College Jobs: How to Avoid the Dirt and Make the Big(ger) Bucks

So, you’ve just settled in to your campus, unpacked your essentials and have caught up with the necessary friends and college hook-ups and you’re all getting ready to go out for an evening of debauchery, you look into your wallet to grab some cash and – surprise – you’re broke.

If you’re tired of asking Mamadukes and Pops for some cash (or if they just plain won’t give ya any), a part-time job is necessary. Some college jobs can be a total buzzkill (hello scrubbing dishes at the dining commons), but others turn out not too shabby. Here’s a few I suggest:

1. Library. Every campus has one and there are TONS of jobs that need filling. It’s convenient, generally in the heart of the campus, AND it beats working for the dining halls. I spent my four years of college working for the Special Collections and Archives Department where I made around $10/hr, which was more than any other on-campus position around. I could work in between classes and I wound up making one of the best friends I have at that job, not to mention some excellent recommendations when real-life job time comes around. Try it, peeps. Head to the Circulation Department of your Library (or the college job website – there is one, if you didn’t know!) and see what departments are hiring.

2. Restaurants/Bars in town. Every campus has a “downtown” or “uptown” – the happening place on a Friday or Saturday night. If you can’t afford to spend money on drinks, get a job where your friends go; you can make loot and enjoy their company. It’s the best of both worlds. Just pop in to your favorite night hot spots and pick up some applications!

3. College Admin Office. Whether it’s the Administrative Office, the Bursar Office or another department in the Academic and Billing section of your campus, you can find a job that is accommodating to your schedule and pays decently. A friend of mine worked at one of the offices in the billing building and for graduation her boss got her a white gold necklace. Score!

4. Entertainment. Is there a movie theater/arcade/golf course by your campus? I lived in an apartment complex my junior year and a neighbor of mine ran a mini-golf and driving range venue a few miles from campus. He’d go to class then head straight to “work,” which consisted of him hitting golf balls and hanging out with his friends for a decent hourly wage.

5. Starbucks. This place is great because they’re always hiring and they are always around college campuses. And you get free coffee.

6. Delivery. Pizza delivery people – while stuck in a car for a decent time – get invited to the best parties dropping off pies and get to take home whatever he/she wants. Plus, if you’re a female delivery person, think of all the drunk, horny male attention you can get dropping those pizzas off at 2am. Wink wink.

7. Skilled? Got a special skill people on campus could benefit from? Are you an excellent diver and could give lessons on how to master than double flip pike dive? Send out a campus wide email, post fliers up around campus or take an ad out in the school paper and charge for your talent!

8. Parlez-vous le français? Speak French (or Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Latin, etc, etc, etc)? Language requirements can be a royal biotch and lots of students need help. If you’re a pro at rolling your tongue in the French language, tutor! You can make serious BANK and help someone out!

9. RA. Being a Resident Advisor requires some work – weekly meetings, one night a week doing dorm duty and some serious floor socials – but it has its perks too. For one, you get your own room for FREE (!!!!), as well as a bi-weekly stipend. Not to mention, you get to bust all the freshman for drinking in the dorms and hand out free condoms late at night to intoxicated teens who you know will regret their decisions in the morning.

10. Retail. When in doubt, you can always turn to retail. Clothing stores around campus can be local, a way to get great outfits for your nights out at a discount and a good way to socialize with people of the area. Who knows? You could wind up an assistant manager in a year or two and make some decent dough while cracking those books.

So, time’s a wastin’. Go grab those apps and get to workin!

(photo courtesy of wikimedia.com)