College is a stressful time. Students often have to juggle schoolwork, clubs, sports, organizations, and a social life. On top of all of that, many of them also have jobs. Whether it be through work study, to pay off some of that student loan debt, or just to have a little bit of extra spending money, holding a job during college years is reality for many students.
As a freshman, student employment was foreign to me. I had worked retail for a year while I was in high school, but had to leave when I went out of state for college. I wasn't looking forward to job hunting again. I received a work study award from the government, so during the first few weeks of my fall semester I was scrambling around looking for jobs.
I knew that I couldn't work an incredible amount of hours. I have a heavy credit load and am a part of multiple clubs and didn't want to overextend myself. I applied to many jobs that sounded interesting to me around campus and heard back from two of them. One was a call center and the other a library. The call center job paid more, but there was a minimum weekly hour requirement that I wasn't sure I could always make. Calling people to harass them for money also didn't sound very appealing.
I interviewed for both jobs. The call center interview was over the phone (makes sense), and the library position interview was in person. I got job offers from both, so I had to make a decision. Ultimately, I chose the library circulation assistant position because it sounded easy and stress-free.
I made the right decision. Working in the library has been amazing. My duties are simple and easy. I check books out, check books in, answer questions, shelve things, clean up a bit, and do other easy odd jobs. Most of the time I am just sitting at my desk, so I have ample amounts of time to work on homework, study for exams, or use the computer in front of me for whatever I need. I work a small amount of hours during the week, and if I ever need someone to cover me, it's easy to find another student willing to work a few extra hours. It's also easy to pick up some hours for yourself if you need some extra cash. We all help each other out.
Librarians are the coolest people. It's a very friendly work environment and your boss feels like your friend. There's also many times when there's snacks around. Who doesn't love food? When I worked retail, my store manager intimidated me, but at the library I feel no intimidation, just respect and camaraderie. I don't have a difficult job, so I want to do it to the best of my abilities.
Working in a college library is definitely a cake job. It almost seems like you shouldn't be paid for how little you have to do, so make sure you actually do all of it. There really aren't any excuses for slacking off. Talking to some of my friends who hold other jobs, the amount of work they have to do and hours they put in are insane. They also get paid about the same or even less than me in some instances. It's important not to take the opportunity for granted.
If you're a college student with a busy life who wants a relaxing work environment where you can still focus on your studies, then a library job is perfect for you.
