It's pretty safe to say that unless your family has Kardashian wealth, you're going to be working while you're in college. If by some miracle you get a full-ride scholarship, you still need to eat. Even if it is just Ramen and crackers. If you're just going to throw caution to the wind and take out all those loans, that still doesn't cover everything. Sorry, kid, but no matter what, you're probably getting a job.
So why not be smart about where you to choose to collect that paycheck from?
When it comes to working while in college, there are quite a few options open to you. Some people choose to work 40-60 hours per week during the summer while living back at home to save up for the academic year. Others cram a 30 hour work week into their weekends. Whatever you decide, you have to make sure it works for you and your schedule, without destroying your grades.
Want an easier solution?
Work. On. Campus.
I know, I know. When class is done, a lot of you want nothing more than to bolt and get as far away as possible, but hear me out. Working on campus not only earns you the money that you need, but it can also save you some, all while offering up many other potential benefits.
1. Gas
I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. When you're done with classes (or even in between) you can just walk to work. I currently work for Phone-A-Thon and on Tuesdays, I literally just walk right across the hall from my class in the GAC Lab.
2. Flexibility & Understanding
Sometimes getting my managers at my off-campus jobs to work with my semester schedule is as successful as trying to avoid stepping in the geese droppings in the grass on your way to class. When it comes to your supervisors and bosses at on-campus jobs, though, they are incredibly flexible and understanding. They know that school comes first. Not to mention the flexibility this gives you in the summertime (and depending on the job - during breaks). My old full-time job would never have given me the time off to visit my brother and study abroad for a month in the same year. Now, in the summer I can load up on extra hours at my second job, grab a few shifts at my usual summer employer back home, travel, or even try out something completely new just to see what it's like.
3. Extra Help
When I first transferred to UWGB I had some issues with my transcripts and unsent documents from my former school. After my first semester here, I was suddenly unable to register for the spring and I was facing no longer being a student entirely. At the time, I was employed in the Registrar's Office and my boss took it upon herself to speak with the Director of Admissions and help me get things worked out.
Many of the staff that you're working for when you're employed on campus have been there for a long time. They have connections and knowledge that you might need someday. I've even heard of some that have nominated their employees for scholarships.
4. Perks
Okay, so you're not going to find Hamilton tickets or keys to a new car under your desk chair, but campus jobs can come with some pretty sweet perks. Certain Residence Life positions offer free or discounted housing. Jobs with downtime like cashiering at the dining hall, corner store, bookstore, working the front desk of the GAC lab or Comunity Center, etc sometimes allow you to do homework on the clock. One UWGB Intern got to meet Clay Matthews. My current job has opportunities for me to earn extra monetary incentives through goals - and even usually has snacks during every shift. There is even a "Student Employee Appreciation Week" in April where we get free school swag and treats every day!
5. Friendships
Being a non-traditional student can sometimes make finding friends more difficult. Working on campus has helped me make connections with fellow students I wouldn't otherwise have. Even traditional students can find friendships at their on-campus jobs. Any occupation usually comes with a few friends, but here you have the added bonus of already having a common ground apart from work to connect you. Plus, this makes hanging out outside of work a whole lot easier when all you have to do is agree to meet up at the dining hall after your shift.
6. Training
Having already worked my way around the "real world" for several years before going back to school, I am pretty well versed and practiced in professionalism, clerical skills, etc. I think this gives me a bit of an interesting perspective, then, when I am at my on-campus positions. In my current job, we spend a lot of time discussing professionalism and preparing employees for the workforce after college. I wonder how I would have fared out there in corporate America had I went through this training my first time around in school. I'm also sometimes referenced as Exhibit A by my employers. When my bosses are talking about professionalism and what to do and not to do, I have been pointed to and been able to say, "yes, they're right, this is what happened to me...".
7. Preview
Depending on your campus job, sometimes you can have the opportunity to get a "preview" of sorts of the career you're going for. Want to go into Public Relations? Snag an internship with the Communications and Marketing departments. Thinking about event planning? Get a job working for Good Times Programming. You can get a taste of the industry and a better grasp on if this is really what you want to do before you graduate with a degree in that field!
8. Experience
Speaking of that preview, not only is it experience in the sense of figuring out what you want to do with your life, but it's also "experience" in the sense that you can slap that on your resume! Yes, education is important - critically so for some jobs. But what do employers really want to see? Experience! And sure, experience in your desired field will put you miles ahead of someone with just the degree by itself, but experience in any job setting is always going to make your resume shine a bit brighter. Even better? Get a job on campus your freshman year - and then keep it until you graduate. Longevity speaks VOLUMES to potential employers.
9. Phoenix Pride
Okay, honesty time. I'm not much for sports. I don't go to the school's games or keep up on the stats. It's nothing personal. I live in Green Bay and don't watch the Packers play. But before you bust out the pitchforks, I still support both those teams and the players! I think it's great how they represent our school and our city. Being part of a D1 school is awesome. There are games days all the time that offer students and community members a fun time and a way to meet new people. The Green Bandana Brigade makes me proud our school has so much spirit. Being D1 attracts students from around the globe, too! Oh, and my free access to the Kress Center is amazing.
Have I calmed the masses?
But spots aren't the only way to school your Phoenix pride. Through my current job, I speak with alumni who donate to various school funds that make it possible for students to receive scholarships and buildings to be repaired. Not only is that a source of school spirit, but simply having a job on campus just adds one more reason for me to be proud of my university. (And hey - you can always get a job in the athletics and get a two-for-one in the pride department!)
Interested in becoming a student employee now? It's easy!
Just head on over the student employment page on the UWGB website. You can also look for jobs under specific departments or places by just sniffing around their pages. Don't wait. Jobs and internships are already being posted for the Fall 2017 semester! And don't forget the summer positions!
