Being a college student can be incredibly stressful, especially when you have to seek alternative ways to support yourself. With increasing needs like books, accommodation, feeding, and fees, only those who manage to land the best part-time jobs for college students might have a fighting chance. Those who don’t are stuck with a hefty student loan they will have to struggle with after school or hope for student loan forgiveness if they are lucky.
This article will show you the best part-time jobs for college students. So if you are looking to earn extra money while in college, this piece has you covered.
A part-time job requires a worker to work less hours each workweek than their company considers full-time employment. However, because there is no standard amount of hours per week that are legally recognized full-time or part-time employment, it is up to the employer to choose which roles are classed as such.
If you’re thinking of working part-time, you should be aware of the hours, benefits, and job types that are accessible.
It goes without saying that college is expensive. Tuition, books, and university living are all going to put a significant dent on your wallet. And that’s before you consider “fun money” for things like travel, dining out with friends, new clothes, or devices.
Because college is so expensive, many students choose the best part time jobs for college students with flexible hours while they study. Learners frequently find employment in industries such as childcare, food service, and others. Others work over the summer to save money for the coming school year. If you think you might use some extra cash, a part-time job might be for you.
What are part-time jobs?
Part-time jobs are those jobs with fewer hours compared to full-time jobs. Most part-time workers run a shift duty and, according to popular opinion, work less than 30 hours per week. Essentially with a part-time job, the worker is not needed all the time to spend long hours at work. Also, most part-time workers are paid as they work. A great choice for students, and those who have other forms of engagement.
The company’s policy and practice for identifying employees, as well as the hours required to be deemed full-time, determine whether a job is classified part-time. For example, if a worker works less than 35 hours a week, an employer may classify them as part-time.
There are no legal requirements that establish whether an employee is part-time or full-time. The Fair Labor Standards Act, which establishes legal criteria for salaries, hours, and overtime in the United States, does not specify how many hours per week are considered full-time employment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) considers workers who work 35 hours a week to be full-time, though this is just for statistical purposes.
Best part-time jobs for college students
Now that you know what a part-time job is, it would be better to move on to exploring what the options are in terms of the types of part-time jobs available for college students. Here are some of the top good-paying part-time jobs for college students.
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Ushering
Many college students engage in ushering services to make ends meet. Especially if you attend a big institution or if your institution is located in a big city. The reason is that there are loads of big events going on at which you can work by selling tickets, showing people to their seats. Additionally, you may have to answer a question or two about the event or occasion.
You may expect to earn between $(8-15)/hour. Additionally, it is flexible in the sense that you can choose in which events you want to usher. That way, you can be sure that the events do not clash with your classes. However, you should be prepared to work most of the weekends.
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Babysitting
With the fast-paced society we live in, many working-class parents often need people to watch over their kids while they are away. As a college student, you can seek out babysitting jobs and negotiate your working hours with the parents. Babysitting jobs are one of the highest paying part-time jobs available with hourly earnings of between $(10-35)/hour. However, you will have to be good with children to do well.
Reliable babysitters are in high demand and one of the best part time jobs for college students. If you enjoy working with children, this could be an excellent opportunity for you. The pay varies according to area and the quantity of children you will be watching. However, because babysitters are most in demand in the evenings, they are generally easier to work into a student’s schedule.
If you reside in a family-friendly neighborhood, try asking around to see if anyone needs a babysitter. If you have prior experience, please mention that.
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Freelance writing
If you have a keen interest in putting words meaningfully together and are passionate about writing, then this option is for you. The gig economy has made working as a freelance writer a full-time engagement for most people. But if you are otherwise engaged like schooling in college, you can make it a part-time engagement for yourself. The best part is that you decide when you want to work and can also bid for how much you want to be paid.
The other side of this venture is that you may be sacrificing your bedtime to work since you have to go to classes. You can expect to earn from $10 to $15 per writing task, but the pay per task varies depending on a number of factors. Factors like the client’s budget, the requirement to do the job, type of writing, etc. at the end of a project, you can just as easily prepare an online invoice with which to bill your client based on the tasks completed. That way, it is easier for both yourself and the client to settle all outstanding payments without going through the hassle of paper invoicing.
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Working in a restaurant or bar
This is perhaps one of the best part-time jobs for students or at least the most popular available option. Although, they seldom pay much as you get paid based on the number of hours worked.
Most bars and restaurants offer part-time jobs to college students. Their work options range from waiting tables to dishwashing and so on. Essentially, restaurant jobs are not difficult to find since so many people eat out, causing the proliferation of restaurants. Also, such jobs are unlikely to interfere with your school commitment since you will be working mostly over the weekends or at night. You can expect a paycheck of about $8 to $12 per hour, excluding tips. Some restaurants may or may not reflect your tips on your paystub. Either way, working in restaurants and bars can be very lucrative for a college student if you have the energy and extra hours to spare.
Restaurant servers and cashiers are the best part time jobs for college students. You might look for professions with a competitive base salary and the possibility of receiving substantial tips. As a waiter, you can learn a lot on the job and will most certainly receive free food or discounts.
Serving can be difficult and physically taxing work, but a good server can earn big tips. Because most service occupations function in shifts, you can usually work around your classes or tests.
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Working as a fitness instructor
If you like working out or practicing yoga, you could get a part-time engagement to handle fitness classes and help people with their workouts. Essentially, you need to be a people person and be ready to carry others along with a fitness session. As an additional perk, you are getting paid to do what you love; such as getting paid to work out. Other people might choose to take this option a step further to become a personal trainer, however, it requires additional certification. But, you do not need additional certification to handle workout sessions.
Benefits of part-time jobs for college students?
Even though the best part-time jobs for college students require some form of commitment, there are still tons of benefits. Here are some advantages of part-time jobs for college students.
- Extra income.
- Part-time jobs often do not interfere with your lectures.
- There is work flexibility since you can work at night or over the weekends.
- You can take on more jobs if your school timetable clears up and you have extra time.
Should I Work While in College?
Only you may decide whether or not to work during your college years. There are other aspects to consider, including your financial condition and the influence of taking a job on your college fees.
Not all occupations require the same amount of time. Students with demanding schedules may decide to work only during breaks or during the summer rather than attempting to juggle part-time work and studies.
When looking for a college employment, consider the following factors:
Pros
- Work might provide you with extra spending money.
- While studying, you can obtain real-world professional experience.
- Outside of the classroom, a college job might help you learn about potential occupations.
Cons
- Work hours can interfere with your study.
- Without a degree, it may be more difficult to get well-paying work.
- Balancing two sets of duties can be mentally taxing.
Where Can you find the best part time jobs for college students?
If you want to work part-time while in college, your campus can be a fantastic place to start. In addition to having on-campus career fairs, many college campuses publish job boards – either in-person, online, or both.
If you’re working for a smaller company, make it important to ask about the employment terms throughout the interview process to confirm they’re valid. Part-time work can also be found online through specific company websites or job search services such as LinkedIn.
Final Thoughts
While seeking the best part-time jobs for college students, you want to keep things simple by getting involved in areas you love and are passionate about. The reason is that quite often, a part-time job could become a full-time engagement and be more rewarding if it is something you love. Additionally, you should consider networking and building relationships with people because most part-time engagements rely heavily on a recommendation. It turns out that most people are more comfortable with hiring people they know or can relate to than looking up piles of resumes and setting up an elaborate interview. Also, it helps if you mentally prepare yourself that most part-time jobs may not initially pay highly but if you are consistent, there is always a fighting chance for you.
FAQS:
How can I land a part-time job as a college student?
Some jobs may not require certifications and qualifications others might. However, in today’s world where relationships, networking, collaboration, skill, certification, and team-building are what you need.
How can college students make easy money at home?
As a college student, your best option for making more money could be working from home. With the availability of the internet, there are tons of options from which to choose. You could sign up to complete some online tasks, work as a virtual assistant, or engage in freelancing.
How can I make $100 a day?
Essentially, it would depend on the activities you engage in to make your daily earning target. There are equally lots of options out there like participating in a survey, or research, babysitting, dog walking, or trading the forex market.
Are there any online part-time jobs for college students?
Students might find a range of online part-time jobs. College students who serve as SAT or ACT teachers or as college applications essay editors can work from home.
Students who enjoy writing might consider contributing to the “student life” sections of online periodicals, where they can write about dorm life, student fashion trends, college preparation, and other topics. Other part-time internet writing and editing opportunities for students may also be available.
