Balancing coursework, a social life, and personal commitments is tough — and adding a part-time job into the mix can feel overwhelming. Yet working during college isn't just about earning extra spending money or covering textbooks; it is one of the most effective ways to build transferable skills directly on campus.

According to research on student employment from NACE (1) and NASPA (2), students who hold on-campus positions report higher academic persistence and build strong, early professional networks with faculty and staff. The secret to making it work is finding roles that accommodate your class schedule while adding real value to your resume.

Prioritize Flexibility and Proximity
The biggest advantage of an on-campus job is that your supervisors are staff and faculty who understand you are a student first. On-campus roles — from research assistants to desk attendants — are built around your class schedule. You eliminate commute time between classes and work, making it far easier to maintain your GPA while earning a steady paycheck.

Focus on Transferable Skill Building
Every job develops core competencies that future employers look for, regardless of the industry. Working a customer service desk builds conflict resolution and verbal communication. Managing inventory for a campus lab sharpens data precision and organization. Serving as a peer tutor or student leader demonstrates public speaking and team management. When drafting your resume, focus on the impact you made and the skills you developed, rather than just listing daily tasks or reiterating a job description.

Leverage On-Campus Network Connections
Campus supervisors do more than manage your daily tasks — they can become lifelong advocates, professional mentors, and references for future internships or graduate school applications. Treat your on-campus job with the same professionalism as a corporate role: show up on time, communicate proactively, and express interest in taking on small special projects that may showcase skills relevant to your career of interest.

Keep Searching Beyond Syllabi Week
If you missed early hiring events at the start of the term, do not worry. Departments across campus continue posting federal work-study and non-work-study positions throughout the first month of the semester as operational needs shift and schedules settle. Checking Handshake regularly for on-campus roles keeps you in the pipeline for newly opened positions.

Now What?
We hope you were able to attend yesterday’s On-Campus & Part-Time Jobs Expo. If you missed it, check out the complete directory of employers actively hiring students. And if you’ve already found an on-campus position, consider registering for PRAC 102: Professional Development Through On-Campus Employment, a zero-credit, pass/fail practicum course that adds a notation on your transcript. 

(1)   https://www.naceweb.org/research/reports/2026/2026-student-survey

(2)   https://www.naspa.org/project/student-employment-national-research-study