Perfect Jobs for College Students

College is a fun time, a tough time…and yes, an expensive time. It’s a great idea to get a job to help with expenses. In fact, you will likely need one. But what are good jobs for college students?

You’ve got a lot of options, and the first place to look is on campus. Not only is an on-campus job convenient, it may have added benefits in the way of tuition assistance.

Your college or university will have a career center that can let you know what’s available. Another place on campus to find a job is the cooperative education department.

Co-op is a program where, usually after your freshman year, you are placed in an outside company, working within the industry that your degree is for. It usually works in a semester-on, semester-off pattern, where you go to school for a semester, then work for a semester.

The jobs can be local, wherein the college will typically let you remain on campus, or they can be in another part of the country. These co-op positions give the best experience in your field, and they look great on your resume. If you like the company, it’s also a great way to transition to a job after graduation.

Once you’ve exhausted the campus resources, or if you decide they’re not for you, think about the more temporary jobs for college students.

Waiting tables, bartending, working at a home improvement store or other retailer…these are all great ways to earn money. Many students work very limited hours during the school year, and ramp it up (sometimes to full time hours) during winter and summer breaks.

Working full-time during the summer can help you save up enough money to get through the school year, if you budget effectively.

Try to use this money for living expenses, and resist the temptation to take out student loans for things like eating and recreation. In a few years, you won’t want to be writing checks to the student loan company to pay for a burger you ate five years earlier!

There are hundreds of great jobs for college students in every town. Take a look around, and you’ll have several to choose from.