On-campus jobs are often a great choice for students looking for a part-time job. As any college student knows, life is busy enough as it is, with classes, clubs, homework, exams and extracurricular activities.
It can be difficult to balance school with a work schedule, and that balance is even harder to come by when you factor in the commute to and from work. Jobs on campus, therefore, tend to be a really good fit for college students. For one, on-campus employers tend to be more understanding about academic demands, and are used to accommodating staffing changes based on fluctuations in course load.
1. The Benefits of Working On Campus
When you work on campus, you don’t have to worry too much about commuting to the office, which can be especially tricky when it comes to balancing homework, studying, and of course, class time. Also, working on campus can be a great way to meet new people and make valuable connections with your college’s faculty and staff.
2. Barista
If you’re up for the hustle-and-bustle of a college café, consider working as a barista. Not only will you likely get your daily caffeine fix, for free — a clever way to save money, especially if you tend to spend $5 a day on a latte — but you’ll also get to know the “café” regulars and meet new people, too.
In addition, the skills you’ll learn as a barista, like making espresso drinks, working as a cashier, and counting change, for example, are easily translatable to other café and restaurant jobs that you might want to pursue post-graduation for extra cash.
3. Mail Room Attendant
Almost all college dormitories have some sort of mail room where students can receive letters and packages. Working in the mail room is a good way to meet people in your dormitory, or, if you work in another residence, it’s an excellent way to connect with peers who you might not meet otherwise.
And, since there tends to be a bit of downtime while working in the mail room, you might also be able to get some reading done or some assignments completed while you’re making money.
4. Library Attendant
If you can stand four- to eight- hour shifts in a hush of silence, working as a library attendant might be an ideal job for you, especially if you tend to spend lots of your time in the library to begin with. Library attendants generally have the responsibility of maintaining an environment conducive to work: making sure students aren’t talking loudly, or being disruptive with food or drinks, for example.
Also, most library attendants are able to get their own school work done while getting paid to oversee the library.
5. Teaching Assistant
Most colleges and universities hire undergraduates or graduate students to work as teaching assistants, in fields as wide-ranging as journalism, mathematics, physics, and biology. If you’ve performed especially well in one class or have a relationship with a professor, inquire about the possibility to apply to be a teaching assistant.
Although some TAs are required to host their own seminars or discussions for students enrolled in larger lectures, in other case, their responsibilities are limited to proctoring exams and grading papers.
6. Administrative Assistant
There’s a ton of tasks to be done on a college campus: phone calls to be made, papers to be filed, emails to be answered, just to name a few. Many academic departments hire student administrative assistants at the beginning of each semester, so check in early to see if there’s an open spot.
7. Research Assistant
Many departments recruit paid research assistants. Not all research is in hard science, though. You may be able to find a job doing background research for English, history, psychology or sociology. While not all research assistantships are paid hourly, many come with a stipend. Either way, a position like this also gives you research skills to strengthen your resume.
While looking up research jobs, you might also find opportunities to participate in research studies, too. This can be a fun (and interesting!) way to make cash on the side.
8. Campus Ambassador
Many corporate companies, from Google to Red Bull, Zip Car to Monster, hire students to act as ‘student ambassadors,’ spreading the word about their product or service on campus. If you’re outgoing and like to interact with people, this can be a really fun job, and might also come with perks like discounts or freebies.
Companies usually post these types of opportunities on Craigslist, but check with your college career services office, too.
9. Fitness Class Instructor
Your college’s campus gym probably offers group fitness classes like yoga, pilates, kickboxing, cycling, or boxing. If you have the skills (or, if you’re a certified instructor) teaching a fitness class is the ideal way to stay in shape, meet like-minded students, and make money.
10. Peer Tutor
If you’re strong in a particular subject, why not tutor your peers to make some cash? If your university has an educational resource center, there may be a formal tutoring position you can apply for.
Also, colleges with strong athletic programs usually recruit tutors to work with athletes. There are also many online tutoring jobs available, and most of these have flexible hours.
