Jobs for College Students

Jobs for college students are more popular now than ever before. In fact, many campuses report over 50% of students are juggling paid employment with their coursework.

Even if you didn’t work in high school, there are many reasons to consider getting a job while in college.

When you’re living away from home for the first time, it can be a drag to rely on your parents for money. If you have your own job, asserting your independence becomes much easier. In fact, your relationship with your parents might improve if you’re not constantly begging for money to pay for pizza, beer, and other miscellaneous experiences.

Just remember not to go overboard in your quest for self-sufficiency. If you’re working more than 15-20 hours per week, it can be become difficult to keep your grades up.

If you’re too shy for college parties and not part of a sorority or fraternity, it can be difficult to make friends at school. And when you’re in an unfamiliar environment, friends can mean the difference between enjoying your college experience and making plans to change schools as soon as possible.

If you work at a business that’s filled with other college students, you might make some new friends in the process of earning your paycheck. On-campus jobs or off-campus positions at restaurants, night clubs, and trendy clothing stores are the best jobs for college students who want to socialize at work.

If you’re lucky, you might be able to get a job that lets you learn something about your chosen field. A paid internship would be ideal, so visit your school’s internship coordinator to learn more about available opportunities.

If you can’t snag a paid internship, that doesn’t mean your hard work won’t be noticed by future employers. Education majors can enhance their resumes by part-time babysitting, while business majors can learn about management by supervising a fast food restaurant’s night shift. Of course, self-employment looks impressive on any resume!

Don’t get discouraged! Finding jobs for college students isn’t as difficult as you might think. Basically, you have three options: on-campus employment, off-campus employment, or self-employment.

On-campus employment offers many advantages:

• You’ll earn money while socializing with your classmates.
• You won’t need a car to get to work.
• You probably won’t be expected to work during semester breaks.
• If you’re lucky, your boss won’t care if you sneak in some extra studying during the slow shifts.

If you’ve completed a FAFSA application and are eligible for work study funding, you should have no trouble finding on-campus employment. Many colleges and universities have job fairs for students at the beginning of the semester, or you can ask your school’s financial aid office for more information about finding work study employment.

If you’re not eligible for work study, finding an on-campus job might be a bit more difficult. You won’t be able to apply for the positions reserved for work study students, so you’ll have fewer job opportunities to choose from. However, you should still be able to find jobs for college students if you’re persistent.

If you want to work off-campus, you’ll need to grab a copy of your local newspaper and start pounding the pavement. There won’t be any positions advertised as “jobs for college students.” However, you’re free to apply for anything you feel qualified to do.

For the most part, college students find jobs in retail and food service. Although the pay is far from stellar, you should be able to earn a decent amount of spending money. As an added bonus, you might be able to get free food or a discount on new clothes!

If you’re extremely motivated, self employment can be a great opportunity to put the skills you’re learning to good use. If you’re passionate about photography, you could offer low-cost senior portraits to local high school students. If you’re an English major, you could offer your editing services to classmates. If you’re good with computers, you can probably find plenty of local residents in need of affordable tech support.

If you’re interested in starting your own business, many schools offer elective courses in entrepreneurship. There are also competitions you can enter to earn grant money for your project. Contact your school’s business department for additional information.

Whether you're looking for a part-time job or seeking some assistance deciding what you might want to do after graduation, LoveToKnow Jobs and Careers has helpful tips for finding employment that fits your needs.

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