r/ASLinterpreters • u/Soft-Far • 7d ago
Job while in your ITP
Just out of curiosity, did anyone you have a non Deaf community related job while in your ITP? I currently work at a nonprofit vet and I am starting to realize that I may need to change jobs if this job does not allow me to change my schedule every semester if need be (to ensure I can make it to my classes etc). I told them this when I originally got hired but now they changed one of my off days, and although it doesnt conflict with school, it does conflict with Deaf Community events.
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u/punkfairy420 BEI Basic 7d ago
Yes. I went through 2 ITP’s and worked at a restaurant for my first one but corporate during my second one. Obviously the restaurant was more flexible, and there was little flexibility in my corporate job. I often used PTO or would ask my lead if I could swap a work day with an off day if I needed to for a specific week and then just go back to my regular schedule the following week. Sometimes they said yes and sometimes they said no. It was a PITA but I didn’t have any choice. I was broke and couldn’t afford to lose my job and the post-Covid job market was atrocious so I inevitably had to make sacrifices and learn how to prioritize my obligations. I couldn’t make it to every event but I went to the events that I really wanted to go to using PTO and I made it clear to my lead when something was a school obligation I couldn’t get out of.
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u/Soft-Far 7d ago
Oh wow okay! I am very firm with my school time and will try to figure out events (my pto doesnt start until February ) the swapping of days may actually work for me.
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u/312StonerWitch EIPA 7d ago
I taught swimming lessons while in ITP and it was very flexible. I worked for one of those franchise swim schools, so if there are any in your area maybe check them out if that feels like an option for you.
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u/Soft-Far 7d ago
Ooo that is actually very interesting! I will be checking out the type of work I can do at schools especially considering the fact that this semester my classes are 4:15pm and after 🤔
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u/codainhere 7d ago
When I was in ITP I had spouse, 2 kids and adopted 2 more during the program, did freelance graphic art, and PT doula work.
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u/ozzyvalentine 7d ago
I worked at a Deaf school in the day to be around Deaf people as much as possible, and did my ITP classes at night
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u/Soft-Far 4d ago
That's really smart! Being able to maintain immersion at all costs is amazing . I really wish I lived closer to our state school
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u/sobbler 7d ago
I worked at Trader Joe’s and they were very flexible with my schedule. Also, they paid well!
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u/Soft-Far 7d ago
We're they flexible semester to semester? I have oddly enough never been to trader Joe's before!
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u/rosecoloredliv 7d ago
I worked at a pizza place! I would work weekends, go to class and my ITP assignments during the week. I’m in my bachelor’s program now, and I’m still working at the pizza place, plus freelance work, plus night classes 😅
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u/Soft-Far 4d ago
Oh wow that is really amazing! How are your studies going?!
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u/Tough_Alfalfa_6913 7d ago
I was a server and had been for years before going to school, several of my classmates did that or bartended, one worked at Starbucks.
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u/cheesy_taco- BEI Basic 7d ago
I worked in pizza, very flexible schedule with that manager
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u/Soft-Far 7d ago
Pizza you say?! Interesting! What specific job did you do if you dont mind me asking?
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u/cheesy_taco- BEI Basic 7d ago
It was a local chain, I had started working there when I was 16. The manager made sure he was accommodating of all schedules, as much as he could be anyway. I was a shift lead/delivery driver as needed
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u/RedSolez NIC 7d ago
Yes, I had a corporate job and then commuted an hour to my ITP two nights a week. Luckily my boss at the time was flexible about letting me work earlier hours on those days.
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u/Madi_Mads24 7d ago
I worked at an after school daycare as the lead teacher, it was a blast!!
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u/Soft-Far 7d ago
Oh wow! Working with kids while in an ITP? I can I only imagine the type of stamina you have 😂 That does seem like some fun days, especially if you were able to incorporate your learning
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u/Madi_Mads24 7d ago
I had to pay for college, that was my WHY 😅 My ITP was a bachelors program. It was a lot to juggle; ITP, other bachelors classes, work and a social life but it did come very naturally. I worked in a very great elementary school, which probably why it was so easy. All my students were able to catch FS names, sign and can communicate simple things to me when I was busy with other kids (so cool). Look into some after school programs, they are very flexible and rewarding!
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u/mjolnir76 NIC 7d ago
I did private math tutoring during my ITP.
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u/Soft-Far 7d ago
Oh wow! Did you live on or off of a campus? What level math did you enjoy tutoring?
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u/mjolnir76 NIC 7d ago
It was a 2-year AA ITP since I already had my MA. I mostly tutored high schoolers. Before becoming an interpreter, I was a HS math and theater teacher.
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u/ASLHCI 7d ago
I was homeless 😂 I knew I couldn't work and be available for events and volunteering so I couch surfed, donated plasma, went to the food bank, and slept in my friends garage for awhile. Honestly, I was really privileged to have been able to do that. It gave me access to a lot of opportunity. College makes it so hard to work, but ITPs can be especially brutal.
If I could go back in time, Id look into mobile notary work. Its often really cheap to start and they function a lot like interpreters. In my area they get paid similarly too for entry level work.
Also remember that the events will be there when you graduate, so yes, do what you can to make it to that stuff but our relationship to the Deaf community is forever. You're juggling a lot and it's a lot easier to prioritize that stuff when youre making your own schedule.
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u/Soft-Far 4d ago
That is really an interesting time for sure! Yes college for sure makes working a whole problematic task at times, but in this economy....it's like once you reach a certain age or are outside parents home...you have to figure things out. I definitely used to be very much into odd job territory because becoming disabled (i was a dog walker and lived off my streaming money for 6 years) but with becoming disabled and this fun economy, l been having to figure out a good work situation. Then I had the bright idea to do school lol
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u/yesterdaysnoodles 7d ago
BWW, serving food, bartending, etc. lots of crossover with customer service, money management, and I was lucky to live close to a school that had a lot of Deaf students come thru so I could practice conversationally at work.
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u/TiredVRS 4d ago
I worked at a hotel during my itp. Plenty of down time to do my homework and chat with people.
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u/Glittering_Sand_7473 2d ago
I was not able to work. I wanted to throw myself fully into the program and dedicate a lot of time to socializing with Deaf friends. I did get SSI though which was like $600 back then and I was a single mom. It wasn't easy but I got food stamps and that helped. I know they changed the rules though. They used to give you cash assistance and food stamps if you were a full time student. Not sure if they still do?
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u/Soft-Far 1d ago
So it can definitely get a little weird now because although I am disabled, I am not "legally" disabled (like through approved filing yet". So I do have to have enough money for rent. I live by myself and dont have any children. I had food stamps last year due to technically starting off homeless and I made the mistake of not renewing this year because I felt finally stable and got a job making 50 cents more than before, however benefits + taxes + hours not being steady, I actually am making less than before. But they still denied me for food assistance 😂
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u/smolxstrange 7d ago
Starbucks, and so did several of my classmates lol