On-campus jobs allow for you to experience your college in a unique way. They not only allow for your to gain work experience, but develop many skills that will become vital to your future success. You are constantly learning and maturing throughout your employment.
On-campus jobs are available all over college campuses, and there are a large variety to chose from, there are far more than just teaching/education related jobs. You can apply for a variety of job positions, some including marketing, event planning, secretary, and tutoring positions. Obtaining an on-campus job can impact the way you experience college and because of that here are ten reasons I think every college student should try to get an on-campus job.
1. You get paid.
It may not be tons of money, but who doesn't want a little extra cash? Not only will you have some spending money, but you will have money to pay for your books, bills, or any extra tuition (but having spending money is more important).
And on-campus jobs tend to be more for the experience and the people then the money.
2. Flexible work schedule.
Whatever department you end up working for will make sure that your work schedule and school schedule don't have any conflicts. Your work schedule will change every semester with your school schedule and many on-campus employers will just set your schedule for the full semester. This means you work the same schedule every week and don't have to work about your scheduling changing from week to week. You always know when you have to be at work.
Because these jobs are so flexible they go fast so applying early is a must.
3. You develop soft skills that employers value.
When working on-campus, you are constantly dealing with a large spectrum of people which allows for you to develop a variety of soft skills. Soft skills are personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people. Some soft skills that you could possibly develop from working an on-campus job include interpersonal communication, teamwork, organization, computer skills, among many others. Soft skills are traits that every one of your future employers will be looking for and will value highly.
4. You will meet new people and expand your social network.
As with any job, you will get the opportunity to build your social network. You build your social network by being social, getting close with your co-workers, supervisor, other faculty members, and people who may visit your office. With on-campus jobs, you won't just be networking on-campus, but with your local community too. This will be beneficial when you go to look for a job in the real world. And networking introduces you to many professionals that can (hopefully) be used later as references! Just always remember to ask first if it's okay to use that person as a reference.
And who knows, some of the people you work and network with could turn out to be some of your best friends and/or future colleagues.
5. Get work experience that will help develop your resume.
On-campus jobs are a great way to build your resume because you are getting valued work experience. Not only do you develop soft skills, but you experience a working field that may interest you. Also, if you're not sure what you want to do with your life then an on-campus job may help you to discover what you do and/or don't enjoy doing. This work experience could lead to a future profession you hadn't previously considered.
6. You get treated like an actual human.
Some people don't enjoy working part-time jobs, such as retail/serving jobs, because of the way the customers act. Nobody likes to be yelled at or treated like a lesser being. This rarely happens with on-campus jobs. The employees get treated great by the faculty and staff, with many universities going out of there way to express their gratitude for student employees. You also don't have to deal with angry customers, just a few helicopter parents and upset students on occasions (which aren't that bad at all).
7. An on-campus job will give you the opportunity to get involved.
When I got my first on-campus job I had just transferred. I had my mind made up that I was not going to get involved, I was firmly against it for some reason or another. I didn't need nor want new friends. But after I got my job and started working for awhile I decided I wanted to do more on-campus. I wanted to be involved and have a voice, and the best way to that was to make a name for myself by joining various organizations.
Getting a job on-campus is a great way to start your college career because it opens doors and makes it easier to get involved. It gives you the chance to network with organizations on your campus and figure out what which you would enjoy. You will also be making yourself more appealing to organizations if you work on-campus because that provides the organization with the possibility of expanding their network, which is great for recruiting new members and increasing the organizations network.
All in All:
I encourage anyone and everyone to go out to your college's Career Services department and discover what on-campus job opportunities are available for you. I know that these jobs are not the easiest to get, but if you try for one of this positions (which you should) and get it then you will open numerous doors, all of which will change your college experience for the better. Reach out to your local Career Services department to see what on-campus jobs your college offers so that you can take the next step towards a successful career.
