Are green jobs paying well?

Well paying but flexible jobs for college students?

• I am 19 going on 20 and I live in Tampa, FL. I am a college student and I just recently got my own apartment. I pay for my own utilities and rent as well as gas for my car, laundry services and groceries. Plus I am looking for money to save up for the future and for current necessities like furniture for my apartment. I don't have a room-mate to share the bills with so I am looking for a job where I can earn AT LEAST about 1500-1700 dollars a month or more. I only attend classes 3 days a week and I'm free most weekends (or at least I'm willing to free up my weekends if it means earning some cash instead of spending it). Of course flexibility is always convenient but seeing as I have weekends free I don't think I will encounter a challenge in that area. I'm looking for a job that is close to downtown, where I can earn a good salary. The only thing is I don't have much "on-the-books" experience. I worked at my parents family owned restaurant business from the time I was big enough to stack the bottom 4 shelves to the time I was 16. I was a nanny/babysitter for a year when I was 17-18. I was a server at TGI Fridays for 7 months and I served at a country club for one month between ages 18 and 19 until I moved to Tampa to transfer schools. I am majoring in elementary education but I don't necessarily ONLY need a job working with kids. I am a people person. I do love serving/waitressing but I need to work at a place that pays very well and is not picky about experience, which is not the usual combination. Anyone know of any jobs that would be good for me? I heard that Starbucks has great benefits but how can I apply and make sure I have a better chance of getting hired if they don't see me face (since applications are all online)... that goes for other online apps too. I just need to get a well paying job soon and fast. And for all the smarty pants out there, please don't say stripper (or anything like it) just because there's so many strip clubs in Tampa -___- **ALSO I love art! anyone maybe think of any creative ways to make money like crafts, baking or selling something, entrepreneurial style? ;)

• Answer:

  Working 40 hours a week, you'd need a job that pays more than $10/hour (to account for tax withholding and other deductions) to make that much per month. I can't think of any jobs that pay that to newbies, and getting full time isn't guaranteed, so you might have to double up. Definitely get a roommate (or a better deal on an apartment) as soon as you can. In general, the closer a business is to a college, the more lenient they are to flexibility. It still comes down to being as predictable as possible regarding hours, and giving advance notice of any changes, so you can be scheduled. Two weeks is the usual amount of lead time many employers expect. Don't worry too much about your experience—simply being reliable (no tardiness or absences) makes an employer take notice. And so long as someone can vouch for the fact you can, say, brew coffee, keep supplies in order, or be trusted with someone's children, you actually have a lot more experience than you think. A lot of foodservice jobs don't require prior experience, and the better ones are willing to train. If your school offers work counseling or holds job fairs, check in with them. As for selling crafts, have a look around sites like deviantart.com, which has a crafts area and helps users make sales. I'm told etsy.com is also popular, though I've seen some questionable items sold there. eBay is also an option if you're smart about making deals and not getting ripped off. Keep in mind that you may have to start living without some comforts in order to make ends meet. A glass of water instead of a combo soda can save quite a bit of money in the long run.