College is expensive.
This concept is not a new one; we all know, little things add up quickly. We like to indulge on late night snacks, the daily Starbucks coffee, and the occasional concert or two, in addition to the cost of tuition, fees, books, living expenses, and maybe even the occasional parking ticket. The university experience may seem priceless, but when you add it up, the average student has to look for ways to offset these expenses. This reality often results in the practical consideration of part-time employment.
According to the U.S. Census
of 2011, nationwide there are 19.7 million undergraduate students, and 72
percent of these scholars are employed.
On the Auburn University campus, more than 5,000 students are employed
on-campus, and many more off-campus in our local Auburn and Opelika
community. These students have embraced
the challenge of working while enrolled, and while it does offset their surmounting
expenses, there are other reasons to pursue part-time work.
So, other than money, why work?
Build Transferable
Skills
Employers look to hire recent college graduates with
demonstrated competency. Employers want
graduates with experience – “2 to 3 years” is often the way it is cited in the
endless entry-level job descriptions sorted through during the full-time job
search. The question often considered
for recent graduates is, “How do we gain
experience if they will not hire us?” This
answer has been knocking on your door the entire time; the experience does not
necessarily have to be directly in line with the position you are seeking,
rather you need to translate the skills gained from part-time employment,
internships, and other valuable experiences into ways you are prepared to take
on this new challenge. Part-time
employment (regardless of the industry) demonstrates your ability to verbally
communicate, work in a team structure, solve problems, and prioritize (to name
a few). It is important that you sell
yourself accurately when the time comes to apply for your full-time position by
demonstrating these skills on your resume and cover letter.
Create Balance
When considering whether or not a college job is for you,
the big decision should not necessarily be where you work, rather how often;
balancing your schedule and becoming an expert time manager is not always an
easy task. With academic demands
alongside co-curricular activities, initially it may appear that part-time
employment may only add to those stressors rather than alleviate your
burdens. However, part-time employment
can assist you with balancing your time and help you find moderation in the
midst of an otherwise hectic schedule. Auburn University encourages student
employees to work no more than a total of 20 hours per week in an effort to
maintain a solid focus on academic programs and to promote academic success.
Create a Social
Network
When we think of social networking, our first thoughts may
go to the unreasonable amount of social media apps we continuously glance at
throughout the day. However, think
outside the realm of your phone or laptop when considering the creation of your
social network. There is some truth in the
old adage, “It is not always about what
you know -- it is who you know.”
Through part-time employment and other skill building opportunities, you
can start to shape a network of connections that will be great references and
mentors throughout your career.
Now that you have considered reasons to pursue part-time
employment, you are most likely anxiously trying to figure out the next steps
to finding your ideal job. The Career
Center provides a unique service called the Tiger Recruiting Link which assists
students with locating on and off-campus part-time employment. Check out the Tiger Recruiting Link at www.jobs.auburn.edu; sign in with Auburn
user ID and password and boom! Jobs are at your fingertips, waiting for you to
apply.
The extra money you will earn as a part-time employee will
certainly be nice, but the other benefits you will gain will greatly enhance
your college experience and better prepare you for what is next beyond Auburn
University. So, stop sitting here
reading this – get on the Tiger Recruiting Link and find a job!
By: Lauren Hobbs
Student Employment Coordinator
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