College jobs

The fact is that it is harder to get a job now then it has been in years, especially if you are a new college graduate. Many graduates find that they best way to get a good job when they are done with college and have a degree is to have a good job while they are still in college. The fact is, that in many cases, the best way to get a good job is to start out at entry level doing something you may not be that interested in, but working for a company you are interested in working for after graduation. This is a good opportunity to become the inside person that moves up.

The following is a look at college jobs, what you should know about them, how to land a good job while in college so your chances of a good job after graduation is higher, and more. The fact is, while it is nice to be able to go to school and just have school be your focus, it can also lead to gaps in a resume, and too tight of a wallet during school. How are you going to pay for the pizza for those late night study sessions, or the parking tickets you collect when you are late to class and park where you shouldn't?

First, let's look at why a college job is a good idea besides the fact that it gives you some money to help you with the expense of living the college life. In addition to the money, a job in college is a great idea because employers look for initiative and drive in prospective employees, and a person who took advantage of job opportunities in college show these two qualities. You should do your best to take advantage of internships and jobs, especially those that relate to your career choice, as they show your commitment. In addition, you may want to attend job fairs, interviews, and other things that give you a chance to develop your interpersonal skills and job hunting skills.

Second, let's look at a few things to consider when looking for a part time job for during college.

Since you are planning on taking courses while you have the job, you want to make sure your potential employer knows you have class, and is willing to work around your course schedule, which is likely to change from one semester to the next. Obviously, you can try to take classes during similar time blocks, but it is always good to clarify with potential employers so you do not have to job hunt again in four months.

In your search, don't limit yourself to your chosen field of study -- explore other options as well, but remember, if it relates to your field of study it can be extra beneficial.

Consider a summer part-time job that expands your options, such as taking one abroad where you can learn about different cultures, or working in different divisions of one company to learn all sides of the business, etc.

Network. Especially during college, it is a good idea to build a network and use any existing network you have to talk to as many people as you can about your chosen field of study to see what job opportunities are available.

Third, let's look at some great tips for handling a college job. Many people think that a job in college is a way to get bad grades, as often combing school and work can be a balancing act, and not everyone is a magician. However, if you can do it, you get more than just some money, you also learn some great tips for how to manage time, and how to prioritize your commitments. Of course this is only going to work if you learn some tips for managing the challenge of job and school. Here are some great tips:

Tip one: Pick a job with flexible hours

The fact is that your demands are going to change during the school year. There are some weeks when you have a big homework load, and others when your load is lighter. So, you want to look for a part-time job that allows you to work more when you have the time, and less when you do not. For example, a great college job with flexible hours is a restaurant job, such as a server. You can almost always find someone willing to give up a shift if you want to pick up extra work and make a little more money, and if you need to get time off, you can almost always find someone to take your shift or trade you shifts. This means if you have a final, or a term paper, you can trade shifts with someone and be able to get it done. It also gives you the ability to work afternoons or evenings so that you can attend classes. Many restaurant night shifts do not start until around 4 or so, giving you plenty of time for classes in the mornings and early afternoons. The big tip here is that should you work at a restaurant at night, remember that if the restaurant closes at ten you probably won't get home until eleven or later. So, remember to schedule your classes in a way that you can still get some sleep and have a productive day.

Tip two: Make sure you do not exaggerate your availability.

Many people, in hopes that it will improve their chances of getting a job, over-commit to working more than they can comfortably do. This often leads to missed classes, lack of sleep, shoddy work in the homework arena, and more. So, it is wise to start out slow, and as you learn better time management, pick up more hours. That way you can keep your level of quality up both at school, and at your job. Again, if you can find a job with flexibility, you can also adjust your availability to your school schedule, being less available during mid terms and finals, and more available during other parts of the course.

Tip three: Make a schedule and stick to it

College jobs are a great stepping stone, and are an important way to gain career schools, interviewing skills, and time management, but if you don't know how to successfully manage your time they lead to a slippery slope and poor grades. So, if you want to successfully have a job in college, and still perform well academically you need to have a little discipline. So, make yourself a schedule. The best way to do this is to write down all of the things you want to and need to do each week, and estimate how much time they will require from you. Do not forget to include things you are sure to do, like get on Facebook, or hang out with your friends. Then schedule your time out so you can see how much time you realistically have for a job. If you need to work more than you have time for in order to pay rent, or make ends meet, you can then look at your list and cut back on things that are a lower priority to you, such as cut out a television program, or some socializing time, or spend less time online. You will learn that if you make a good schedule, and stick to it, having a job is no harder than having friends during college.

Your schedule is going to give you some clarity on how you are going to make school and job work. For example, if you have to work five evenings a week, you may have to spend one day of the weekend doing school work, and not socializing. This will only happen if you are committed to the schedule and devoted to not getting distracted, rather making work and school work for you. The fact is that life only gives you more responsibilities, not less, so learning now to discipline yourself and manage your time well is a great way to prepare yourself for life after college.

Tip four: Remember the value you get out of a having a job

It is tempting to blow off work when you are in college. You may stay out late, so hitting the snooze button is tempting, or maybe you want to see your friends, or maybe it is just irritating to you to go to school smelling like deep fryer because you go straight from work. When you start to get down, and think of all the bad things about having a college job, think money! While your job less college friends are out doing whatever dumb thing they do that night, you're earning money that can be used for vacation time, tuition costs, books, food, etc. And in addition to that, you are also gaining skills and experience that will come in handy down the road, such as customer service, conflict resolution, and more, all of which will benefit you when you seek a job after college.

Okay, so now that you see how a college job can help you, and you have an idea of what you need to do to make college and job work at the same time, let's take a look at some of the part time jobs you can get while in college, and how they are going to help you out, not just financially, but also with real world experience:

First, look for a part time job related to your field of study to gain real world experience. This means if you want to be an attorney, look for a job in an attorney's office. You might start out as a part time receptionist, or someone who transcribes notes for the attorney, but the fact is, every relatable experience helps.

Second, look for a part time job in the company you plan to work for after graduation, even if it is just entry level. Plan to move up as you gain more experience.

Third, remember, often times you can gain important skills working in an industry totally unrelated to your field of study. So, if you can't find a part time job that is directly related, think about what jobs will help you better develop skills you lack. For example, retail will help you learn to interact with customers, etc.