[ue_]

That's true, I have my parents if things go wrong; the thing is that before I started university last year my parents convinced me not to get a student maintenance loan (i.e what pays for my living expenses and rent). Instead I get a sum of money at the start of each month and that's supposed to subsist for the utilities in the house where I live and any other expenses I have, except rent which my parents pay. I have no children or dependents nor do I pay any taxes.

It's also true that I don't need a job, but I'm being pressured to get one for the idea that my parents will at some point stop giving me money, and that I need something to put on my CV/resume (I don't think Deliveroo is all that impressive personally).

My other options are things like working in a fast food joint, or something like a cinema. But I don't know if I can do that and fit in my education at the same time plus have some free time to relax myself, play a video game or whatever. It's honestly worrying and I feel pushed into a corner by all this.

[sleavey]

I was in a very similar situation to you a few years ago when I went to university. I had a summer job working in PC World before I started, and I was lucky enough to transfer to the shop in my university city. I worked Wednesday evenings for 4 hours (16:00 to 20:00) and Saturdays (09:00 to 18:00) which gave me 12 hours income a week at a little above minimum wage at the time, or about £300/month. Essentially, it paid my rent and my student loan could cover everything else. Later when I entered my honours year I dropped down to just Saturdays.

The job was shitty in the sense that you had to try to sell junk computers and software and insurance to unsuspecting people for what felt like long hours and not much money, but I feel like the experience was ultimately worth it in many ways. I gained a work ethic, having to get up and be on time, wash and iron a uniform and take responsibility. I learned what it was like to be someone working there full time (and how it can destroy your soul). Again, for some people these jobs are all they can get. I also learned about the attitude of the average member of the public, which I think has given me some small insight into recent election results. I've got 5 years experience in retail sales in a complicated field (not just selling coffee or clothes) to put on my CV, which shows to employers in my profession that I have actually had what some call a "real" job, and all the life experience that goes with it.

I think it's worth judging a sales/delivery/misc job at such an early stage in your career as beneficial life experience, instead of only trying to find something relevant to your future career (if you can find a job that has both, though, then great!).

[murukesh_s]

Seems like you are interested in programming. Why don't you try some job in that lines, like an internship or if that's too early, some freelancing like in upwork?

If you feel you aren't ready for programming professionally, you can try taking up SEO, content writing etc..

I don't know which subject you are pursuing but it might give more weight to your CV.

Btw, if you think of doing your own startup at some time in the future, then try to gather as much of sales experience as possible, even doing a door to door sales. I really wished I had done that in my student days..

[ycitm]

If you've got any experience or interest in programming, I'd recommend having a stab at Google Summer of Code[0].

[0] - https://developers.google.com/open-source/gsoc/