The other day I met up with a friend for a general catch up and he informed me about a full time job he had been accepted for over the summer. 400 hours of medical research, one of a select few chosen to be taken on board for the experiment. Goodbye summer, goodbye life (again), goodbye the last years to enjoy a proper summer.
Before anyone begins launching attacks and making criticisms against me, rest assured I'm no lazy man. At the time of writing, the jobs which I hold down are as a teacher aide, a sports coach, as well as a writer for Helium. Since becoming a University student, good time management skills are synonymous with getting the most out of the University experience. So too is being able to have a pleasant summer vacation.
I write this in the hope that many university students think very carefully before handing over their entire summer in the name of work experience or to make some money. Yes, it is nice having lots of disposable income, alongside being busy right through until the next university year. But never again will there be so much time to relax for so long. These long holidays are pearls among the clams, sprouting forth only once in a person's life and reappearing again in the 'golden years.' As medical care continues to improve, the pension age shall become further out of reach. My guess is that it will reach 73 by the time people my age begin to finish working. Cumulatively, most people in generation Y can expect to spend 50 years of their lives working.
The choice is yours. Are you in for an enjoyable few years of long holidays or out in the working place, slaving away on 40+ hours a week?
4 comments:
How about engineering, where you have to complete 1000 hours of practical work experience in order to graduate, i.e. 6 months full time (40 hours) which is 2 full summers. Engineering companies only recruit interns over the summer so when do you propose we do it?
Most of us take 6 papers also, and I have no complaints working through my summer - I want that experience. I'm currently 300 hours over what I need to graduate, I've worked 50-60 hour weeks through summer, went skiing in the USA for 3 weeks, went to Australia and earned nearly $10,000. I'm pretty happy with working through my summers if all summers are like this.
Henry Lambourne writes "How about engineering, where you have to complete 1000 hours of practical work experience in order to graduate."
Well, if 1000 are required (I see the Auckland University website only says "at least 800), what is so unattractive about doing it over four summers part time? Is gaining that experience really so necessary so soon? From a quick search on SJS and Seek, I saw a fair amount of non-full time opportunities to gain experience. Are all these opportunities going to dry up by next summer? Will you be working 50-60+ hour weeks again? If it's for a 3 week holiday why not wait? I can give you many stories of middle aged men and women who deeply regret their decision to get summer jobs. Bart Wilk, a university friend of mine is past 30 and wished he'd made the most of his summers and free time rather than working in full time employment.
If your workload is as heavy as Ms. Smith's was, I wouldn't go near proposing you do it during the year. As you haven't mentioned other activities, I'll take the chance and say no. In that case, what is stopping you from going and getting work experience during the year? Auckland University has some great connections with civil engineering companies. Why not make the most of them and work to arrange an internship during the year?
As for your holidays, I'm happy to year that. Except many people are able to do the exact same thing middle aged. How about making the most of the gigantic holiday available, save smart during the year, and working big hours in the summer suddenly won't be such a requirement.
1000 hours are required for those who began their studies before 2011. There are not four summers between four years of university, there are three. No company hires first years(So we get the first summer off, shouldn't you be happy?) Also you cant work the last summer because your 2x25page reports (outlining the details of your two summers of work) are due the previous August to be eligible to graduate. That leaves two summers.
What do you mean 'necessary so soon?' It's a requirement of my degree, I don't plan on staying at university longer than I have to.
Real engineering companies do not recruit through SJS or Seek. They have their own HR departments. Working for two of the largest construction companies in the southern hemisphere, I can assure you no reputable organisations recruit for internships during the year. I suggest you do a little more research before engaging in debate that you have zero-to-no experience in. If it were possible to work throughout the year why wouldn't everyone be doing that instead? I suggest you have a read of this list, it is one of the more comprehensive guides to work experience employment and outlines the dates available for work. http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/shado/Divisions/Western%20Australia%20Division/Face%20to%20Face%20Expo/2012_undergraduate_vacation_work_and_graduate_employment_handbook.pdf
Not that it is any of your information about how I save nor what activities I am involved in either, but I work two jobs during the year also.
This will be my final comment on here, as I don't have all summer to fritter away on the internet as others appear to have. I enjoy working hard because I dont want to be mediocre. I also enjoy the fact that I already have jobs on the line for a year in advance and that I have the option to pick and choose where I work and who for, not being forced to take whatever comes along in such a turbulent economy.
I admit it should have been three, which was a typo on my behalf.
What does real engineering companies mean? Are some less real than others? Is this another animal farm situation? And how are you so sure? Have you gone to every last one and asked them personally or are you basing this on a generalisation?
If there are three summers in between, I cannot see anything wrong with dividing the workload more meaningfully ahead of time in order to gain experience (perhaps in one extra CE company).
Henry continues "I suggest you do a little more research before engaging in debate that you have zero-to-no experience in." The engineering work experience or the free time debate. One does not have to be an expert in a particular field to make a comment. It seems Henry does not wish to engage, so tries to dismiss the opposition's opinions as unworthy. As for the tired "why wouldn't everyone be doing that?" Not everyone has the initiative. Even smart engineering students don't. Those that do will keep at it.
Henry concludes with a rather rude comment "I don't have all summer to fritter away on the internet as others appear to have." Well if you must know good sir, I have spent my summer frittering away on two summer school papers and working part time for Getfrank (best job ever-just saying).
I also listen very carefully to what older people have to say about matters like this because their opinions are worth more than ours because they have experience, they've been around the block, they know what its like putting in long hours. Of all the people I've spoken to about this issue, the vast majority who worked during the summer now regret it. There will be 50 years available for both you and I to work nice long 40,50,60+ hour weeks. Why not enjoy the long holiday period we have now?
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