It’s not uncommon for students to have to work through college in order to afford tuition, books and living expenses. Even those who get financial aid for tuition often need to work part-time to make ends meet.
As it turns out, working during college has several benefits that students of all ages can appreciate in the long run. Here’s why getting a job in college can be a good move that pays off in many ways.
Make Money
The number one reason to work during college is to make money to help with living expenses and the costs of higher education. Whether students have to pay their full tuition or are only responsible for books or living arrangements, getting a job is the clear way to make some money to help with expenses.
Maybe that’s why one poll found that almost 4 out of 5 students work at least part-time in college. Only 18% work to pay for education expenses since about 57 percent rely on loans, grants or scholarships for school, but 31 percent pay for their own housing.
Improve Grades
Getting a job in college can actually help students slightly improve their GPA. According to one study, the average GPA of students who worked up to 20 hours per week was 3.13, while the average GPA of students who did not work was 3.04.
This is likely because working and going to college requires students to develop good time management skills so they have sufficient time to work, study, and go to class.
However, working too many hours, typically more than 20 per week, can have the opposite effect on grades. This suggests that students should make sure they have enough time to study and do homework after work.
Get Work Experience
Students will need a job after they graduate, but if they don’t work during college and never worked before it, they’ll have a blank resume as they enter the job market. Since most companies want experienced workers, it’s best to get a few jobs on the resume before graduation to improve the chance of finding a job soon after college.
Discover a Dream Job
College is a time to learn, and a lot of that learning takes place outside the classroom. Working during college is a great way for students to explore the field they want to enter.
Someone who is interested in the service industry can start out working in a restaurant or coffee shop on or off campus, while students interested in the financial field might look for a job at a local bank.
Some students might even find that the industry they thought they liked is not for them after all. Luckily, since they’re still in college, they can switch majors if necessary and work toward their dream career.
Meet People
It’s not always easy to find time to connect with people in class, which is why having the opportunity to do so at work is good.
Students who work on campus can easily meet other students, which can improve their social life and possibly their career, since networking is a big part of finding a job after college.
Having jobs in college can even allow students to get to know professors more, which is helpful if they’re looking for a mentor or someone from whom they can eventually get a letter of recommendation.
Of course, off-campus jobs can also allow students to easily meet a lot of people, providing some of the same networking benefits as on-campus jobs.
Interested in reaping the rewards of working while earning a two-year degree in Ohio? Hocking College students can use the Career Services department to start looking for options for jobs in college!
