Testing, testing, one two three...

Let's see how this goes.

I can't promise this thing'll be updated regularly, if at all; my life has a tendancy towards the psychotic, even during the off-season. Basically, this blog is going to be devoted to me ranting about the shitty jobs I work, among other things.

Background: I'm an Australian university student, currently studying for my bachelor of psychology with honours. I'm almost one semester through, and working very, very hard to pay my own way. So far, I have:

• been a counter bitch in one of the busiest fast food stores in my city
• been a shit-shoveller at a horse riding centre
• given guided trail rides to tourists, at a different horse riding centre
• been a janitor at a church
• packed books into boxes and mailed them to people
• worked on an assembly line in an incredibly dusty factory
• been a courier, for about two months
• worked in a (very, very low-budget) clothing retailer
• worked as an office bitch

The skills I've picked up from these jobs are many and varied. The last listing is my current job--filing, making up conference folders, getting important people coffee and donuts, occasionally answering phones, a little typing, and filling out tax forms, at speeds hummingbirds don't reach. I've been working there for about a month, just long enough for me to get the measure of the place and my first two paychecks. The pay's a lot better than it would be in, say, 'blue-collar' retail or fast food, but in exchange for having a comfortable paycheck and nice flexible hours, they will never let me work more than about 20 hours a week*; ergo, I kind of need to get a second job, to fill in that extra hundred bucks or so I should be making per week to pay off next semester's fees before the dreaded census date rolls around.

* Unless both the full-time office bitches call in sick and they really really need those contracts filed; then I might be able to sneak in an extra shift.

Hey--I'm working in a nice, air-conditioned office, and even though my feet are blistered and my fingers are usually bleeding by the end of a shift, it's still not as bad as the time a very drunk man broke my wrist (remind me to tell that story some time.) I'm not complaining--this is comparatively cushy. I just wish they'd let me work an extra couple of hours now and then.

Unfortunately with the astronomical price of petrol, my options for a second job are also limited by distance. In order of preference;

• retail - pet shop
• retail - clothing shop (I'd be aiming to move up the ladder, somewhat...)
• hospitality - there's a lot of restaurants around, one of them's bound to be hiring
• retail (?) - video rental
• retail - games/electronics
• food retail - there's gotta be 50 small bakers/delis/pie shops/specialty stores, all lined up down the main road.
• house cleaning - the most flexible hours ever, but dealing with agencies is a pain
• retail - book stores

That's about it. Obviously there are other options, but this is... the shortlist, if you will, of places who'll probably hire me quickly, pay me reasonably, and have hours I can work with.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an exam tomorrow. I could probably be less prepared if I really, really tried.