Students are a big part of the part-time workforce in the U.S. Whether studying in high school or at college, students have tons of opportunities for part-time work on and off campus. Like other part-time workers, students seeking part-time employment should begin the process of finding suitable job by weighing the pros and cons of taking on professional work in addition to their school work.
If a part-time job of interest works with your class schedule and does not take away too much time for your studies, it can be a great way to earn some extra money and maybe even get some work experience in a field of your choice. Keep reading for more about the benefits and drawbacks of working a part-time job when also studying and what types of jobs may be best suited to you.
The Pros and Cons of Working Part-time for Students
Most students looking for part-time work are aiming to earn money to cover living costs or just earn some extra cash on the side. Whatever the case, if you are a student who is considering make sure you know what you are getting yourself into before accepting a part-time job. On the negative side of things, a part-time job may be difficult to juggle with even a part-time school schedule. Make sure you have enough time to stay on top of your studies and be the sort of dependable worker you can rely on. Also, if you receive financial aid that is income-based, make sure you know how working even a part-time job may affect your financial aid package. The obvious benefits for students who are considering getting a part-time job include more money and more experience in the workforce. Even if the part-time position you choose has nothing to do with your intended career, simply learning more about what its like to work in the real world will benefit you in the long-term.
The Best Part-time Jobs for Students
If you are already sure that you would like to take on a part-time job, the next step is to figure out which job is right for you. Luckily, there are plenty of job options that can meet all of a student’s specific needs for a part-time job. Some of these positions are more geared towards students working towards higher level degrees like a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. These are some of the best part-time positions for students today:
- Animal Caretaker: Whether you are a high school or university student, becoming an animal caretaker could be great flexible part-time position for students. If you have experience with pets or animals of any sort, you could probably find a pet sitting or dog walking job relatively easier. Natural history museums, pet shops and aquariums may also be good places to look for a part-time job as an animal caretaker. The median hourly rate for taking care of animals is about $14 and hour, though rates can vary significantly with your experience and location.
- Department Assistant: If you are a university student, great jobs can be found in any of the various departments of your college. Many of these positions may not be advertised, but can be uncovered by contacting the department administrator of whatever university department you are interested in. This can be a good way for students to get extra experience in his or her chosen field.
- Bank teller: Many bank tellers work part-time and most banks require no more than a high school diploma or GED to get started. Students who are interested in learning more about economics or financial institutions may be able to learn a lot from this job. The average pay rate for bank tellers is about $12 per hour and schedules are usually fixed, making it easier to work around regular lessons.
- Barista: If you enjoy hanging out at your local cafe, you may want to consider picking up a part-time gig behind the bar. Whether you love coffee or are a big juicer, working as a barista can be a great way to meet more people in your neighborhood and learn more about local gastronomy. Pay for baristas is often a base rate in addition to tips or a commission on sales. This part-time job could lead you to pursue a career in hospitality such as restaurant management.
- Bartender: If you enjoy customer service and making cocktails, bartending may be a fun option to try. Most states allow bartenders to start serving alcoholic after reaching their 18th birthday, though some have extended that requirement to their 21st birthday. A lot of bars are happy to take on eager applicants ready to learn the craft, while some prefer job seekers with an in-depth knowledge of liquor, beer and cocktails. Depending on where and when you bartend, student bartenders can earn significant amounts of cash even when working just part-time.
- Brand ambassador: Students who would like to know more about marketing or who are just plain big fans of a certain brand of collection should look into becoming a brand ambassador. Most brand ambassador jobs require want workers to upsell their brand on the street, at events, online or wherever they hope to sell their products or services. Students can expect to make around $16 an hour in most locations.
- Caretaker: Helping to take care of kids or the elderly who live in your area can help you give back to your community while also supplementing your income. Most caretaking gigs are very flexible and can be a lot of fun with the right clients. You can expect to earn an average of $12 and hour.
- Cashier: While there is little glory in working as a cashier, it can actually be a very convenient job for students looking for stable part-time jobs that may also furnish a discount on groceries or your favorite brand of clothes. Grocery stories are often hiring local help and larger retail stores are always looking for new hires during the peak shopping seasons. Students with no experience can expect to start at the local minimum wage and eventually average about $14 an hour.
- Driver: Students who love to get behind the wheel can easily make a part-time job out of driving. Big ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft offer open and almost immediate access to people in your neighborhood who could use a ride for students who have their own vehicles. Students without their own mode of transport can look into becoming a driver that works through a local company.
- Fitness trainer: If you love hitting the gym on a regular basis and have a good idea of how to train efficiently and effectively, you may be a good candidate for becoming a fitness trainer. Fitness trainers can work for a gym or as a private instructor, with pay rates averaging a high $19 an hour. Some locations may require you earn some form of certification before being able to advertise yourself as an official fitness instructor, so make sure you are aware of the regulations in your area.
- IT Support Specialist: Students are a shoe-in for companies looking for IT support. Students tend to be very up-to-date on the newest technologies needed to be an IT support specialist and need to spend little if any time training for the position. In addition, many companies allow their IT employees to work from home, a great benefit for students who need to juggle busy schedules. IT support specialists make an average of $21 an hour.
- Personal Assistant: With so much experience juggling school, work, social obligations and more, students can be a great fit for employers in need of a highly organized and energized personal assistant. While some personal assistant jobs may hold you to a strict schedule, others may require erratic hours that may be more difficult to manage. Students who are able to become personal assistants for employers in their chosen field of study can get an invaluable inside look at what its like to actually work in the field. Personal assistants make about $10 an hour on average, but rates range widely by employer.
- Social Media Assistant: If you just happen to spend half of your day surfing social media, you can start earning some money for your obsession by taking on a part-time job as a social media assistant. To succeed in this role, you will need significant experience not only using but often also advertising through various social media platforms. Many of these jobs are based online and provide students with average salary of $30 an hour.
- Tour Guide: Students who are intimately familiar with their city and enjoy sharing its sights and sounds with visitors from wide and far should consider becoming a tour guide. Even if you are not comprehensively knowledgeable about your town, even having expertise in one aspect that characterizes the area may be enough to get you a job as a tour guide. Students studying criminology, for example, may be able to run a fascinating hour-long tour of the cities historic sites of crime and justice, even if they know very little else about their city. Tour guide usually make a combination of base pay and tips.
By Admin –
