Having a nice flow of cash during college always comes in handy, but it may be hard to get. College students are busy writing papers, going to classes, taking exams, and participating in extracurricular activities. The time to do something else may be nonexistent. However, there are ways to make money in order to cover your expenses without adding an additional stress factor in your college career.
The simplest way to generate some money is to get a part-time job, whether it’s on or off campus Many full-time students qualify for federal work study and can get paid $13 an hour to help out in various departments across campus. Some positions can include being a lab assistant, a tutor, or even a front desk assistant in various departments. Working on-campus or off-campus through the Federal Work Study program is a great opportunity to make money at a job that can be related to their career. Full-time federal work study students are allowed to only work up to 20 hours a week so they can maintain a healthy balance between work and academics.
Xiao Li, a sophomore chemistry student, is a Student Technology Assistant at Bey Hall. She ensures that each lab has a sufficient amount of supplies, verifies computers are running smoothly, and enforces COVID protocols. What she enjoys most about her job is the flexibility that her boss provides. She said, “I have time to balance work, school, and having fun with my friends, but if you can’t find time to juggle all three at once, focus on your grades and spend quality time with friends.”
If you’d rather find a job off-campus at a retailer or restaurant around the area, West Long Branch has many businesses that are looking for employees to fulfill roles such as sales associates, waiters, and more. Most of them offer flexible scheduling which can help students balance classes and schoolwork with no issue.
Although working at your favorite retail store may sound nice, it really depends on certain factors like transportation. Brooke McChesney, a freshman dual majoring in criminal justice and homeland security, currently works as a waitress. She said, “I feel it depends on the student—if they have a car I would recommend a job off-campus, but if they don’t try for an on-campus job.” Mcchesney also said that although money is important, a student’s priority should be their grades. “As much as I need cash, my priority is my education,” McChesney said.
However, it is understandable that not everyone may be able to work on top of school. Therefore, some other great ways to earn some extra cash could be to sell your unneeded items on Poshmark or eBay, sell your old textbooks, babysit, pet sit, or become a delivery driver (if you have a car).
“If you do have the opportunity to work while in school, make sure that your job knows you are a full-time student who can only work a certain number of hours,” McChesney said.
Although time management is a skill that many college students learn to master with time, it can be beneficial to learn it early on, and juggling a job and other responsibilities can be a great way to do so.
Tjreed Booman, Ph.D., Specialist professor of Economics, Finance and Real Estate said, “Taking on a part-time job is helpful to develop your time management skills: by increasing the activities, you will have to manage your time more efficiently. If you can do this, it will benefit your professional and personal life.” However, Booman warns that if students decide to take on a job, they’ll have to reduce the amount of time doing other activities so they don’t oversaturate themselves.
Finding a job can be both about generating income and enhancing a resume. Booman suggested that students, if possible, find a job related to their major and interests so they can gain work experience before entering the job market.
