what should i do for the next 8 months?

vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
19,003
24
81
so, i'm done with college this december, and my job in NY doesn't start until the end of august next year. so basically, i've got a chunk of time and nothing to do. i'm going to india for a month in jan, and will be back in pitt feb-august. i would like to stay in pitt since my gf is in med school here, so i'm leaning towards just getting a retail job for the next few months. parents vehemently oppose this idea.

options:

1. find a retail/service job in pittsburgh, chill out for a few months.
-would be pretty easy to find etc.
2. find a job related to my field in pittsburgh (IT/engineering stuff)
-harder to find, but better pay. don't really need tons of money right now though, just living expenses

4. add a minor or something, take more classes next spring/summer
-parents would pay for it
-not sure how valuable it would be

3. stay and work in India
-useless, boring, lonely. (last resort)


any ideas?


thanks,
Vivan

 

venkman

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2007
4,950
11
81
travel the world. Do something that takes much longer than the two weeks off you can get from your job. This may be your last chance.
 

xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
17,571
8
0
Originally posted by: venkman
travel the world. Do something that takes much longer than the two weeks off you can get from your job. This may be your last chance.

this
 

Skeeedunt

Platinum Member
Oct 7, 2005
2,777
3
76
#4 sounds pretty good. Does it have to be something useful for your parents to pay? I'd enjoy taking a semester worth of philosophy/psychology/finance with no strings attached.
 

vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
19,003
24
81
i don't have any savings, so traveling isn't really an option unless i work for a bit first to save up some dough

Originally posted by: Skeeedunt
#4 sounds pretty good. Does it have to be something useful for your parents to pay? I'd enjoy taking a semester worth of philosophy/psychology/finance with no strings attached.


was just talking to my dad, i get the feeling that he'd go for anything . he really doesn't want me to do a retail or service job...no idea why, he just things its a useless experience. i feel otherwise.

in terms of classes, i could take a bunch of interesting things, just to pull up my gpa which is pretty crap right now.
 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
Originally posted by: vshah
i don't have any savings, so traveling isn't really an option unless i work for a bit first to save up some dough

Originally posted by: Skeeedunt
#4 sounds pretty good. Does it have to be something useful for your parents to pay? I'd enjoy taking a semester worth of philosophy/psychology/finance with no strings attached.


was just talking to my dad, i get the feeling that he'd go for anything . he really doesn't want me to do a retail or service job...no idea why, he just things its a useless experience. i feel otherwise.

in terms of classes, i could take a bunch of interesting things, just to pull up my gpa which is pretty crap right now.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758758/

Watch this movie and do the same... don't make the same mistakes though ;)
 

venkman

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2007
4,950
11
81
Originally posted by: vshah
i don't have any savings, so traveling isn't really an option unless i work for a bit first to save up some dough

It doesn't HAVE to be traveling, but isn't there any kind of adventure you ever wanted to go on? Any skill you really want to learn? Any one thing you really want to do? In the real world, you won't get another opportunity like this, probably for the rest of your life and you will be kicking the crap out of yourself if you waste it.

Need to work at Best Buy for three months to get the money together? Fine, you will still have 4 months to do the other stuff.


PS. Take the money your parents would have spent on the class and use it for something much more productive. You will learn a hell of a lot more about life by traveling than by sitting in a dingy philosophy class. Since you already have a job, don't worry about your GPA. It's just to get your foot in the door (which you have) or go to Grad School (which you haven't indicated).
 

MaxFusion16

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2001
1,512
1
0
you can't start sooner? that's a long wait, better make sure they don't forget about you come next August.
 

vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
19,003
24
81
Originally posted by: MaxFusion16
you can't start sooner? that's a long wait, better make sure they don't forget about you come next August.

well, i applied for the "early rotation" option, but they haven't found a position for me for the summer yet. they say they'll "get back to me" if they do find something though, it could start as early as march in which case my problems are solved
 

Aimster

Lifer
Jan 5, 2003
16,129
2
0
If I were you I would look for another job.

Waiting till August for a job? That's some shady sh!t
 

flxnimprtmscl

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2003
7,962
2
0
Um, hello? Wtf is wrong with all the posters above me? The answer (OBVIOUSLY) is hookers and blow. /thread.
 

vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
19,003
24
81
Originally posted by: Aimster
If I were you I would look for another job.

Waiting till August for a job? That's some shady sh!t

its kinda like a yearly graduate recruitment thing, i just happen to be graduating a semester earlier than everyone else they accepted.

venkman, i'm not sure my dad would fund anything other than straight classes. doubtful that he'd fund travel etc. the reason he would fund classes is that he gets education benefits from his employer, so the cost to him is very low
 

Farang

Lifer
Jul 7, 2003
10,913
3
0
If you want to travel and have no money:
1) Teach English (East Asia, Central and South America)
2) 1 year work visas are available in New Zealand and Australia if you are an American. Lots of temp work opportunities so you can work for a bit, travel, work, travel, etc.
3) If the job is a sure thing, you can go into just a bit of debt to support yourself. Since you already are in India they have mountaineering courses in which your food, shelter (mostly tents on a mountain), are supplied and they last around 21 days and cost maybe $350. Do a few of those an be a master mountain climber and waste 3 months, then chill out with your mountain climbing buddies in the Himalayas paying around $100/mo in rent.
 

NoShangriLa

Golden Member
Sep 3, 2006
1,652
0
0
Originally posted by: vshah
i don't have any savings, so traveling isn't really an option unless i work for a bit first to save up some dough
World economic isn't in a great shape at the moment, but it doesn't stop you from trying to get a job over sea.

Work in Asia at the moment isn't as good as it use to be. My sister got back to Canada last X-mass from her 9 years stint over sea (she taught in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Egypt, France, and now Canada).

Work Abroad and Living Overseas

Working Holiday and Gap Year Student Jobs in Australia and New Zealand

Work and travel Ireland

Student traveler
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
71,368
30,964
136
Originally posted by: Aimster
If I were you I would look for another job.

Waiting till August for a job? That's some shady sh!t

In this economy I would be job hunting night and day. I don't think its shady but it is likely that the job won't be there in August. There is a whole class of grads coming behind you between now and then. The employer might find someone better or just fresher in their minds to hire. You have a five month lead on those other grads, don't blow it.
 

NoShangriLa

Golden Member
Sep 3, 2006
1,652
0
0
Originally posted by: vshah
i don't have any savings, so traveling isn't really an option unless i work for a bit first to save up some dough

Originally posted by: Skeeedunt
#4 sounds pretty good. Does it have to be something useful for your parents to pay? I'd enjoy taking a semester worth of philosophy/psychology/finance with no strings attached.


was just talking to my dad, i get the feeling that he'd go for anything . he really doesn't want me to do a retail or service job...no idea why, he just things its a useless experience. i feel otherwise.

in terms of classes, i could take a bunch of interesting things, just to pull up my gpa which is pretty crap right now.
GPA isn't a priority once you have working experience.

 

vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
19,003
24
81
Originally posted by: ironwing
Originally posted by: Aimster
If I were you I would look for another job.

Waiting till August for a job? That's some shady sh!t

In this economy I would be job hunting night and day. I don't think its shady but it is likely that the job won't be there in August. There is a whole class of grads coming behind you between now and then. The employer might find someone better or just fresher in their minds to hire. You have a five month lead on those other grads, don't blow it.

you guys are scaring me w/ this.... i have a signed offer document from them...you're saying they might just decide to forget it?
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
71,368
30,964
136
Originally posted by: vshah
Originally posted by: ironwing
Originally posted by: Aimster
If I were you I would look for another job.

Waiting till August for a job? That's some shady sh!t

In this economy I would be job hunting night and day. I don't think its shady but it is likely that the job won't be there in August. There is a whole class of grads coming behind you between now and then. The employer might find someone better or just fresher in their minds to hire. You have a five month lead on those other grads, don't blow it.

you guys are scaring me w/ this.... i have a signed offer document from them...you're saying they might just decide to forget it?

Yes.

--------------------------------------------------------
July 15, 2009

Dear Mr. Vshah,

Due to the unprecedented downturn in the economy, we regret to inform you that we must withdraw the offer of employment we made to you in December, 2008. We wish you well in all your future endeavors.

Sincerely,
Personnel Director,
Chapter11isus Corporation
--------------------------------------------------------

Here's how it works in declining economy: An onboard employee (assuming they are good)
is an asset that a manager is willing to defend. A future hire is a looming budget liability a manager is willing to sacrifice in order to protect the onboard folks from layoffs.
 

venkman

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2007
4,950
11
81
Originally posted by: ironwing
Originally posted by: vshah
Originally posted by: ironwing
Originally posted by: Aimster
If I were you I would look for another job.

Waiting till August for a job? That's some shady sh!t

In this economy I would be job hunting night and day. I don't think its shady but it is likely that the job won't be there in August. There is a whole class of grads coming behind you between now and then. The employer might find someone better or just fresher in their minds to hire. You have a five month lead on those other grads, don't blow it.

you guys are scaring me w/ this.... i have a signed offer document from them...you're saying they might just decide to forget it?

Yes.

--------------------------------------------------------
July 15, 2009

Dear Mr. Vshah,

Due to the unprecedented downturn in the economy, we regret to inform you that we must withdraw the offer of employment we made to you in December, 2008. We wish you well in all your future endeavors.

Sincerely,
Personnel Director,
Chapter11isus Corporation
--------------------------------------------------------

Here's how it works in declining economy: An onboard employee (assuming they are good)
is an asset that a manager is willing to defend. A future hire is a looming budget liability a manager is willing to sacrifice in order to protect the onboard folks from layoffs.

welcome to the real world.