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I am in between high school and college right now on a bit of an unplanned gap year. Coming out of school, I figured it would be easy to get a job in technology, programming, welding, machining, glassblowing, or some other hobby of mine. It wasn't. I turned in applications to many different businesses, telling each one that I would "add value" to their company. I was laughed out of a computer repair shop, told that in my rural area, it is impossible to find tech jobs. The first place that called me back was McDonald's. I told them that I would take the job, but then Taco Bell also responded. Taco Bell was closer to my house, so I called McDonald's and told them sorry, but I had a better offer. I worked two shifts at Taco Bell, proud in my uniform, making tacos and burritos as fast as I could, before a local hardware store invited me in for an interview. After passing a drug test, I was working in retail. Hardware, building real things and the like is a passion of mine. I started at $8.50/hr, better than minimum wage. The hours piled up fast, and before I knew what was going on, my bank account had 4 digit numbers on the statements. My mom also helped me get another job at the restaurant where she works. I washed dishes. Me, with a 4.9 GPA, selected as "Super Student of the County" or some award I can't even remember, was elbows deep in dirty water for 8 hours a night after a 6 hour shift selling nuts, bolts, and brooms. It was hard work, I could barely stand after unloading the dishwasher for the last time, mopping the floors, taking out the trash, polishing the glasses and silverware, locking up, and driving home. This may sound like it's beneath you because "you can code". So can I. But working for minimum wage at one job and barely above at the other, I made about $100/day, not counting tips from the restaurant (which have since payed for a new laptop) and before taxes. I met some great people at the hardware store, and although I had to give it up when I took a few math and language classes at the local college, I loved it. I still work at the restaurant and I am typing this after a shift. My arms smell like funky dishwater and my feet still hurt. But I worked six hours today for $48, and probably $40 in tips. I don't know about you, but $14/hr is good pay for unskilled labor, even though I can hack or code. I could give freelancing a try, but I am pretty sure it would end in the failure this echo chamber loves so much. Instead, every other Saturday I take home a paycheck and deposit it on Sunday. If I decide to pick up my floor where I throw my tips at the end of the night, I am rewarded with a few hundred dollars. This will easily pay for gas and other expenses. A large portion goes to savings for my next 4 year which will be largely income-free. The leftovers go wherever I want. I decided to learn electronics, so I bought an arduino and some components for about $100. 6 months ago I couldn't have imagined going to Radio Shack and laying 5 Jackson's on the counter to walk out with something that fits in the palm of my hand and will let out the "magic smoke" if I mix up GND and RAW. The majority of comments have told you to build your portfolio and find pain points of businesses around you. Instead, I urge you to find a job, be it at a McDonald's or a 5-star cafe. Perhaps at a Walmart. You are young and you don't need to work for a living wage. I used to think that the only thing I would have to do with my hands after school was type. Now, I scrub dishes. But I also have 35 hours a week where I am forced to be away from HN, Facebook, and Reddit. I get to shoot the shit with my coworkers or daydream about how we are all machines behind an elastic load balancer and if anyone of us were to cut our hand off, the kitchen would experience a cascading failure and it would be a very long night. My job provides structure to my life, something I am terrified I will lose next year when I go across the country to be a freshman again. It also has a guaranteed income of $8/hr. Tips are good. The meal at the end of each night is great. Instead of spending hours hounding LinkedIn, Fiverr, or ODesk, I drive 12 miles and put on nonslip shoes. It's easy, it pays well, but most of all, its fun. My advice: bootstrap your career with the MVP of jobs: anything with regular hours. Pay doesn't matter as the hours will melt away. I would stay away from programming or IT for minimum wage, as that will probably poison your passion for computers. |