Working part time is necessary for survival, and a beautiful and nurturing experience. It helps students to sustain themselves by paying the rent, arranging basic necessities and also saving for emergencies. Without a job, the dependence of students on their guardians increases. Consequently, their independence to buy what they want is affected.
Part-time jobs also contribute to the all-around development of the students and improve their managerial and social skills. However, looking for a part-time job can be time consuming if students are not aware of the approach they should take or the right places to look.
The places to get a part-time job can be broadly classified into three categories: NC State University Dining, NCSU Libraries and University Recreation. The first step to all of them is the same, but in my opinion, applying and waiting for response is not the best approach. I applied for 12 jobs, and although I got one, I did not receive any response mail from any of the institutions I had applied to. I had to meet with the people hiring after I had applied to actually procure a job.
My advice is never wait for a response. Once you apply, go and meet the recruiters. In this way, you are more likely to land a part-time job quickly.
NC State University Dining is the easiest to get into and the most absorbing industry. It includes the food courts and restaurants at Talley Student Union, and the food courts and restaurants on Centennial Campus. It also includes Starbucks and Port City Java outlets. As I said, students should first apply through the online portal but that is an initiation. Do not rely on it.
The NC State dining enterprise usually pays $8.50 an hour except for the coffee shops which pay $9.25 an hour. However, except for coffee shops, wherever you work you are entitled to a free meal up to $7 per shift which compensates for the difference in the pay.
I suggest that after you apply for jobs, meet the recruiters as soon as possible. This would give you the flexibility to choose your shifts and the number of hours you want to work.
NC State University Recreation is a fun place to work, and I would advise that some of the desk jobs available in recreation can be useful for those who want to do minimal physical work.
Students can work as desk attendants who check the cards of the visitors and provide them with sports equipment such as rackets and bats, or they could be instructors and safety experts teaching people the right way to do yoga, swimming etc. For those who have an inclination for physical activities, working at University Recreation can be a good option. The pay is same as that of Dining.
NCSU Libraries are by far the most difficult to get into. The pay is $10 an hour and the physical exertion is limited. In my experience the worst part is that when it comes to part-time jobs, the libraries have one static response: You will get an email from us.
The libraries are a great resource for the students but when it comes to part-time jobs, they are not reliable in responding.
There are other part-time jobs such as teaching assistantship, research assistantship and graduate assistantship. They are more productive than the part-time jobs that I previously described.
However, to land up any of the three jobs I described above, you need to have some experience in the field in which you intend to work. For instance, for a research assistantship, a student who has a couple of research publications or internships would be preferred. The pay in these jobs is much higher than the other jobs and they are more productive too.
Usually part-time jobs are required only for the first year. After that, students get internships, most of which are converted to co-ops, which are more than sufficient to cover up the living expenses of the students. However, even if the internships do not get converted or someone does not get an internship, they can always avail the benefits of working at a place and receive time bound promotions which would increase their financial independence.
My final advice would be to be as swift as possible in hunting for a job and meet the recruiters in person. This will increase the probability of you finding a part-time job with the timings that suit you the most.
