Students who work
while attending college become experts at managing time and money and take
their college education more seriously. They also gain valuable work skills.
The kind of job depends on your student and his schedule and financial needs,
but the hours shouldn’t stretch beyond about 16 hours per week. College
students already have a full-time job as a college student, so adding more than
16 hours of additional work during the week is usually detrimental to academic
success.
On Campus Jobs
I really prefer to see
students in on-campus jobs for a number of reasons. First of all, the commute
is extremely easy. If your child can find a job in his residence hall as a
front desk clerk or food service worker, his commute may not even take him out
of the building. Secondly, on campus jobs usually offer very flexible hours
that fit easily into students’ schedules. Faculty and staff recognize and
appreciate that students will place their academics first and their job second,
and are usually willing to work around class schedules.
Finally, on-campus
jobs are usually easy enough to find if your child isn’t too picky. The two
departments on campus that always seem to be hiring are food services and
custodial or housekeeping. While I know these jobs aren’t for everyone, they
usually offer the most flexible schedules and it is common for food service
jobs to offer students free or discounted meals, a definite bonus when you’re
watching a budget.
Off Campus Jobs
Most college towns
have a lot of service jobs readily available for students and while they may
offer higher pay than on-campus jobs, it will be incumbent on the student to
continually remind his off-campus supervisor that he is a student first and an
employee second. Some off campus jobs will offer students unique opportunities
in their field of study.
If your child can find
such a job it is ideal, but even if he can’t, any job experience is a plus for
a future job search. Upon graduation, employers will want to see a prospective
employee who has a proven record of experience in the work world regardless of
where that experience was gained.
Become an Entrepreneur
Some students don’t
want to worry about a set schedule or punching in and out on a regular basis.
If your child is looking for an extremely flexible way to earn money, he may
consider working for a temp agency or becoming an entrepreneur. Students can
earn extra money by starting their own businesses such as offering pick-up and
drop off laundry services for other students, pet or house sitting, dog
walking, web site development, photography, foreign language practice partner
or other tutoring, care package assembly and delivery, you name it!
Work Study
Work Study is a
program administered through the Department of Education that provides a
win-win scenario for students and employers. Students who are eligible for work
-study (this will be included in the student’s financial aid award letter) can
work at approved work-study jobs on and off campus and keep the money they earn
for their educational expenses. In exchange for hiring work-study eligible
students, employers receive a subsidy to defray the cost of employing the
eligible student.31
Many campus offices
will try to hire work-study eligible employees before they open jobs for others
to apply. So, if your child is eligible for work study make sure that he
applies for these jobs early, even before arriving on campus.
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