This summer (as school will not be in session) I plan to get a job :) Well, I have thought about getting a job like most of my friends, at a chain store or something doing boring work and getting minimum wage. However, I would much rather get some kind of job at a local computer store (but not a big chain store like Comp Usa or Circuit City). I could do anything for them from assemble a computer (yep) to repair one, to provide support or help with sales. Even if they pay less, I think I would still enjoy it much more.

Anyway, I really think having at least some "real world" experience here will help increase my chances at getting the job, and separating myself from the competition ;)

I've already got some decent work to show my ability to develop websites, but I'm not sure how far this will go in getting a job at a hardware store.

So.. I'm looking for an internership type deal with person/business. Where I work for the experience of it, not money.

I can:
+ Provide customer support for your business, whether it be a hosting business, software support, whatever. I could help set up a support section and/or write an faq.
+ Help manage day to day chores of whatever you have to take care of... setting up accounts, answering feedback questions, etc.
+ Help manage your businesses website.. maybe it needs some tweaks or new scripts or a better support system, or a newer forum. I am very familiar with html/css and fairly proficient in php.

It's hard to list everything, so these are just some of the things I can do.

However, I don't want to get stuck doing the so called "grunt work" for hours on end. I hate to say it, but there is a limit to what I am willing to do, and that limit falls somewhere around 4-5 hours of my time per week, depending on what I'm doing with it!

So, if you have/know of any opportunities you think I would do well filling, I'd appreciate your help very much!

Also, if you have any suggestions to how you think I could make myself look more appealing when applying for this job, I'd love to hear.

Thanks!

***Note: This is a double message, I also posted it on sitepointforums.com***

hope ya do well, you have the right idea, but i think you expectations as regards grunt work levels are possibly unrealistic. remeber when you start youll be the newbie so coffee flow is your responsibility amongst snack runs and cleaning coffee cups. be prepared to start off doing lots of grunt work and for the amount to tail off as time goes by. not meant to get at ya just a friendly pointer. as you spend more time there youll get more duties as you learn the ropes but from workin in a puter store the least senior member of staff is a slave. sure they get chance to learn and if they learn well they get less trips to buy food and more jobs to do. but trust me 5 hours a week nah 4-5 a day is more like it for your first fortnight.
im sure youll be a great asset to whatever company hires you and best wishes.

All valid points, richy. Thanks..

I'm not so afraid of doing the tedious boring stuff in the beginning at a real job, but I've applied for free work like this before, and instead of me just doing what was established, I end up doing hours and hours of the most boring stuff for people, for free. I was just afraid that someone would contact me for this post and tell me to do something like copy 800 pictures off a website and resize them a little and put them in a different order and put them somewhere else...

I don't know how to say it exactly, but I think you get what I mean..

And of course, once summer starts, I will be able to spend 5 or more hours per day working, but now with school, and especially finals, there's no way I can manage that for an internship!

Thanks for your comments.

ahh internship = free work.
thought it was just very cheap labour.
your right not to expect all your time to be spent on grunt work, but in practice a company will use you to take the grunt work off someone who does a technical job and the tradeoff is you learn his job. my experience has been that the works experience lads get the grunt work but those that apply themselves pick things up and we notice and blag the boss until they get paid jobs.
basically your saying youll you up for learning and doing grunt work but your not there to be taken advantage of :)
theres plenty of companies out there that like this approach and im sure youll find somewhere. good luck in the job and the finals.
remember to just go in with your eyes open and learn anything and everything. and dont moan to much about the pizza runs :)

Get in touch with your school before they close for the summer, they'll be able to provide you with internship links, especially the business department and guidenance councelors.

Word of advise when you land the internship.

Get there early and leave late, and never complain.

Even if they don't ask you to get the coffee or donuts, ask them anyway! Always ask for the grunt work and do it with a smile.

But in addition, don't be afraid to offer suggestions or comments to your co-workers and especially your boss.

Hmm, thats good idea, netacore, I'll try it today. I've been hooked up with some volunteer work before through my school, but its mainly been to develop websites, which is really not good experience in applying for a job at a hardware store.

Ok, I can deal with the grunt work stuff. Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it.

I just hope I can find a job within the next 45 days :)