Are you looking for the best jobs in college? It’s hard to say which one is the best job in college, but it is clear that having a job in college has its benefits as I discussed last week . What are the job opportunities available to college students? What do certain jobs offer to college students? These are all questions that college students have. I’m here to help change that.

Instead of just listing the numerous jobs available to college students,  I figured it would be more helpful to do a series about the different jobs in college and their benefits. Essentially, what’s out there and how it might be the best fit for certain college students. Finding the right job before graduation from college can make a huge difference when it comes to being successful in your career. This week, I am going to focus on on-campus office jobs.

On-campus Office Job – The Benefits

If you are starting to look for a job in college, one of the easiest jobs to obtain would be an office job on campus. There are a variety of different offices that you can work in while in college. These include: admissions, registrar’s office, residential life, dean’s office, IT department, etc. I have worked as a staff member on a college campus for several years and I know that most offices on campus hire students to work in their offices.

There area  wide list of benefits for students who work on campus. The benefits include the following:

  • Typically flexible hours (around your class schedule)
  • Basic administrative experience (filing, organization, answering telephones, etc.)
  • Potential for advancement: either a full-time position in that office or elsewhere on campus (once you get your foot in the door, options are almost endless)

While it can be a great job for the right individual, it isn’t without it’s downfalls. Working in an office can be monotonous, repetitive, and even stressful. The other thing that you need to consider is that many of the jobs are work study, which means minimum wage. If you can perform administrative tasks well, it might not be the right fit. Finding out which of the jobs in college you prefer now will save you the headache of a major career change later.

How to get an On-Campus Job in College

If this is the job that you are most interested in, you may be wondering how to get that job while you are in college. From my years of experience, the easiest way to land an office job on campus is to present yourself to the office manager early on. Some students wait a couple weeks in the semester and will finally realize that they need a job. Unfortunately for them, it is way too late. At this point, most of the positions are already filled if not in the final rounds of interviews. There’s no chance that you are getting an on-campus office job if you wait too long.

Other things that you will want to do is to look professional and be attentive. If the office manager emails you, every small thing helps your case. Make sure to reply with proper grammar and in a timely manner. You don’t have to check your email every few minutes, but an email within 1-2 business days is acceptable.

Lastly, it is most important to express your willingness to learn. If you come across as someone who already knows what they are doing, the office manager will presume that you aren’t willing to do things their way. This will only hurt your chances of being hired.

Preferred Choice of the Many Jobs in College?

Considering this is the first week of a detailed option of the many jobs in college, you may not know which job you prefer most. While finding the best fit might not be a priority at first (because you just need the money), it can be important.

What do you like about on-campus jobs? If you already graduated from college, did you have a job in a office on campus? Did it help you prepare for your career?