Different Jobs to Work During College
While previous articles have covered the many benefits of working during college, this is a guide to the different types of jobs you should consider working during college.
By Melissa Ortiz — August 24, 2023
Finances are the number one concern for most college students. Even if you have a plan that already covers financing your education, chances are you will need some extra cash for unexpected expenses during school. These expenses could include books, a laptop replacement, or just everyday money. Even if you think a job will interfere with your academics, you can work a job that will add to your knowledge and experience in your field of interest. While previous articles have covered the many benefits of working during college, this is a guide to the different types of jobs you should consider working during college.
Work-Study Jobs
One popular option is working on campus through a work-study job — though not everyone is eligible. To find out if you're eligible for this, check your FAFSA and your financial aid. A work-study option may be listed under your awards for a specific amount of money per semester or quarter. Keep in mind that this option and the total amount may change from year to year.
Most colleges will have various work-study jobs on campus, from working as an administrative coordinator to working in the mailroom or working in student services. Work-study jobs often have a fixed pay rate (so make sure that you're able to evenly spread out your allotted money throughout the school year!). While the variety of work-study jobs may be wide, there is also a fixed number of these jobs on campus, as they are federally funded. Thus, the best work-study jobs tend to fill up quickly, so it's important to find and apply to these sooner than later. One benefit to work-study jobs is that they are flexible, as most managers understand students' schedules and when they're busiest with schoolwork. Further, it's a great way to meet your peers, as all your coworkers will likely be other work-study students.
Non-Work-Study On-Campus Jobs
If you don't qualify for work-study jobs, there are likely many non-work-study jobs on campus as well. (It's important to note that these jobs are still open for students with work-study if you'd like to work more hours.) These jobs can be similar to work-study jobs, but non-work-study jobs can give you greater freedom in which kinds of jobs or experience you'd like to pursue and build on for your future career, as these jobs aren't limited to federal funding. For example, if you wanted to work for a professor or in a grant-funded research lab, you likely wouldn't need to qualify for work-study to apply. Further, if you are interested in research and pursuing graduate school, working as a research assistant is a great way to gain experience and stand out in the application process. Overall, regular on-campus jobs can allow you the flexibility to pursue your academic or nonacademic interests further.
Off-Campus Jobs
Of course, while there are a variety of jobs at your college campus, it won't have everything. You may want to gain experience in the "real world" and work for a specific industry, such as working as a bank teller or start working your way up the corporate ladder. Whether your college campus is in an urban, suburban, or rural setting, there are likely a wide variety of businesses in your college's community where you could work. One benefit to working an off-campus job is building out your network and connections in a specific field you're interested in for life post graduation. Working an off-campus job may also be an opportunity to continue to build on skills and jobs you had pursued and enjoyed while in high school, such as babysitting or tutoring. Remote work is also a viable option, such as social media management or other kinds of remote jobs that are growing nowadays. Finally, while pay rates are likely fixed on your campus, you may have the opportunity to make more money working an off-campus job.
Volunteering
Finally, if none of the options above are feasible or exciting to you but you still want to gain experience and contribute to something bigger than yourself, volunteering is a good option. You can look at campus extracurriculars or at nonprofits in the surrounding community at which to volunteer. There are over a million nonprofits nationwide — chances are there's a nonprofit near you that aligns with your interests and skills and can use your help. Finally, although volunteering isn't technically work experience, volunteering still looks great on your resume and can help you decide what you'd like to do after college.
Conclusion
There are many options for part-time work throughout your college career. As briefly mentioned, there are several benefits to working some type of job during college, both during the school year and summer.
You can look for jobs in a few different ways. Chances are that your college will host a job fair at the beginning of each school year. They may advertise both on-campus jobs and host recruiters for off-campus jobs. This is a great way to network and apply early to the most desirable positions. Nowadays, most colleges also have a job search site where you can look for and apply to jobs directly (make sure to check your email at least once a day for updates and interviews!). Your college also likely has a career center that can help you prep for the job application process both during college and post-graduation. Finally, while it may seem intimidating, it's important to network and make connections. If you really enjoy a particular class, ask your professor to see if there are any relevant jobs for you to pursue your interests further. They likely have connections in the field and can point you in the right direction.
Of course, there will always be good and bad jobs out there. You will experience the pros and cons of different types of work environments, management styles, and organizational structures. The important thing is to gain experience and figure out what you like and don't like so that you can get closer to your ideal career.
Melissa Ortiz
Melissa has ten years of experience working in research and administration in several nonprofits and higher education institutions. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University and her M.S. in Education from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.
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