Getting a part time job in College

Welcome back folks,

Ready for the rest of the semester?

The question lies, “Should students get a part-time job while in college?”

My parents have always said the same thing: “Your job in college is being a student, and that is a full-time commitment.” (Of course, this is contingent on whether or not you are funding yourself in college. Some people have to work, some don’t.)

I was relatively against getting a job in college for the first three-and-a-half months in the United states. I thought that it would coincide with my studies and take away from my performance. I applied at several department stores or corporate offices near me. I finally started working at the McDonalds which was 7 miles from my house, I know some of you may know what working at a fast food feels like. Looking on the bright side, for my outstanding service at the store, I was promoted to a Crew Chief after 5 months of service. I was also recognized multiple times with the “Employee of the month” award. And yeah.. when I was still a crew member, I remember playing “rock, paper, scissors” with my coworkers to see who has to take out the trash versus clean the bathrooms.

However, one thing I took out of the job is that a person working at a fast food place should always recognize that “retail is detail” – whether in a shoe store or in a burger joint. The small things matter. A smile, a kind word, patience and attention. The “small stuff” is important. I currently work as an Administrative Assistant for the At Phi Theta Kappa Office at the Essex Campus. And just decided to get a Job on campus, at least to be close to school.

Applying for a job on campus is usually a much lower-key process than applying for jobs at, say, a major department store or corporate office in town.

Let me tell you: Now, I am absolutely FOR getting a job as a student, and I’ll tell you why.

              First off, if you get a job that’s clerical (maybe working on-campus for a professor), you will have a decent amount of down time. The office I work for has its slow hours, and during those hours I’m looking for something to do to keep busy. So what do I do? I get out my laptop and start working on homework. You’d be surprised at the amount I get done WHILE I’m getting paid. It’s such a great deal! I have more motivation to study and do homework, because I’m looking for something to do to make the hours pass more quickly. My grades are fine because I am completing my homework and studying for my tests more thoroughly. However, I will not say this for every job on campus – working retail or doing something more hands-on could take time away from your studies. But if you’re looking for some extra cash, opt for a clerical job or faculty assistant on campus, where there is lower traffic.

             Second, I’ve never had a lot of time to do my school work and extracurricular activities. Since I get financial aid from the school (Thank you CCBC 🙂 ), the only thing is that, I can’t work during school break – spring break, summer break, winter break or whenever the school is closed – or when the semester is over. But now that I have a part-time income, I have money! I have a paycheck coming in every two weeks, and it is VERY convenient, but not consistent. I just try to manage my different expenses
           Lastly, I am learning a lot about the honors society – Phi theta kappa and customer service – both important things to know about. I interact with all sorts of people on a daily basis and I’m really learning how to work with all types of people and situations. It’s a great life skill to have and will definitely come in handy when I get ready to transfer.

So, in short, I think that working a slower-paced part-time job in college is a great idea. I wish I had known about these benefits as a freshman in college! I would’ve probably gotten more involved with college activities 🙂

Thanks for reading.