Jobs in the US for 3 months...15$/hr... are ???

[MacGuffin]

actually my relatives are in Charlotte.. dont know that's maybe NC not SC - So close to you, earthtrekker i guess

That's NC.

 

[Tiger Owl]

i have relatives in south carolina but i really dont want to go there.. i prefer california and close to nyc, because i dont want to be bored... thanks, i'll check the book

Charlotte is in NC. Keep in mind that California (most places) and NYC have much higher than national average for cost of living. Everything costs more and jobs are often harder to get because of the huge number of recent college grads with unmarketable degrees competing for the service jobs. NC may be a good choice, you might even get to stay with relatives for free. If you have to have a big city you may take a look at the towns that are connected to a major city via train. Housing and food may be less expensive yet you can still get into the big city to do whatever people do that like that kind of place.

 

[Chloe]

Charlotte is in NC. Keep in mind that California (most places) and NYC have much higher than national average for cost of living. Everything costs more and jobs are often harder to get because of the huge number of recent college grads with unmarketable degrees competing for the service jobs. NC may be a good choice, you might even get to stay with relatives for free. If you have to have a big city you may take a look at the towns that are connected to a major city via train. Housing and food may be less expensive yet you can still get into the big city to do whatever people do that like that kind of place.

my idea was to spend 1,5 month on east coast and 1,5 on west coast.. :/

I think I should avoid South, because of mentality, and many people told me the same..

 

[Tiger Owl]

my idea was to spend 1,5 month on east coast and 1,5 on west coast.. :/

I think I should avoid South, because of mentality, and many people told me the same..

Which mentality is that?

 

[Chloe]

Which mentality is that?

i dont know for sure... never been there.. but most people told me to avoid South..People that live there..for number of reasons... .
take no offense.

 

[Tiger Owl]

i dont know for sure... never been there.. but most people told me to avoid South..People that live there..for number of reasons... .
take no offense.

I take none. You will find there are close minded, presumptuous people in every place and from every walk of life. I have lived in and visited dozens of our states and I would not trade the South for the rest combined. Whether or not you feel the same is of little consequence to me.

Splitting your time on east and west coasts could be very cool. You will get to see a bit of how diverse the US is, unless you spend all your time in LA (hot and dry filthy big city) and NYC (hot and less dry filthy big city).

 

[Chloe]

I take none. You will find there are close minded, presumptuous people in every place and from every walk of life. I have lived in and visited dozens of our states and I would not trade the South for the rest combined. Whether or not you feel the same is of little consequence to me.

Splitting your time on east and west coasts could be very cool. You will get to see a bit of how diverse the US is, unless you spend all your time in LA (hot and dry filthy big city) and NYC (hot and less dry filthy big city).

yeah it's not only for mentality that i'd avoid west, its because NYC and LA...

I see I need to do more research..


and btw.. so waitressing (if hot female) is better paid than... some things.. like helping out in photo studio, or ... something like that ??

 

[Tiger Owl]

yeah it's not only for mentality that i'd avoid west, its because NYC and LA...

I see I need to do more research..


and btw.. so waitressing (if hot female) is better paid than... some things.. like helping out in photo studio, or ... something like that ??

Keep in mind their are plenty of photography majors that are willing to help out in a photo studio for free just to get the experience and networking opportunities. If you are not already a photographer they will not want to spend the time training you if you will only be their 1.5 months. For your proposed schedule bartending or waiting tables would be flexible and fairly easy to find.

 

[Chloe]

Keep in mind their are plenty of photography majors that are willing to help out in a photo studio for free just to get the experience and networking opportunities. If you are not already a photographer they will not want to spend the time training you if you will only be their 1.5 months.For your proposed schedule bartending or waiting tables would be flexible and fairly easy to find.

thanks.. this really helps!

 

[Halla74]

Earthtrekker and MacGuffin have offered much relevant wisdom already.
Here's mine, pardon me if any is redundant, I'm just in a hurry and giving you a brain spill:

(1) You are better off staying for FREE with relatives in Charlotte, NC than paying RENT anywhere else. Think about it, $10 per hour with no bills is far better than $15 per hour with "full bills."

(2) If you do choose to split time between the East Coast and West Coast, you will have opportuniites for cool experiences, yes, BUT, you will also be putting yourself at risk for not finding suitable employment, lodging, etc. TWICE. Six weeks blows by in the wink of an eye, BELIEVE IT. IMHO, tis' better to pick ONE GOOD SPOT to live/work, and then try to use that as a "hub" to reach other locales.

(3) Charlotte, for example, is a wonderful city. It is not called "The Queen City" for nothing. Raleigh, NC, not too far from Charlotte, is also a fantastic town. I'm moving there myself within the next year because I was so damn implressed with it the two times I visited there in the past year. Here's why:

(3a) Good local economies, technical and service sector alike compard to places like Florida, California, and Texas. FL, CA, and TX are the states hit HARDEST by the recession in many, many ways. Towns like Washington, D.C., Boston, MA, and Charlotte (banking) + Raleigh (tech/software) have been somewhat "buffered" by the recession comapred to other locales whose economies are more driven by construction (there is very little right now), tourism (who the fuck has money to be a tourist right now in the U.S.? Not many folks), or other non-skilled trades.

(3b) The term "Southern Hospitality" was not coined by accident. For years I've spoken of the concept of "The Stress Continuum." In short it goes like this. From NORTH to SOUTH, on the EAST COAST ofthe United States, the MOST stressed out locale AND HENCE most irritable general social attitude is in New York City. You ask people the time of day in NYC and you are likely told to go fuck yourslef. The "mid-point" of the "stress continuum" is Washington, D.C. People there live and work very fast paced and competitive lives, but they are the "northern edge of the Southeast U.S." and thus have some sense of the common social congeniality that the Southeastern U.S. is noted for. The population of D.C. is very diverse and very educated. It has a fantastic local economy compared to almost any other city in the U.S., thanks to the U.S. Federal Government's penchant for neverending excessive spending. BUT - the traffic is horrid, the cost of living is high, etc., it is similar to NYC in that regard, but ALOT nicer, IMHO. By the time you get to Orlando, Florida, stress is GONE. It's "the tourist zone." People there are mostly employed in the service sector (waitress, bartender, service trades, home helpers for the elderly, theme parks, etc.). The cost of living is LOW, but so are the WAGES. People are WAY CHILLED OUT in Florida as comapred to NYC or D.C. I lived in D.C. for 10 years on and off; I know it like the back of my hand. I've been to NYC on business, and had a little fuin there too, but honestly, I'd never want to live there.

SO - People in the Southeast U.S. are FRIENDLY. Believe it. Some of the nicest people I've ever met have been in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and even Texas. If you have heard of hillbilly/redneck/racist assholes, Earthtrekker is right, they are everywhere, but that type of persona is NOT the norm of the general populatin in the U.S. Southeast. Information as such is inaccurate and disingenuine at best.

(3c) BOTH Charlotte and Raleigh are GREAT "HUB CITIES." Airfare to ANY OTHER MAJOR U.S. CITY is CHEAP from Raleigh/Charlotte as compared to similar airfare from a smaller town, like say Tallahassee, FL. So, if you have a FREE place to stay AND a decent job in Charlotte, you could very well be able to make a few flight to NYC and/or L.A. at the end of your trip with money you save, instead of spending all your hard earned wages paying a slumlord for a shitty apartment in a crime infested area. Just sayin'.

(4) The way for you to find a good job ANYWHERE, especially a 3 month gig, is NETWROKING, NETWORKING, NETWORKING. Believe it. The shittiest, lowest paying and most demanding jobs are always advertised. Better jobs are typically found by reference. I've not worked any position that was advertised since 1995. My salary now is 5 times what it was in 1995, and has increased 25% in the last year. When I have worked side jobs it has been for between $10 and $25 per hour CASH. None of this would have been possible if I did not find my work via reference.

(5) I don't know shit about the West Coast. I've only been to Alburqurque, New Mexico; Las Vegas, Nevada; Seattle, Washington; and Vancouver, British Columbia. All those trips were either short term business OR a personal vacation. I'll check the West Coast out once my kids are older. So, someone else will have to offer advice as to how things are in that part of the U.S.A.

DISCLAIMER:
All info above is based on my personal and professional life experience as a lifelong nomad in the U.S. and Germany and not without bias as such, standard disclaimers apply, yadda-yadda-yadda, and so on and so forth. That's my take on things, I hope it is helpful to you in some way shape or form.



-Alex

 

[Tiger Owl]

Excellent write-up thanks Alex. I think you hit most the pertinent points very well and very accurately.

 

[Spamtar]

Consider volunteer/semi volunteer programs which include housing and doing odd jobs on the side. I have some ideas as to California but I rather keep them in private than publish them through the internet (becoming my concubine...just kidding more spiritual/existential stuff.) ask me PM only if you are flexible and and have posted here a decent amount.

 

[ICUP]

i have relatives in south carolina but i really dont want to go there.. i prefer california and close to nyc, because i dont want to be bored... thanks, i'll check the book

Option: Go to Myrtle Beach, SC. They have jobs for young girls, and plenty of them..... I lived there for 7 years. It is a fun place. Big money during golf season and summer. You should have no problems making $15 an hour there with tips in the spring, summer, or fall, depending on where you work. I was making $125 a night at the least, cocktail waitressing in the 90's. There are a lot of restaurants and bars there, and it's pretty easy to get jobs. At least, when I was there it was. It may not be as easy now. (The US went through a rough period or two economically during the 90's, and it did not affect my income. Myrtle Beach is a very popular vacation destination.) SC is inexpensive, as well. If you come to California, it will be much-more expensive to live. I would suggest a resort town in any state for plentiful jobs that require little skill, but pay decent money, with tips. And a fun time.....

 

[Bamboo]

A comparison of cost of living in various parts of the country. I live in DC. It's pricey here, but I also make more than I would else where (handyman). Also included: Raleigh, NYC, LA, and a few randoms.

link

Keep in mind that jobs that pay 8-10/hr are very common here. Jobs like stocker in a grocery or retail.

You haven't mentioned what you are good at. With 6-9 months you could get good at fixing things. If you want you can try something like handyman repair (basic stuff around the house) and ask 15/hr many places (that's where I started), but you'd have to establish yourself via word of mouth.

For something more regular you could get good at something like fixing up bicycles. A job at a bike shop might get you 12/hr.

You could do something artistic, like making crafts and selling them, but that can be risky/non profitable.

Waiter/bar experience can get you a job any where. The best places to work (best tip $) will want experienced workers, so in the next 6 months get yourself a job at home and bring that experience here. It's a stable way to make income, but it's not to my personal liking. You could also tend bar. Different hours, I'm not sure if one is more profitable than the other.

 

[Bamboo]

Also, keep in mind regional pickups. An area that gets hit by storms and hurricanes might have it's own mini-industry in storm preparedness like boarding up shop windows, or delivering goods. I'm thinking of SC.

Or if you were in the North in the winter (I know you said summer) but as example: you can become an auxiliary plow driver. It's not a full time thing unless you want it to be: the state government contracts out to whoever they can because they can't afford to maintain a huge fleet for non-stop snow.

If you can run a saw you can work on all those fallen limbs, too.

I'm sorry if these are all labor sort jobs, it's what *I* would do.

Umm...tourist areas that are hit hard in the summer need extra workers in those industries.

Also, volunteering can open doors. I volunteered up in Vermont for flood relief and I could have readily got a job with the people there - I connected with them well. [MENTION=6109]Halla74[/MENTION] is right: networking opens doors to jobs you couldn't find otherwise.

 

[Bamboo]

In the networking vein, are you on CouchSurfing? Even if you don't plan to CouchSurf, it's a community. There are meetups and forums great for this sort of thing where you can ask questions and spread the word.

I've heard of people using couchsurfing to find places to live for work.

You really should join. CS is a great program (I'm a member). I highly recommend you look into it.

Also, Meetup.org might have some stuff worth looking at.

 

[Frank]

Any job opening paying $15/hr in the U.S. right now will have minimally a couple of hundred applicants. Your best bets for landing that short-term are to either a.) See if your friends who live here have some connection they could turn you on to or b.) have a talent or characterisitic that would make you very valuable to a prospective employer for three months, and sell them on it.

 

[ICUP]

i dont know for sure... never been there.. but most people told me to avoid South..People that live there..for number of reasons... .
take no offense.

I grew up in the South, and lived there for 34 years. The cities are much better than the rural areas. You will find more open-minded people there. However, it will be nothing on the healthy open-mindedness you will find in cities elsewhere. It's a different sort, completely. Issues are sweeping in the south, and they leave no one untouched. If you are only there for 3 months, it will most-likely not affect you, but expect alot of gross ignorance. (Ignorance is relative, however, so what one person thinks is ignorant, the next will not). I was miserable for 34 years in the south, and never knew how great it could be until I moved to California. There's alot to be said for the rumors. 3 months in a city in the south will do you no harm, and it may be fun if you pick a resort area. Charlotte and Raleigh leave much to be desired when it comes to entertainment. Don't look to the south to find fascinating, short of DisneyWorld. It does have some nice beaches here-and-there, and that's your best bet when it comes to entertainment. However, I'm not sure if I would encourage any young girl to visit a big city like NY or LA alone. I wouldn't even do that without an escort lol.... which is why I recommended Myrtle Beach. It's a fun resort town, with jobs and stuff to do, and it's near your family.

 

[Chloe]

wow - thanks for so many answers..
[MENTION=6109]Halla74[/MENTION], [MENTION=13653]ICUP[/MENTION], [MENTION=6168]Bamboo[/MENTION], [MENTION=14458]earthtrekker1775[/MENTION] [MENTION=7897]spamtar[/MENTION] and [MENTION=8936]highlander[/MENTION]

(and others if i missed someone)

Dont know where to start - some of it is confusing I must admit, I mean, this is natural that different people have somehow different perspective of South USA like ICUP and Halla... I never planned to go in the middle of NYC or LA, but I'd like to be in the area. But I will definately consider NC now too.
ICUP, i never planned to go alone - I am going with CCUSA programme (it's a program for non-US college students to go working up to 4 months in the US + 1 month of travelling), so I will unite with couple of other people and go to the same place..

 

[Chloe]

A comparison of cost of living in various parts of the country. I live in DC. It's pricey here, but I also make more than I would else where (handyman). Also included: Raleigh, NYC, LA, and a few randoms.

link

Keep in mind that jobs that pay 8-10/hr are very common here. Jobs like stocker in a grocery or retail.

You haven't mentioned what you are good at. With 6-9 months you could get good at fixing things. If you want you can try something like handyman repair (basic stuff around the house) and ask 15/hr many places (that's where I started), but you'd have to establish yourself via word of mouth.

For something more regular you could get good at something like fixing up bicycles. A job at a bike shop might get you 12/hr.

You could do something artistic, like making crafts and selling them, but that can be risky/non profitable.

Waiter/bar experience can get you a job any where. The best places to work (best tip $) will want experienced workers, so in the next 6 months get yourself a job at home and bring that experience here. It's a stable way to make income, but it's not to my personal liking. You could also tend bar. Different hours, I'm not sure if one is more profitable than the other.

Thanks for infos.
I think I should avoid even thinking of fixing things because I am total idiot for such stuff.
I am good at things that aren't marketable especially in a foreign country for 3 months - I have something like BS in Medical science (it was integrated with MS so not really a diplomma) and I am very good in math.. so nothing of this can be get paid.
In Croatia I give tutoring in Math, but I can barely find people to teach, I doubt it would even be possible in USA, esp cos I dont have BS in math.
so waitressing it is.. which is great too!
crafts - good idea, but where to sell those ?

In the networking vein, are you on CouchSurfing? Even if you don't plan to CouchSurf, it's a community. There are meetups and forums great for this sort of thing where you can ask questions and spread the word.

I've heard of people using couchsurfing to find places to live for work.

You really should join. CS is a great program (I'm a member). I highly recommend you look into it.

Also, Meetup.org might have some stuff worth looking at.

I am not, I guess I've heard of it, I'll check it,thanks



About volounteering - I am confused though. i talked to a guy from Croatia who was working somewhere as bartender or something in the US, for 4 months and he said after 4 months working 45 hrs per week he had 6000 USD saved, when he payed rent, bills, food etc...
I think he said he had 12 USD/hr...

thing is - I want to go for experience, but I am not so sure I would like to go if I'll come home completely broke, since I can then work on our coast for 1000 USD/month + bed + food, which ends up even more profitable maybe.