Who couldn’t use some extra cash?

A job in college can help you get the money you need, whether it’s for a spring break trip or just for some weekend fun. But before you grab the first part-time job you can find, there’s a few things you should consider.

Benefits of Having a Job in College

Yes, the money is the obvious benefit of having a job in college, but it’s not the only one!

Having a job in college also looks good on your resume. Even if it’s a part-time job that you don’t plan on pursuing as a career, such as waiting tables or serving coffee, future employers and graduate schools will appreciate the fact that you were able to juggle the responsibilities of both schoolwork and a job in college.

In addition, many of the skills you acquire at part-time jobs are valuable no matter what industry or profession you’ll be entering in the future. Having trouble putting that into words on your resume? Ask a professional resume writer for help.

Having a job in college can also be a fun way to meet people outside of the classroom.

It might be hard to imagine when you’re first starting school, but at some point you will relish the opportunity to talk to someone who is not in college! Exam time comes to mind – when you’re totally stressed about your own exams, the last thing you want to hear is how stressed all your friends are about their exams!

Don’t Overload Yourself

A job in college has its benefits but you have to make sure that you are not stretching yourself too thin.

If you are first starting college, it may be best to wait and see what your academic workload is like before you sign up for a 20-hour per week job. Money is a great thing, but the point of being at college is academics. Make sure school comes first.

Aside from all of this serious stuff about juggling school work and a job, you also want to make sure you are saving time in your schedule to just have fun, get involved in student activities and student life, and relax. You don’t want to spend your entire college career either working on term papers or waiting tables.

College is supposed to be fun – seriously – so make sure you don’t overload your schedule to the point where you don’t have any down time.

Where to Look for a Job in College

So you’ve decided that you can handle the balancing act of classes, a job in college, and having fun. Now where do you find a job? Many schools have employment offices providing information about work-study programs and other on- and off-campus student work opportunities.

Student employment services also can help you with the application process. Many schools offer workshops teaching you how to write a US style resume, how to act in an interview, and more.

If you really need a job in college to help offset the cost of your education, consider looking into your school’s work-study program. Work-study jobs are on-campus and many are fairly flexible, ensuring that students still have time for academics.

How Much Can You Handle?

Having a job in college can be a great experience, but stay realistic when it comes to your expectations of yourself. Like we said, college is supposed to be fun. You shouldn’t be working yourself into the ground the whole time while you’re there– maybe just during exam time!

Some students are comfortable working 20+ hours per week, while others prefer to work much less. If you can find the right balance of fun, school, and work, then having a job in college certainly will pay off.

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4. 21 Ways to Save Money in College

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