Are Part Time Jobs Good for College Students?

Are Part Time Jobs Good for College Students? - At some point in our lives, we're all eager for freedom. Most young people can't wait to enter professional life and begin learning the rules of the professional world and establishing their position in it.

Among other things, this is why a lot of high school and college students work while they're learning. A student's financial situation is a significant factor in working part-time. It's wise to consider whether a part-time job is a good fit for you before you commit to it.

Remember that getting a job is a brand-new experience for most college students and everyone won't benefit from this option. You might be unsure if having a part-time job is your best move.

Keep reading to find out more about part time jobs, and think about which, if any, of these choices would be a good fit for you.

What Are the Best Part-Time Jobs for College Students?

Find a recruiter who will work with you despite the fact that you are students at a college or university. Find a part-time job that fits your academic schedule and offers you the opportunity to earn money while gaining valuable work experience at the same time.

1. On-Campus Jobs

Working on campus can allow you to work with your colleagues, which can assist you in establishing professional networks and relationships in your career. With a campus-based job, you will also be able to have flexible hours at work since they will be based on your own schedule.

Library Associate: S$18.94
Tutor: S$30.49
Teaching Assistant: S$16.95
Campus Ambassador: S$15.65
Resident Assistant: S$18.94
Campus Tour Guide: S$19.13

Working on campus can not only earn you money but also work-study credit, which can be put toward your educational expenses.

2. Retail And Marketing Jobs

Local boutiques, online shopping, and social media are all examples of retail jobs. Working in a store can teach essential skills about people and the workplace that you can use later in your career.

In the same way, having an online job will give you technological expertise like data analysis that will look good on your resume and give you an edge over other people applying for jobs in your field of choice.

You can get a part-time job in social media management if you know how to do things like making content for YouTube or Instagram.

Submit your CV for brand ambassador roles to enhance brand recognition and total sales during your free time if you enjoy promoting things on camera. This job pays an average of S$24.65 per hour and is a great way to start a professional life in advertising, marketing, or entrepreneurship.

Also, if you have a solid social media presence, reach out to different companies advertising or marketing teams and offer your content production services and rates.

This method will take you more time and work, but it can help you make money and enhance your online reputation in a big way.

3. Food-Service Jobs

If you work in the food service business, which includes places like coffee shops, fast food restaurants, and catering companies, you have the opportunity to get tips in addition to your hourly pay. College students have the potential to increase their income through these means, which may be especially useful during the busiest times of the year and over the holidays.

Barista: S$16.58 per hour
Restaurant server: S$15.55 per hour
Restaurant host: S$15.82 per hour
Bartender: S$16.80 per hour (including tips)

4. Paid Internships

Make the best possible use of your part-time college job by doing a contract job that will help you get relevant experience for your resume.

Most paid internships take place over the summer. Therefore they could be an excellent way to complement your part-time job and make sure you have enough money to get through the rest of the school year.

In a contract job, you might get good references for your CV, the chance to get a full-time job after college, a higher-paying job after getting your college degree, and a new set of skills that you can use in your career. Paid internships are also an excellent way to show effort, which are traits that many employers value.

Some companies, especially in the tech industry, use internships to find people to hire. The pay is also a perk. Glassdoor looked at internships in 2021 and found that some paid around S$12588.71 per month.

Technology companies like Apple, Facebook, Adobe, Amazon, and Microsoft will be among the top companies in 2021 that pay interns the most.

Outside the technology and computer industries, you can discover other paid internships with local businesses, banks, and the government. They will help you learn new skills and add to your resume while giving you extra cash to help pay for college.

5. Freelancing

As an undergraduate looking for part-time work, the "gig economy," as some people call it, works in your favor.

If you prefer to work on your busy schedule, it's easy to do things like babysitting or open your online store on sites like Etsy.

If you can paint or knit, you can sell your art at local markets and on the Internet. If you've got expertise in babysitting, cleaning, or taking care of pets, you can turn that into a small business and make money from it.

Rideshare driver: S$27.19 (varies by drive times, locations, etc.)
Babysitter: S$23.08 (varies by number of children and duties)
Private tutor: S$30.49
Pet sitter/dog walker: S$21.79

It's important to remember that factors like your location, level of experience, and availability can significantly affect these predicted earnings.

12 Benefits of Working a Part-Time Job as a College Student

Earning some extra money for additional expenses and adding experience to your résumé are just two of the many advantages that come with working part-time. Keep reading to know more benefits of working a part-time job as a college student.

1. You Make Extra Money

There is no better motivation to get part-time work than the opportunity to increase one's financial stability. When you're a student, you probably don't have a lot of money, but if you have a part-time job, you won't have to be concerned about going without the necessities or draining your parents' or the government's funds to get by.

You'll finally be able to afford the finer things in life, like going on a date and giving yourself a treat. A portion of each paycheck can be put aside to cover educational costs.

2. You Figure Out How to Handle Your Money

Once they have their own source of income, the majority of people become more prudent with their spending. Not only can beginning a career at a young age help you save for the future, but it can also teach you about money and budgeting at a young age, which will serve you well as you get older and work, allowing you to avoid piling up debt. Starting a career when you are young can help you save for the future.

3. You Attain Transferable Skill Sets

The information and expertise that may be gained through work experience gained through part-time jobs can provide significant insight into skills that cannot be taught in an academic setting.

For example, working in a hectic setting teaches you to work well with others and independently, to take the initiative, and to pay close attention to detail, all of which are transferable qualities that will serve you well in any career or endeavor.

4. You Get More Confident

When you're reserved and don't enjoy striking up conversations with total strangers, doing a part-time job may be just what you need to force yourself out of your comfort zone and boost your self-esteem.

Moreover, since most student jobs are in customer-facing industries like hospitality and retail, you'll have to speak to many people you wouldn't usually talk to. Because of this, you'll know how to be more at ease around other people.

5. You Learn How to Deal With Other People

As well as giving you confidence, working as college students gives you a chance to learn how to deal with people with different personalities, which is an essential skill for any job.

Part-time work will teach you how to talk to different kinds of individuals from various backgrounds. This will push you to be aware of cultural differences at work.

You would also learn the most effective ways to talk to your coworkers, encouraging you to think about how your words can change what other people do and how their actions can change what you do.

6. You Get Independence

Whether in high school or college, having a part-time job can help you become more independent. You will be responsible for your own time, money, and responsibilities. Because of this, you will depend less on others and learn to care for yourself.

This newfound freedom will also help you build character, which will help you both in school and on the job.

7. You Learn to Make Good Use of Your Time

Time management skills can be improved by managing multiple commitments, such as attending classes, having a part-time job, maintaining social relationships, and engaging in personal interests.

You'll learn to prioritize tasks and make detailed plans to ensure you can accomplish everything you need in the time you have.

Meanwhile, if you're finding it difficult to juggle school and employment, talk to your supervisor about cutting back on your hours. (Another perk of part-time work is the adaptability it typically provides.)

8. You are Eligible for Special Offers and Discounts.

You probably want to work for your favorite store, restaurant, or brand to take advantage of the great deals, free food, and other perks these companies provide their employees.

So, you get paid for working at a place you enjoy, and you also earn discounts on the things you buy there! But don't go crazy and blow your entire paycheck on the office!

9. You Expand Your Professional Circle

Part-time employment, no matter where it is, provides excellent opportunities to meet new people and expand your professional network. Therefore, you are still building your professional network even if you aren't getting experience in your desired industry.

It's possible, for instance, that the ideal company may employ a customer of yours or someone you know at work. Never close the door to additional discussion, as you may never know who might know someone who can help you in your career.

10. You Meet New People

A part-time job may improve your social life whether you've relocated across town or worldwide to attend school. In reality, you may develop lifelong relationships in any profession.

Some coworkers will become like family to you, and you may spend quality time alongside them outside of work. Remember that you have been hired to perform a job, not to make friends, and don't let that distract you from your responsibilities.

11. You Get Work Experience

Obtaining work experience strengthens your resume and makes you a more competitive applicant for apprenticeships, internships, and graduate jobs.

Applicants with job experience are more appealing to employers because they are familiar with business norms and procedures. Working while attending school is proof that you are a hard-working person and a multitasker.

12. You Maintain Good Health

Lacking a regular schedule, it's easy to get into a sluggish hole and lose the drive to get moving early in the morning. On the other hand, part-time work is a great way to maintain physical activity and, by extension, good health. Furthermore, it has positive effects on the mind.

Naomi Coleman of the Daily Mail writes that mingling with coworkers is a form of "social grooming" that helps keep depression at bay by stimulating the production of endorphins and serotonin.

Bottom Line

Although there are benefits to working while pursuing higher education, you may want to reconsider your class schedule if the drawbacks outweigh the pros.