Holding a part-time job while still in school is a challenging yet rewarding experience. Did you know that in addition to paying the bills, a part-time job can give you valuable experience and even help you land a future dream job?
If you’re thinking about entering the part-time job market, or if you’re a student already applying for part-time jobs, you’ve come to the right place. First, we’ll discuss the basics you need to know before entering the job market. Then, we’ll look at additional considerations that can help you get the most benefit from your part-time job.
Master the Basics to Land the Job
When entering the job market for the first time, you may feel intimidated by the learning curve ahead of you. Don’t worry! The following tips can help ease your fears and give you the confidence to make a success of your first job search.
- You need a resume, even if you have no previous work experience. Don’t worry, employers expect students to have limited experience. But your schoolwork, extracurricular activities, sports, projects, and volunteer work can stand in well to show your abilities and your willingness to learn. You can use a student resume template to organize these experiences.
- Network with professionals at hiring events. Lean into your existing network of teachers, coaches, and other working adults to search for job leads and request recommendations.
- Once you get called in for an interview, prepare for the interview by researching the company and rehearsing answers to common interview questions. Remember to smile and make eye contact.
- Be up front about your schedule. Discuss your class and extracurricular schedule with your employer. Remember that you’ll need time to study as well.
Considerations to Optimize Your Part-Time Experience
Part-time employment as a student can offer an array of benefits. But to gain the most from this experience, you need to analyze your goals and circumstances. Then, you can tailor your job search to those needs.
Paying for Schooling and Expenses
Unless you’re the recipient of a full scholarship, you likely understand that university education is not free. You may also have other expenses, such as housing, food, and caring for your family. You could apply for a student loan to cover these costs, or you could get a part-time job.
According to a recent report by U.S. News Money, many graduates leave school with about $30,000 in student debt. This equates to $300 monthly payments for about ten years after graduation. You can reduce this later burden by paying for some of your expenses now.
When making an income is your primary motivation, you will want to avoid internships that do not pay or that pay very little. You may also take a higher-paying job outside your desired field over a lower-paying one that could provide more relevant work experience.
Gaining the Most Relevant Experience with Internships
It must be noted that all employment offers a modicum of relevant experience. For example, you will learn and demonstrate transferable soft skills such as teamwork and time management. But if your primary goal is to build experience, choosing the right part-time job is crucial.
Internships are one of the best ways to gain such experience. Companies often hire student interns and provide industry-specific training. Internships can also serve as a testing ground and pipeline through which the companies test out potential employees and smoothly transition them into employment after graduation.
Even if you don’t end up working with the company you interned with, an internship is a great addition to your resume.
Relevant Experience Beyond Internships
If internships are not available in your field of study or your application is not accepted, you can still look for part-time work in or related to your field. Remember to look beyond the obvious employers. For example, if you are interested in a cybersecurity job, you might not land a highly competitive internship with Microsoft, Google, or Meta. But you may be able to find employment with a local company setting up and securing their network. That experience is equally valuable as it demonstrates your knowledge and skills in your field.
Working On-Campus
If you’re living on campus, you may be limited in the distance you can travel for work. Some universities don’t allow undergraduate students to maintain a car on campus, for example, and on average, only 40 to 66 percent of college students own cars.
If this is true in your case, don’t worry—there is plenty of work to be found on campus. University departments and federal work-study programs can help you find on-campus employment that is often related to your course of study.
Conclusion
Balancing your studies and working part-time can be viewed as a rewarding challenge. No matter the path you choose, you will be building your resume and your reservoir of soft and technical skills—a firm foundation for your fledgling career.
