Gaining temporary summer work

[montage]

My situation is basically this: I've recently graduated and I am signed up to do a masters as of this coming October. To help fund this, I really need money and I have too friendly a face to go into selling drugs so that option is ruled out, so a job it is. But every job I see advertised or talk to seems to want longer commitments than the summer months.

Can you apply for something longer term, advertised for a year, then drop out after a while saying that plans have changed and I wish to complete a Masters course having previously kept this secret (not ideal, deceit isn't a strong point of mine - unless I am in a bar in which case I can deceive my way to being a fighter pilot or royal family, depending on how many pints I have had)

Does anybody have any general advice having been in the same position? - or having recruited a similar lost soul like me and can shed some light on what you are looking for

Thanks!

 

[Sandra6]

I'm not a fan of this sort of deception at interview stage, it really puts other members of staff out when they have to train you only to have you walk away a couple of months later and leave you back to square one.
There are a lot of places that expect high staff turn over though - fast food chains, restaurants and bars for example - getting a casual job there would be a lot simpler.
Or there may be the option of going to a chain and then transferring to a store/office closer to your uni when the time comes.
We have had a few students do this in the past.

 

[MarkF]

Depends what you are looking for, my son is student and and has obtained summer work, he got up at 9 this morning, much better than is usual, which is lying in bed all day waiting for X Factor to discover him.

He didn't find the work himself, my wife found it for him , in a call centre selling solar panels, it's 75%+ students, I suppose it could be PPI claims, conservatories whatever. Everybody is looking for cushy number but there is little out there, still, there is no dress code, the offices are air conditioned and importantly, he is paid weekly.

It's work, it's always available short term, so is washing old folks bottoms work, but I know which I'd rather do.

 

[aces_up1504]

Agency work is they way to go. Spend a day going round the agencies in which ever town you want to work in. Just dont apply to them. Make your self known to them in person.

They will often have placements that last from 1 week to 4 or more.

 

[HLaB]

It won't look good on your cv or in your references if you gain a job on false pretensions and pull out. As aces say try contacting agencies or being up front and apply on spec; some companies might not have something advertised but when they see somebody available no ties to fill a stop gap they suddendly think its a good idea.

 

[Markymark]

...especially over summer months covering for people's holidays.

 

[montage]

Agency work is they way to go. Spend a day going round the agencies in which ever town you want to work in. Just dont apply to them. Make your self known to them in person.

They will often have placements that last from 1 week to 4 or more.

I didn't even know these things existed in physical form - I thought the Agencies just used dodgy looking websites as so I was a bit unsure. A quick google has thrown up a list of websites and numbers to sift through, and I've already secured a days work this Friday breaking down furniture, not bad for a phone call! Thanks for the help

 

[iLB]

I was never comfortable lying about stuff like that, but getting to interview and then saying I was out of their in 8 weeks was not popular either.

You just need to think outside the box a bit. I have a four week painting job in a secondary school starting next week, and also manage to pick up the odd bit of catering work. Mostly running around with drinks and plates of food at people weddings/parties; you could ring up a few local companies- often they have a dedicated core team to cook and prep food but make up the rest with whoever is capable and can make the day. You just need to make a good impression on one gig and you can make the list.

 

[vernon]

It's not an ethical thing to do. You are depriving a legitimate candidate of the opportunity of a decent length temporary contract as well as deceiving the company that is advertising the post.

The alternatives offered by other posters should be explored. There's plenty of relief work in supermarkets and the like caused by family holidays. You are a tad late in making a move though. The sixth formers will have been chasing vacancies since the end of their A-levels.