You finally got your kiddo shipped off to college {or maybe they’re still living in your basement while studying locally?!}. Maybe you/they have been saving for years or maybe they’ve racked up the scholarships {fingers crossed}, but regardless, there’s a good chance that come fall, your college-bound student will need a job to pay for those hefty college expenses! Luckily there are a lot of options available to them, and The Girl and I have put together a list awesome ways your college student can make some extra dough while in school! So go drag your college kid over to the computer and show them these 10 ways they can start earning:
School Library:
Chances are you’ll have a nose in a book for most of your college career! Because of that, the school library is the perfect place to land a job. Not only is it quiet, but you can also find time while you’re working to do your homework or study for your next exam. Often colleges have work/study programs based out of their libraries, so give them a call to inquire!
Waiter/Waitress:
Order’s up! This might not be the most desirable one on the list, but you can really make some good money during the short and flexible shifts. You can earn an hourly wage as well as collect some sweet cash tips. This is a great option if you are chipper and social. But one caveat to this. Since you’ll make most of your money in cash, it’s often hard for that cash not to burn a hole in your pocket. Get in the habit of depositing it quickly before you spend it all in one place!
Tutor:
Have a subject that you’re a master at? Then turn your brains into cash by becoming a tutor! If you’re an expert, help share your knowledge to those students who may be struggling in that subject. This is also a handy dandy way to further master that subject yourself. Everyone wins.
Teaching Assistant:
Professors need all the help they can get when it comes to preparing for the next day’s classes. Applying to help your favorite professors in their grading or preparing for classes can not only help them, but also help you in gaining certain connections with other professors. {My daughter did this and LOVED it!} It’s also a great way to make connections and leave a good impression. You never know when you’ll need a professor to sign off on a special drop/add situation or squeeze you in their class!
Campus Tour Guide:
If you’re an extrovert, get your gab on and become a campus tour guide! This job would be perfect for you upperclassmen who know the history of your school, know the layout like the back of your hand and knows all the awesome extras your school offers. Also often temporary, they typically ask you back each semester!
Tech Support:
Calling all computer geeks! Are you good with computers? Most people will land in the IT department to fix their computer problems at least once in their college career. Maybe you’re the perfect person to help them? A job in tech support will help to strengthen your computer skills as well as learn new ones along the way. And in this day and age, any tech-related job does nothing but bolster that resume.
Babysitter:
Babysitting isn’t a bad gig. Nannying is even better! You can earn a lot by taking care of someones else’s children. Just be sure to build up great references so that you’re more likely to get hired. Professors, coaches and school staff are a great starting point if you are new to the area.
Your Campus Bookstore:
The cost of college textbooks is crazy high these days. You spend a bazillion dollars and then use the book for a couple months. Ugh. The campus bookstore is always looking for more people to help out especially around the beginning and the end of the semesters or quarters. Most students who work in the bookstore get a hefty discount on books! Plus, you get to meet tons of the students that attend your school as they glare at you when you tell them their total. 😉
Research Assistant:
This is an awesome job opportunity that will not only bring in some cash, but could possibly help shape your future career choices. Talk to the professors you know best and see if they or their colleagues need any help with research. This can help you to narrow down what you want to do when you are out of college as well as build a network of connections.
Cafeteria:
If you’re looking to stay close to your campus home and want a stress-free job, cafeteria cashier might be right up your alley. This is a simple and more laid back option for those who wish to stay on campus. This job could also come with perks such as reduced costs of meals or even free meals. In some cases you could also study or do homework during the more slow hours of the day. Extra homework time is ALWAYS appreciated!
And there are a few options to help you in your job search. While most of these aren’t permanent, they’ll help you get a foot in the door and build up your web of connections for when you land your dream job! What kinds of job did you have as a student? Any great ideas for job opportunities for college kids these days?
~Mavis
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Wendy L. says
I worked for 3 years at a dinning hall at WSU. We served 4 dorms. It was interesting to see how much food male athletes can put away at a meal.It was a pretty low stress but enjoyable job.
Kara says
Move to New York state and attend for free…
https://www.ny.gov/programs/tuition-free-degree-program-excelsior-scholarship
Lynne says
I’ve heard that some schools pay to help fellow students with challenges – broken right arm, needs help with notes; on crutches for a month, needs help with books and doors going class to class; etc. so you can get paid to be in a class you might want to take but aren’t sure, without adding to your study/test load.
Lisa says
My son has a campus job with Facilities Management. He works two days a week four hours each day cleaning lecture halls. He can work up to 25 hours per week. Because the halls are cleaned daily it’s more of a daily maintenance than cleaning. When his tasks for the day are completed, he can use the rest of the time to study. Pretty sweet gig!
Carrie says
UREC! (university recreation center). Help with inter-mural sports, climbing wall, lifeguard, referee, front desk and lead outdoor trips.
Work at a camp for at least one summer. You can make pretty good money and you have free housing and food if its an overnight camp! It will be the best summer of your life and you will make lifelong friends. JUST DO IT!
I delivered flowers for a florist for 3 years. I got off at 5pm and only worked till 12 on Saturday (could still go to football games) with Sunday off for homework and relaxing time. I only worked 10-15 hours per week but it was nice to have some spending money. I am very blessed that my parents saved for my college and I went to a state school that wasn’t too expensive.
I also got lucky and was asked by a partially deaf student to be his note-taker in a few classes. We had the same major so it ended up being a pretty good job for me and I was getting paid for something I was already doing. There should be an office somewhere on campus that helps students with disabilities. They probably have other jobs available too.
FarmGirl says
The best thing I ever did as a girl during college was go to work at a lumber yard/hardware store! I worked four evenings a week and every weekend for 2 1/2 years. It was a full time job, that was considered part time. The experience I gained from that job has helped me immensely in my everyday adult life. I know how to figure chain link, decking, etc. I learned how multiple machines and tools worked. I learned how to figure carpet. I tell every girl I can to try to work in a similar store even if it’s only for a semester or two or a summer. It was invaluable. I had to work b/c I had to pay for everything in college that my scholarships didn’t cover. 🙂 It made me a better adult and employee.
Also there were a ton of college aged guys working the same shifts. It’s where I met my husband 21 years ago. 🙂
FarmGirl says
Also that babysitting idea is fantastic. My friends (a controller and a VP of Finance) recruit sorority girls every year from the local college to watch their kids in the afternoons, evenings, and summers. They prefer college girls with good references over after school programs and daycare providers. They pay better than most starting jobs and they even tip on nights we go out. They also give unbelievable Christmas and birthday gifts.
Lisa says
I worked as a companion for a home health agency in college. Basically babysitting for the elderly. I made great friends with some older ladies and was generally treated like family. Good food, good advice, easy job.
Gina says
Hi. I worked for blind student services and actually read textbooks 4 a blind student who happened to live in my dorm. If you are taking the same class you would have to read the book anyways. Maybe today they have books that read themselves! I also worked for the manager of my dorm and as a babysitter and I worked putting on conferences for continuing legal education through the law school. However, my advice to anyone in college would be to get an entry-level job in the field that you want to work in because I know so many college graduates that just can’t get a foot in the door and if you try to get anything even close to what you want to do, it could mean the difference between finding your dream job or returning to school. For instance, if you want to be a nurse, just get any part time job in the hospital where you will at least get to know the culture and people that work there. That helped me tremendously.
Stephanie Z says
My son is in the co-op program at Waterloo University (Canada). He has 8 semesters in school and 6 semesters working in his field (computer science). Co-ops pay well. He starts his 4th placement next month which pays $32 hour plus the company caters in breakfasts and lunches for all staff. He earns enough to pay his tuition and residence costs for next semester.
His friends in upper years get Silicon Valley jobs with companies like Apple that pay $41 hour plus lots of overtime and housing is provided as part of the remuneration package. These kids graduate with job offers and cash in the bank. I am delighted about my son’s experience with his co-op program which is the largest in the world.
Melanie says
Retirement homes are wonderful places for college students (and others) to work! My niece worked in the kitchen of a retirement community during high school and part of college. They paid her a very competitive wage, taught her valuable skills (menu planning, cooking, bulk buying, etc.) and offered an extremely flexible schedule. The best part of the job was getting to know the residents and learning all about their fascinating lives. 🙂
Victoria says
Working as a lifeguard at the campus pool was my favorite college job. Easy money, and I could study if nobody was swimming.