by Abigail Ramirez
Daily Lobo
Student Adrian Carver's ideal job is challenging and fun, he said.
For now, he is looking for an evening job that pays the bills and works around his full-time summer school schedule.
"It's easier to work in the summer because you have more time to work," Carver said.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Before Carver left his sales job a week ago, he made sure he had enough money to live on until he found another job, he said.
If he does not find another job within the next week, he is going to have money issues, he said.
"You obviously have to get a job that you can work at and get paid enough to pay for everything that you need to pay for," Carver said. "I need money to pay bills, to spend on myself and to pay for school."
At a friend's recommendation, Carver is taking an alcohol server certification class that is required for a waiter position he is applying for at a restaurant.
This isn't the case for UNM senior Katie Norris. Her ideal job is working with children, but she works as many hours as she can in both of her part-time jobs during her summer break from school.
Norris received both of her jobs through tips from her friends.
"Money didn't matter at first, because before I lived with my parents and just wanted the extra money," Norris said. "Now one of my jobs pays for my rent, and the other pays for my bills and gives me extra spending money."
Out of 110 employees, about 40 of Frontier Restaurant's employees are college students, said Pete Villegas, general manager at the restaurant.
Each summer he hires about 15 college students.
"It's not just spending money," Villegas said. "It's money to pay rent, save money for next semester's tuition, books, car insurance and things like that."
Adam Bruha, a manager at Walgreens on Central Avenue and Rio Grande Boulevard, stated in an e-mail that his store has seen a small increase in college students working for them this summer as management interns.
"We see an increase starting around the end of April and the start of May of college students applying for jobs," Bruha stated.
Working around students' summer school schedules is a challenge, he stated.
Villegas also tries to schedule around students' social lives, he said.
"We don't see ourselves just as a restaurant - we're a strong training center for young people to learn the challenges of the work force," he said. "We develop people not only in human relations, but in business skills, and we try to develop a strong work ethic."
During the coming school year, Carver plans on applying for another job, he said.
"I did it this last year," Carver said. "I worked at Best Buy and coached gymnastics. It's not that hard. I can handle it, and it's just more money."
Norris said both of her employers are flexible and understanding of her work schedule when she works during the school year.
Carver said unemployed college students should find out what's available around them by using their resources.
"Talk to friends and see if they can help you get a job, but mostly you have to do it yourself," Carver said. "Just go look. You can't get a job by sitting around. You have to be proactive."
