Self Employed

Nanny

July 2018 • Solon, OH

What I liked

Trying to be as creative as possible!

What I wish was different

More hours and higher pay

Advice

Be outgoing and use it to get experience teaching kids.

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Window Washer/Business Owner

May - August 2019 • Camas, WA

What I liked

Loved running a business, and feeling responsible for the work I put in was the results I got out.

What I wish was different

Less competition. Washington has become very saturated with other window washing companies.

Advice

Start earlier, and use customers as a bigger resource to find new customers.

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Lawn Maintenance Worker

June - August 2019 • Garden City, UT

What I liked

Flexibility

What I wish was different

Consistent pay schedule

Advice

Self employment is great if you can work hard without supervision

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Baby Sitter

June - August 2019 • Dixfield, ME

What I liked

The ease of controlling my own hours and doing something I loved.

What I wish was different

Not much, it was pretty perfect

Advice

Personal network is something not enough people take advantage of and they should!

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Franchisee of AFC Sushi Company

March 2008 • Miami, FL

What I liked

I love making sushi.

What I wish was different

I would like to create my own menu.

Advice

I love watching my customers' smiles and happiness from eating the sushi I make. I also love when they say 'thank you' at the end of the meal.

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Freelance Designer

January 2017 • Idaho Falls, ID

What I liked

I love the freedom of a flexible schedule so that I can be a full time stay at home mother to my children.

What I wish was different

I wish there were more opportunities to network with others in my field and potential clients.

Advice

Set a schedule and stick to it. It can still be flexible, but there needs to be self discipline and a good work ethic so projects aren't neglected.

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Landscaper

June - August 2019 • Old Lyme, CT

What I liked

Flexible hours, good pay, satisfying work

What I wish was different

Boss was a bit crazy

Advice

Try to keep your work and personal life separate, I worked for my friends parents which put me in an awkward situation sometimes to ask for certain things

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Freelance 2d and 3d design artist

May 2017 • Orem, UT

What I liked

I enjoy that my job is not boring, it's different everyday and brings new and exiting things. I get to paint and sculpt assets and designs that will be used by games and movies.

What I wish was different

While it's nice, pay is not steady.

Advice

Work smart and hard. Nothing worth while comes easy.

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Ceramicist

June 2017 • Goshen, OH

What I liked

I make my own time and have complete freedom. I don't have to leave my house to earn money, so long as I continue to put effort into it.

What I wish was different

There's a large upfront cost to get going, and the pay is inconsistent, as it's based off what I sell. I also have to market my products myself, and am at the mercy of the online retailers (and their algorithms) that host my items.

Advice

Don't expect much success selling art online starting off. You'll need to learn how to market your stuff effectively, and keep production up as high as possible. You'll also need funding to purchase the equipment you'll need to start making art. I recommend having a steady, regularly paying job to start, until you feel like you can earn money consistently enough to support yourself.

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Landscaping

April 2019 • Kennesaw, GA

What I liked

Being able to run a business on my own terms and learning effective relationship skills with clients.

What I wish was different

Started the season sooner. But I think it was best that I waited for the spring semester to end in order to being working full time.

Advice

Learn to be organized, be professional, and hustle everyday.

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Nanny

April - August 2019 • Waimea, HI

What I liked

The hours were flexible

What I wish was different

Advice

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Personal Care Assistant

September 2009 • Attleboro, MA

What I liked

I worked with the family of a boy who has Autism. My role as a PCA was to assist with completing day to day activities. As the boy I was working with is 13, this includes working on homework, practicing assigned social skills activities, doing physical activities outside, and then getting ready for bed. The job is incredibly rewarding, being able to develop a relationship with the person you are working with as well as their family makes it a really memorable experience, and lets you go home at the end of the day feeling accomplished. Ive been doing this for about 10 years now, (the boy I'm currently working with I have been working with for 7 years) and its incredible to watch how he grows and comes to overcome the many challenges he faces, always with determination, and unending spirit. Its also a perfect part time job for a nursing student, I typically work for about three hours once or twice a week, so its something I can do to make money on the side while not falling behind in my studies.

What I wish was different

Advice

you will need patience, and plenty of it. thats one of the biggest things you will need to have, as many times you be trying to work through something with your client, only to realize you're not making as much progress as you'd like. you will also need to be able to step back and reconsider your approach n times like these, flexibility in how you overcome issues is a must, but this is something you will develop in spades if you choose to be a PCA

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Tree Worker

May 2019 • Mapleton, UT

What I liked

Working in trees is fun. Climbing around using saws and ropes is more like play than work. The exercise is nice too.

What I wish was different

More consistency in the jobs available.

Advice

The right equipment is worth the investment.

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Daycare Provider

June - August 2019 • Jacksonville, FL

What I liked

My own boss

What I wish was different

Time off

Advice

Have fun with the kids

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Custom welder

May 2019 • Taylor, TX

What I liked

It was a great learning experience. It was both mentally and physically challenging.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Eyelash Technician

April 2019 • Sugar City, ID

What I liked

I loved getting to meet new girls in my area. I was able to make a lot of new friends!

What I wish was different

Nothing!

Advice

Definitely have a set schedule so that you are not caught working all the time and not enjoying your summer.

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Tutoring

June 2019 • Dallas, TX

What I liked

I liked meeting new people and be able to help them out with math.

What I wish was different

That there were more students.

Advice

You need to go out and explore and make connections in order to start your own job or if you want to change something about yourself. You need to take action and be persistent with what you have mind. Don’t let anyone tell you no for an answer and explore different approaches for a problem.

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