By: Abigail McCoy
College is expensive. The average tuition for American colleges is about $23,000. That doesn’t include room and board, travel expenses, and extra spending money. These prices can seem scary, however, financial aid and on-campus jobs can help offset the costs of an education. Once you have filed the FAFSA and received a financial aid package, many students will be offered a Work-Study package as well. This isn’t a loan or a grant, but an opportunity for students to work on campus, and the money is either put to your bank account, or can go towards paying college expenses. However, there are limitations to how many hours you can work, depending on your Work-Study award.
Another option is to find a job without Work-Study, however, most jobs on campus are only available for Work-Study. Most colleges will hold a Job Fair within the first weeks of college with all of the employers on or around campus. It is very important to attend these, even if you were not awarded Work-Study, because some employers will offer non-Work-Study jobs. It is important that you let employers know if you are Work-Study or not first, because many cannot offer you a job if you do not have a Work-Study award. Despite not being awarded Work-Study, I was able to be hired on the spot at my university’s job fair. When attending a job fair, it is important that you “dress for success,” which is at least business casual, and have multiple copies of your resume on hand.
Most jobs on campus pay minimum wage, however, several pay between 9 and 10 dollars an hour. If you work 20 hours a week, that can add up quickly. Working at a part-time job on campus is very rewarding and helpful. It is an amazing feeling when you don’t have to ask your parents for money every week because you are making your own, especially if it is your first job. Working while in college also builds up your resume and gives you contacts and work experience for the day when you finally have to find a real job.
It is not easy having a job on campus while also taking classes. The most important thing to remember is that you are at college to learn. Anything else is background noise. Make sure that you are not working too much and compromising your grades. Most employers on campus are very lenient on how many hours you can work and taking off work. The most jobs on campus also allow students to work on homework during work hours. Another difficulty is working while your friends are studying or partying. I have had to work many Saturday shifts from 7:30 am – 12:00 pm. It is tough going to bed at a reasonable hour because you have to work in the morning. However, having a job in college is extremely helpful because it helps you learn how to manage money and looks very impressive on resumes. It is worth the early mornings and late nights because it provides valuable work experience.
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