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If you are like me you came into college determined to get a job… and fast.
If you aren’t like me, well you probably think I am crazy.
So, let me clarify, I did not want a job because I wanted to work. I wanted a job so I could pay for my own food, entertainment, and amazon addiction.
If this sounds like you, or even if you just want to work, read on.
Almost as soon as I got to school, I got an offer to babysit. I wasn’t making the best money, but considering I only worked three days a week, I didn’t expect to.
I appreciated the flexibility and consistency, so I agreed. Later semesters, I began working an on campus job, which paid even worse and barely gave me hours.
At the beginning, a job probably wasn’t the best idea considering I was a freshman Pre Med major with no experience whatsoever. Trust me, everyone told me that.
But still, I thought I just had to have a job. Maybe I really just wanted to feel like a real adult, I don’t know. Either way, it was a bad decision, and I should have listened to everyone that told me so.
However, in the following semesters having a job worked out for me. I loved having an on campus job. It allowed so much flexibility and even got to do my homework on the clock. I don’t know if I could have managed a more demanding job, but I am considering it in the future.
All that to say, don’t get discouraged if you can’t manage a job your first semester of college. The perfect opportunity will come along and you will learn how to manage a job.
What to consider
Major
Let’s face it, some majors require more work than others. I know everyone wants to defend the work they put into school, and I get it.
Trust me, as a psychology major I do a lot of defending my effort.
In reality, some majors are harder than others. And in some cases, we choose majors that we just don’t quite “get it”.
That makes us have to work even harder. If you have to study for hours and hours every day just to pass your classes, maybe a job isn’t the best idea.
Credit load
Did you have college credits before you even stepped foot on campus?
I did, but guess what.
I still had to have 18 hours almost every semester to graduate on time.
Sometimes, you get lucky and you can graduate on tame while taking only 15 or maybe even 12 credit hours a semester. If so, you might have time for a job.
Current grades
If you are a freshman, I would personally recommend waiting at least a semester before getting a job.
I had a job in my first semester and barely managed to stay off of academic probation (of course there might have been a few other explanations as well).
Otherwise, if you are an upperclassman, you might want to take a look at your grades.
Did you fail a class last year? That’s okay.
Things happen, but consider the reason for this grade. If you just didn’t have time or motivation to put in the effort, maybe a job is off the table. This leads me to the next point.
Your time management skills
Are you struggling to turn assignments in on time?
This is probably a sign that you aren’t good at managing your time (assuming this is an ongoing issue).
Juggling classes, extracurriculars, your social life, and personal time can feel impossible, sometimes. It takes a lot of effort to stay disciplined through it all.
Campus activities
College campuses are full of clubs and organizations jumping at the chance to rope you in. If you are a member of one (or two or three.. Maybe even ten) of these organizations, props to you for getting involved. But, do you really have time for another commitment?
Resume
You know, that thing that gets you a job? Yeah, it needs to look good. If your resume is slacking, getting a job that requires lots of skills is just the thing to boost it.
Even basic jobs, like retail, can look great on resumes. I mean it takes real skill to deal with some of those people.
Financial responsibilities
Some of us broke college kids have families that can afford to help with our college expenses, but those of us that do are extremely blessed. Not everyone has someone to throw them a little cash here and there. If you have to pay for your education (and every other expense that comes with it), you may have no other choice than to get a job while in school.
Other opportunities
You know what’s even better than a job? An internship. Finding (and actually getting) an internship is GREAT! Seriously. There are tons of internships out there that pay, and pay well. If you have this opportunity, take it.
Another opportunity would be an on campus job. I know it is technically still a part time job, but it’s so much more flexible. It can be a great option if you live far away or need a better schedule than you could get with regular jobs.
Who knows your school schedule better than your school itself?
How Can I Find A Part-time Job?
Career services
This is probably the best option in my opinion! Career services are designed to assist students with finding jobs.
You know what that means? Most jobs that they connect you with know you are going to have a crazy schedule.
The career center can even help you with mock interviews, outfits, and so many other resources.
Check out career services by looking on your school’s website and searching “career”. Your school might have a different name for it, but they almost always include “career” in the name.
Employment Websites
Looking on websites like Indeed or Linkedin can be a great way to find part time jobs or internships, especially if you have a specific field in mind.
Most of these jobs will likely be with big companies, so if you want to work for a small business this might not be the place to look.
Pro tip: if you are searching for jobs on these websites, consider applying on the business’s website rather than third party sites. Sometimes, people list fake jobs under big name companies to get your information. Play it safe and take the extra steps.
Social Media
Some social sites, like facebook, have entire sections dedicated to job listings. These sections will likely be similar to the employment websites, but with the addition of some medium size sites.
If you are looking for small businesses to work for this might not be the place either.
Most employment sites and facebook listings charge a fee for these listings. Small businesses are unlikely to have the extra money set aside, so they lean towards free options.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, try joining a facebook group to look for jobs.
All you have to do is search “*insert town or county* jobs hiring”.
These groups get postings all the time from small business owners, so you might find someone that can work with your schedule. Again, just beware of scams
Newspaper
*Insert rolling eye emoji*
I know you probably don’t want to read the newspaper… You might not even know where to find one.
Regardless, newspapers sometimes have job listings for retail or restaurant jobs that are likely to work with your schedule.
Ask around
My junior year, I printed out 10 resumes and worked my way to businesses around town asking if they were hiring.
Yeah, it was a little intimidating.
I’m very introverted so going and asking someone if they were hiring was scary. I’d much rather know for a fact that they were.
I handed out about 7 of those resumes… and didn’t get a single call. However, each time I did it, I felt so much more comfortable.
Asking around may not always get you a job, but with the right connections it could get you an amazing job that will grant you a lot of experience.
Just try it out even if it is a last resort!