How to Maximize a Minimum Wage Job
Today’s guest post is from Green Panda Treehouse, a soon to be college graduate’s financial journey. If you like the post, why don’t you subscribe to her feed as well?
Many working college students get jobs that fit their unique schedules. Many times these jobs are minimum wage jobs in the retail and service industries. While some have bad memories about their jobs, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Tips to Maximize Pay:
- Consider working the night shift which can offer a higher starting pay.
- If your school schedule allows, offer to work the least desirable work hours. It can give you leverage in your pay rate.
- Make yourself valuable to your employer. Master your job and help others when you can.
- Become the mentor of the group and try to expand your knowledge.
Tips to Maximize Perks:
- Retail stores generally give their employees a discount for their products. Find a store whose clothes you can use in other jobs or that you use everyday. While there may be a temptation to spend more than your budget allow, this is a great opportunity to apply self-control and build your wardrobe.
- Try using your discount to get gifts for your friends and family. Most likely you would buy them gifts anyway, but now you can save some money as well.
Tips for Future Jobs
- Get letters of recommendations from your current employers and co-workers.
- Network with others to see if there are other job opportunities better suited for you.
You can use your minimum wage job as a springboard for internships and other jobs while you’re in college. It’s a temporary situation that can pay off in the long run.
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December 26th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Good post, Laura.
I think networking is so important in job-hunting–whether with coworkers, bosses, or friends and family. For example, I got my first library job because I grew up going there and the boss had known me since I was a kid. Then I worked my butt off and I got really good recommendations.
(I’d probably work there again if we lived in the area and Micah had a decent job…I could get a slightly higher level job, but not enough to support us. Unless I went up yet another level…which my boss said might be possible in the future.)
It was a really good experience!
December 26th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Numbers 2 through 4 of the first section are how I kept getting promoted at one of my jobs
Knowing everything, helping everyone, and pulling 80-hour weeks when all the high school kids are still, well, in school.
December 26th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
I just wanted to say thanks Mrs. Micah and Jake.
Mrs. Micah: I was a volunteer at my school’s library and loved it.
Jake: Good workers are hard to find. Those willing to do more than expected are rare. I’m glad it worked out in your case.