Self Employed

Baby Sitter

March - August 2020 • Great Falls, VA

What I liked

I loved the family. They were very flexible and understanding.

What I wish was different

More activities to do. I was limited because it was one child.

Advice

Look at your community posting appilcation or site. I used Nextdoor and people post about errands, odd jobs, and babysitting needed in the area.

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Lawn Caretaker

March - August 2020 • Colorado, Paraná

What I liked

I liked the freedom that came with being self-employed, being able to control my hours, clients, and so on.

What I wish was different

I wish that I had taken more advantage at the beginning of the season figuring out how to better structure my weeks which would have allowed me to be more efficient in the long run.

Advice

If you control your schedule, take time to plan your goals out over the next few months (work-related or not) and then schedule yourself with those goals in mind.

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Tutor for Distance Learning

August 2020 • Temecula, CA

What I liked

I made my own schedule and set my own pay rate. Above all else, this job has made me excel in time management and financial responsibility. It’s a bonus that I get to chose who I work with/for. I guide students through their distance learning and keep track of their assignments. When they’re confused, I teach them and go through assignments with them. Everyday is different and Im constantly learning. Then I come home and study my own material. I can easily fill a 10-12+ hour day of nothing but consistent learning.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Caregiver

June - August 2020 • Dubuque, IA

What I liked

Being able to spend time with people

What I wish was different

been more active

Advice

be attentive

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Ebay Antreprenor

June - October 2020 • Omaha, NE

What I liked

Being able to make my own business decisions

What I wish was different

I wish all sellers had equal opportunities to get their items sold

Advice

Do your research

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Photographer

June 2018 • New York City, NY

What I liked

I enjoyed the freedom to work on my own creative projects and the connections I've made with other business owners.

What I wish was different

I wish I had the opportunity to indulge in traveling photography, but covid put a stop to that.

Advice

One piece of advice I would share based on this experience is to always trust yourself. If you do not bet on yourself, how can you expect others to? The best thing you can do for yourself is to become a student of your craft.

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General Laborer

May - August 2020 • Durango, CO

What I liked

The flexibility of making my own schedule

What I wish was different

I wish the work had been more steady

Advice

No advise here, just wish I could find an internship .

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Business owner

March - November 2020 • Fayetteville, AR

What I liked

This year, for my business I managed a lot more than doing the actual, physical work. I hired a few employees throughout the summer and liked the managing aspect of the business!

What I wish was different

I wish I would’ve found one or two really good employees and done a better process of learning who they are before hiring them.

Advice

With owning and running a business, don’t freak out if something goes wrong. Stay calm and collected and take responsibility even if it isn’t directly your fault. If your employee does something, it always leads back to you.

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Swim Instructor

May - August 2020 • Henderson, NV

What I liked

What I wish was different

Advice

If you have a passion for something, find a way to do it! I didn’t like my experiences teaching swimming lessons through anyone else I worked for, so I started my own business doing things how I wanted and it was super successful! It may seem insignificant, but I taught hundreds of children how to survive in water, including those as you g as 10 months old.

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Private Swim Coach

May - August 2020 • Peachtree Corners, GA

What I liked

I liked being able to make my own schedule. I liked that I was able to market myself to get business. I liked the job itself.

What I wish was different

I could have used a larger network to find clients.

Advice

Market yourself well and be available for your clients.

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Tile Setter

November 2001 - August 2020 • Stevensville, MT

What I liked

Every job was a little different. I could be creative.

What I wish was different

Work around more intellectually adept people.

Advice

Construction isn't for everyone.

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Self employed

January 2018 • Kentland, IN

What I liked

Making my own schedule

What I wish was different

Advice

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Nanny

May - August 2020 • Little Rock, AR

What I liked

The relationships with the kids and fun summer activities.

What I wish was different

I wish we could have gone more places, but covid prevented that.

Advice

It is incredibly rewarding.

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Freelance Artist

June 2020 • San Francisco, CA

What I liked

It’s flexible to work at home and you can design anything you love.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Alterations Tailor

February - August 2020 • Boise, ID

What I liked

I love my job. I excel at sewing and creating and re-creating garments. I love that it is never the same, there is always a challenge, and I get to do a thing I enjoy.

What I wish was different

The shop I worked out of had a toxic environment. I was the only liberal among staunch far right conservatives and had to endure a lot of animosity toward me for merely not agreeing with their near constant racist and prejudiced rants. I was forced to quit unethically due to these issues.

Advice

Never ever take ANY job without a written contract. Ever.

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Musician

June 2020 • Grand Rapids, MI

What I liked

I enjoyed the freedom to pursue my craft without a rigid boss/employee hierarchy. I got to make my own work on my own schedule and explore various interests while doing it.

What I wish was different

I wish there were more gigs and that COVID didn't ruin everything.

Advice

If you want this kind of work you need to be willing to work hard, always reach out to others for opportunities and connections, and get your name out there as much as possible. The more people know about you, the more likely you are to get called on for a gig, even if you aren't that great.

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