year?

Really, what are the chances that students get hired later in the year by starting out as a volunteer?

 

[ASU2013]

It's tough to say. This is really a personal choice. Is there anything special your saving up money for? If not, I'd say go with the Doc. You can always start with the Doc, and then try to form a work schedule around that. It really depends what YOU want to do more.

 

[Quester]

It's tough to say. This is really a personal choice. Is there anything special your saving up money for? If not, I'd say go with the Doc. You can always start with the Doc, and then try to form a work schedule around that. It really depends what YOU want to do more.

Well, I haven't worked in a couple of years so I thought it might be a good way of building employment history on my resume. In addition, I've been thinking of going abroad during summer with the savings because I don't want to rely on my parents again.

I mean, yes, I do want to work with the Doc b/c that's like the only Doc beside the Family doctor that I know of. Plus, I guess volunteering with him would eventually give me that special skills of research that I'm lacking.

But it's cash vs. free labour. Hard to choose...and the longer I wait, I might not get anything.

 

[Lizzybeth]

If you want research experience you are going to have to put in at least eight hours a week, even if you find a spot in another lab. Otherwise you aren't really going to be able to learn anything. I spent many years working in a lab, and there are very few tests that you can learn and run by only coming in two hours a week.

If you don't think you can do research and a part time job at the same time, you should think about which one will help you out more in the long run. You are the only one that can make that decision.

However, this isn't one of those choices that you can only make once. Yes, if you wait too long to get back to the Doc he may find someone else for the spot. But if you look around I'm sure you can find someone else to work with. You can also tell the Doc that you are waiting to hear back about a job and don't want to commit to anything until that works out. He may keep the position open for the week.

As for the odds of getting hired after being a volunteer, it really depends on the lab. During the academic year, I volunteered my time for the lab I worked in, but I was paid for my services during the summer. I've known many people who got full time positions in labs they volunteered in, and many that didn't. It all depends on the lab size and the amount of funding the lab gets. The more money, the more people they can hire. It's that simple.