I ticked three boxes: self employed, employed part-time and part-time student. I’m doing freelance work now, since I’ve gone back to school. But I’m only taking 6 credits this semester (which is over in 2 weeks) and when I ramp up to 12+ credits starting in the fall, it remains to be seen how much freelancing I’ll be doing. I can get by without doing too much and I’d like to concentrate on my studies.
Would have been nice to have a couple of different options;
One job, Underemployed.
Two jobs. (perhaps variations like ‘One full, one part time’ and ‘two part time jobs’)
More than two jobs.
Thank you for making the poll multiple choice - currently self-employed contractor in largely seasonal work areas, currently only getting part-time hours most weeks.
Would prefer to be full time. And making more per job.
Delighted to be answering “employed full-time,” as well as “contractor.” I was employed for about 10 weeks of 2010, and not at all in 2011 until mid-March. I worked 3 months in 2007, 8 months in 2008, and 6 weeks in 2009. The project I’m working on now should last into September, and pays a good hourly rate, and I’ve gotten some good interviews for permanent positions. I also am highly ranked on the exams for some state jobs (although California’s in a hiring freeze right now, they might thaw in 6 months or a year). This might be my comeback year!
I’m a full-time student and a part time employee for a campus department. Unfortunately, I graduate in less then a month and at that time will become unemployed.
Employed full-time, and very lucky to be. In 2009, my company sold off the product I support. This is after 3 major layoffs over the previous year. Last September, after our primary duty became helping our customers cancel their accounts with us and getting them set up with their new overlords, two of my co-workers and I were moved to a small team to work with another product (the only one that wasn’t either sold off or shut down), replacing a few temps. Two months later, everyone else got laid off.
Last January, there was another company-wide layoff, which included the two people that moved with me to my new team. This one came out of the blue, after we had thought we were finished with all the layoffs. In the end, out of the 20 people doing customer service at my office last year, four of us still have jobs.
Employed full time, but forever barred from moving beyond middle management due to my lack of a pure Sicilian bloodline.
Full-time again after being out of work for nearly two years (part-time at Macy’s for a year), but working for half of what I was making, which sucks big-time. The upside is I have medical insurance again, which is huge.
All in all, kiddies, the economy is STILL nowhere near what it should be, but hopefully I can get a raise sometime this year.
Employed full time, school full time.
Also, very tired.
Happily employed at a great library with many witty, smart and funny colleagues and friends. Working part-time selling hummus and farming. Busy, and tired also.
I marked “unemployed”, “contractor” and “self-employed”.
I’m a self-employed consultant, currently between projects. I finished my last project last week and have told agents that I’m available from May, thus getting a couple of weeks to prep my taxes, do some work around my house, remember what color my kitchen is (seriously, I couldn’t remember it!), etc. I have to work wherever the final client wants me, so I can spend months away from that kitchen.
I’ve got hooks for several things, but we’re currently suffering from Easter Syndrome: companies which need someone “for after Easter” are not calling and will probably have my phone off the hook come next week, based on previous experience. Amen.
Contractor would best describe me.
My primary job is with an IT support provider, which is an assignment-to-assignment situation. However, I usually put in at least 40 hours a week doing this.
I also do part time consulting for a railroad logistics firm. This work is done from home and consists of writing technical reports every couple of weeks.
I’m a full-time data analyst for a large financial firm. In the past 6 years, the group I work in has been spun off, sold off, and bought out. Through each of those three events, I kept my job and got credit for my years of service. I feel a bit like a traded commodity some days, but at least I’m (apparently) a desirable commodity.
For the past 4 years I’ve been doing contract work for pharmaceutical companies. I was laid off from my perm position in 2007, didn’t work for 5 months, did contract work for 9 months, got laid off for 3 months, worked another contract gig for 2 years and change, got laid off for 3 months, then was asked to come back and here I am, for an unspecified amount of time. It’s unstable, but the money’s good.
After two years of unemployment, I finally have another job.
This thread has made me think of late -
I have two roofing jobs, deck/porch construction, and several lawns to tend all on hold due to weather and only due to weather… am I employed or not? Interesting question. Clearly, I have work, I just can’t do it today.
Badly underemployed, so I marked “unemployed”. I work no more than two days a month. However, I had an interview last week that went well, and just received notice from another company that they’d like an interview, so I’m hopeful.
I chose employed part time, but I’m really unemployed as well.
When my unemployment bennies ran out, I emailed my landlord that I would not be able to pay rent until I got a job. She called me the very next day and offered me a job at her restaurant answering phones. Hey, at least it’s not waiting tables (been there, done that, too old to do it now). It’s only two days a week, but it keeps groceries on the table.
I am registered with four temp agencies since January, and only one has gained me any work. Today is the last day of what was s’posed to be a six month assignment. It’s only been three months. The reason the boss lady said that she is ending my contract early? To paraphrase, “We contracted with your agency because we had about six month’s worth of back paperwork for you do to. You’ve done it in three. Now we’re all caught up and don’t need you anymore.”
What did I hear? “We’re letting you go because you’re too efficient.”
Makes me question what all the other cube drones around me do all day. But that is not for me to know, as I’m out of here for good in just under two hours.
This doesn’t affect just me. One of my best friends is unemployed as well. I was hoping that this place I’m temping at would hire me on for good, and I would have to give notice to the pizza job. I told my friend that once I had to give notice, I would make a deal with my boss that I’d find my own replacement and train him, so the place wouldn’t have any empty shifts to fill. Win-win for me and my friend, right?
Alas, it is not to be.