I am 21 years old, still live with my parents, currently studying Computer Science, and need some sort of income because I’m nearly out of money (mostly because I never had a job and I need bus fare to basically get around anywhere and I would like to have some money for hobbies).

Tried getting a job, going over my resume multiple times and handing in my resume in person, but that has not been working so far - I’ve been handing out like hundreds of resumes since January this year and got only 1 interview with no follow up (and I even tried places such as McDonalds, TimHortons, and Starbucks and also various programming jobs).

I have recently come up with the idea of mowing other people’s lawns for money. However, when I suggested this to my parents, they said it was just inappropriate for me because if an adult were to do it, they’d do it with tools such as a proper gas powered mower, a weedwacker and possibly even a van, but all we have is an electric mower that doesn’t even have batteries (don’t know if there are any with batteries), so I’d have to take electricity from my customers. I also don’t have enough money for a weedwacker or a new lawn mower.

Anyhow, they think it’s a stupid idea, but I personally think that even if it doesn’t work out and I don’t get any customers, then I have nothing to lose from it, and if it does work, then I get cash, and actual work experience to put on my resume (because right now I basically only have my mandatory high school volunteer hours).

I personally do think that there is a chance that they might be correct, but I personally think that I’d have to actually try it before I could be totally sure.

Plus, I believe one of the main reasons why I’m in this situation now is because in High School they always told me things like that I was stupid, and too slow and clumsy to work in fast food or grocery stores (and other jobs that high schoolers normally take) and should just focus on getting A+ grades to get accepted into the best universities and get a job as a programmer, and I fully believed them and instead of trying to get a job during the summers, I took summer school courses which just ended up in me filling up the resulting empty spots with elective courses and so I graduated high school at the same time as everyone else - and so looking back I do think that I should have just ignored my parents and got myself a job during the summer in high school. During my first few years in university, I was also under the impression that getting a job was not too hard and didn’t take really that long as it’s actually taking for me and that I could just get a programming job right now or when I graduate - and turns out I was wrong.

By the way, I also live in Durham Region, Ontario (which is in the GTA on the east side).

Any advice on this? Do you think that this may actually work?

Also, if I do end up mowing lawns for money with the equipment I have, would a price of around 20 - 25 CAD per mow be reasonable?

  • veeeEnglish
    12·
    8 days ago

    I’ve never mowed lawns as a landscaping job before, but I think that if you can pull it off it may help show that you can create your own personal motivation and entrepreneurial spirit that employers may appreciate.

    If I were to go back and do it as a student, I’d have to consider a number of factors off the top of my head to overcome:

    • what size of a network am I looking to tackle? I.e., number of neighbourhoods and lawns.
    • what does a 30-45 minute session consist of? Mow, trimming edges, and sweeping?
    • what additional tools could I borrow to make my service more attractive until I can purchase my own?
    • how long will I even be cutting grass for new equipment to make sense?
    • logistically, how could I reliably transport equipment from house to house if my network gets too large? Wagon? Parents car?
    • how many public neighbourhood Facebook groups can I join to help get the word out?
    • finally, does this help fulfill my longterm professional goals in my field? Can I spin this endeavour in a way that synergizes with my professional journey? I don’t want to waste my time fulfilling filler side quests.

    As someone that moved out around your age it irks me a little to hear about parents looking down on their kid like that. The playing field has changed drastically since my day, so I can fully sympathize with your current plight.

    Hope that helps or at least gives you something more to consider.

    ETA: above all no matter what you find yourself doing don’t get discouraged along the way when people say no. Eventually the rejections will roll off your back and you’ll already be hustling onto the next job!

    • DMCMNFIBFFF
      4·
      8 days ago

      As someone that moved out around your age it irks me a little to hear about parents looking down on their kid like that.

      I have a feeling that after, say, 2 weeks of work, the OP will have a better understanding about the landscaping business than his parents, and should therefore take much of their advice with much salt, as it will be he, and not they, who will be the professional. 😁🙂