6 Most Popular Work-Study Jobs

Which of these common work-study jobs would you choose?

Work-study jobs aren’t the most glamorous positions in the world. It’s not like you’ll get to be a marine biologist, food critic or symphony conductor when you sign up for your first work-study job.

But work-study is still a decent way to finance your college education. You’ll probably get to apply to these common but popular choices. Find your favorite and start writing that resume.

1. Tutoring Positions

Since college students are actively immersed in learning across all academic fields, they are very sought after as tutors. You could be tutoring local K-12 or other college students depending on your current level of education.

The best part of being a tutor is that you can sometimes find parents willing to pay extra money for you to teach their child at their home. The worst part of being a tutor is dealing with those overbearing parents.

2. Fitness Center Positions

If you’re looking for an excuse to stay active or have special skills related to fitness, picking up a job at the college gym could be a good option. Workers typically hold a reception position, but there are often many other options. At the University of Wisconsin, Marshfield/Wood County for example, students can work as managers of basketball or volleyball teams, referees or line judges.

The best part of working in the fitness center is free access to fitness equipment in the down time. The worst part is wiping down all that sweaty equipment.

3. Research Positions

Schools with large research departments like the University of Minnesota, Pitt or UCLA all offer undergraduate work-study positions in a laboratory or research setting. For science majors, it could be a good opportunity to meet research faculty or work on something pertinent to the career you’re interested in.

The best part of working as a research assistant is that the jobs are often better paid than other work-study jobs. The worst part is that the tasks required of you can be mindless and repetitive.

4. Computer Lab Positions

Are you a tech junkie? If you’re great with computers or pursuing a computer science major, it’s a perfect way to get a job in a computer lab. It’s quiet work and mostly involves monitoring the lab and troubleshooting any technical problems students have.

The best part about a job in a computer lab is the free time to study or browse the Internet while getting paid. The worst part is dealing with students who can’t figure out how to turn on an unplugged computer.

5. Library positions

Working in a library involves a wide variety of tasks: data entry, helping visitors, maintaining collections and assisting librarians.

The best part of working at a library is that it actually looks great on resumes, especially for any job that involves clerical work, organization or curation. The worst part is searching for that book that some student put back in the wrong section.

6. Off-Campus Positions

Colleges usually have a limited number of off-campus positions. These are employers that work with the school to provide jobs for students and in return receive subsidies for that student’s pay. Positions vary greatly. At the University of Arizona for example, you can find jobs at Boys and Girls Clubs or food banks. You can find positions at legal services or medical centers off-campus at the University of Oregon.

Quick Tips

  • You might not be able to find your dream job right away. Freshmen especially should always look forward to next semester.
  • Most on-campus jobs are minimum wage.
  • Work-study positions are almost always part-time, since colleges want you to focus on academics.

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