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Ask HN: Non-programming part time jobs?

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Re: Ask HN: Non-programming part time jobs?

#41
Warehouse work - working for smaller trucking companies, loading/unloading trucks and preparing shipments. Pays around $18/hr starting out.

Retail - Retail sucks if you hate what you're selling, otherwise it's not too bad. I worked in a supermarket and hated it, but a friend worked for a car parts store and absolutely loved it.

Delivery Driver - Friend who worked at car parts store switched to a driver after awhile and liked that even more. Load up the car and head out, get people to sign off and sometimes collect payments. I always thought I'd like this style job, mostly because it's so independent.

Computer repair/freelance IT work - Most people would give this a big "hell no", in high school I worked for a bunch of small companies and made $25/hr cleaning off viruses/repairing machines/building new PCs. I'd usually go into a place for 3-4hrs on weekends. If you don't hate it, you can make some decent money.

If you're fairly comfortable with computer hardware and windows, you'll get by fairly easily. For all other problems: google. The IT jobs also lead to more side work, typically the companies I worked for didn't have websites. I worked out deals with friends who were designers and asked for a finders fee for referrals I sent. (Knowing what I do now, I would've taken on the work myself at a higher rate for web development and just outsource most of it)

Re: Ask HN: Non-programming part time jobs?

#42
I recently hit a point where my patent attorney needs more money than I have. I'm not willing to part with any share of my startup, especially over just a few thousand dollars so last night I started looking for part time jobs. It seems like 80% of the jobs available in the area are commissioned sales that seem like too much mindshare and risk, 10% were skilled jobs that I don't have experience with, and the rest were programming. I just decided that it doesn't matter what I'm doing as long as I can keep going on my startup....

I applied for some fast food jobs.

Re: Ask HN: Non-programming part time jobs?

#43
post #31

Best non-programming job I ever had was a waiter in a fine dining restaurant. I made great cash and met lots of interesting people. I also got eat very well and learned a lot about food and wine, something I still very much enjoy today. Also, keep in mind that fine dining is nothing like Outback or Applebees. I happened to be in college at the time, but many of my co-workers were people who waited tables on the side…

I was going to create a new answer, but the "meet tons of girls" thing made me think this would be a good place to reply. :)

I haven't been an employee myself, but I took a few cruises in 2007, and got to know some of the staff members. The pay is pretty basic, and the food apparently sucks, but there was no denying how much fun (and how much sex) they all seemed to be having, and seeing passports so full of stamps they had to order new pages every few months was pretty impressive as well. They hired computer-literate types for tech positions (the ships all have sat Internet) and newsletter-publication jobs - there are probably others for which I didn't speak to the employee.

If you were up for an adventure-type job, this might be something to explore.

Re: Ask HN: Non-programming part time jobs?

#44
post #14

How about working in a technology summer camp? The pay is much better than in normal summer camps and you do what you like to do - programming. Well, teaching it.

Interesting idea - I haven't thought about summer camps for quite a while. There was a brief time in the 80ies when they actually had programming courses at holiday summer camps (not anymore, I think?). I suppose you are talking about summer camps by universities about some technical subject? Sounds good, but wouldn't they mostly hire students?

No, I was thinking about real summer camps focusing on teaching programming (game programming, web programming...). I came across a few when I was looking for summer camps in the US. I can't remember their names. Try googling it. And I don't think it only for students. I had the illusion (but I haven't really checked) that they want true professionals not students. Good luck

Re: Ask HN: Non-programming part time jobs?

#45
Why not find contract work? As a contractor, your hourly pay should be higher than that as an employee. Plus, taxes are not withheld so you

You could find a 3 month contract and then take three months off.

Some other possible jobs with a lot of downtime for doing your own thing might be security guard or small hotel desk clerk.

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