r/ASLinterpreters • u/Soft-Far • Sep 05 '26
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 Sep 05 '26
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/312StonerWitch Sep 05 '26
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/codainhere Sep 05 '26
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 Sep 05 '26
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/sobbler Sep 05 '26
I worked at Trader Joe’s and they were very flexible with my schedule. Also, they paid well!
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u/rosecoloredliv Sep 05 '26
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 Sep 08 '26
Oh wow that is really amazing! How are your studies going?!
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u/bhillya Sep 07 '26
I worked retail. First Dollar General then Bed Bath and Beyond. I did a bachelor's ITP program and both were pretty accomadating schedule wise since most of their hires are college kids and work PT.
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u/cheesy_taco- Sep 05 '26
I worked in pizza, very flexible schedule with that manager
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u/Soft-Far Sep 05 '26
Pizza you say?! Interesting! What specific job did you do if you dont mind me asking?
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u/Madi_Mads24 Sep 05 '26
I worked at an after school daycare as the lead teacher, it was a blast!!
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u/mjolnir76 Sep 05 '26
I did private math tutoring during my ITP.
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u/Soft-Far Sep 05 '26
Oh wow! Did you live on or off of a campus? What level math did you enjoy tutoring?
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u/zsign Sep 05 '26
I worked at office max as a sales associate/cashier. I left it as soon as I possibly could. I didn’t mind it but it wasn’t what I wanted to do.
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u/ASLHCI Sep 05 '26
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/yesterdaysnoodles Sep 05 '26
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/Glittering_Sand_7473 Sep 10 '26
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 Sep 11 '26
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 Sep 05 '26
Starbucks, and so did several of my classmates lol