Well you’ve done it; you’ve made it to college and you’ve started your Freshman year! (and for those returning students, congrats! You made it through another semester’s worth of debt you’ll be paying off for the rest of your life).
Between the academics, extra-curricular activities and social lives you all hopefully have, some of you may be considering getting a job. For most residents, and even some commuters, an on-campus job is the most convenient option. It’s easy to get to, your work schedule can be tailored around your class schedule and the pay isn’t too bad either.
On-Campus jobs are great, but there are different types and you should work in the area you feel most comfortable with/where you think you’ll be comfortable.
Here are some of your choices:
Food Service
These are the Tully’s and Cyber Café workers. They don’t have downtime to do homework, but there’s always something to do and never a dull moment. Being able to see your friends when they come to get food adds a certain social aspect to it that other jobs may not provide.
Office Jobs
These are the Campus Life Assistants, The Ivy Desk Assistants, The BCC Desk Assistants, Academic Advising Assistants, etc. etc… What they do can vary depending on which office they’re in. For example; Campus Life Assistants may hang up flyers for CAB and handle sign-ups for volunteer opportunities, while Academic Advising Assistants will handle anyone coming in for advising appointments. These job’s offer more time for schoolwork and are ideal for anyone who is more comfortable in an office setting.
RA’s
These are the Resident Assistants, and although they don’t get paid regular paychecks, free room & board is pretty snazzy. The process to get an RA position is longer than a simple application. You need to take High Ed 302 in the Spring semester, and then fill out an application, and THEN go through a series of interviews.
On-campus jobs may be flexible, convenient, and well paying, but they are jobs and require discipline and responsibility. “A pro [of being employed on-campus] is definitely being able to work and have an income, but also being able to study when there’s downtime. A con is that sometimes you have to deal with a student’s (or a faculty member’s) projected frustration when they come in with a problem that you aren’t qualified to solve,” says Cody Yackanicz of Campus Life.
Some jobs come with non-financial perks as well. Ashley Dufrane, the ground floor Woods RA, says, “I love being able to impact people’s lives, and gaining the RA family is so great. It is, however, a big time commitment, and you shouldn’t try and be an RA just for the free room.”
On-campus jobs are really great if you’re looking for some extra income while also staying involved around our campus. If you’re interested in working on-campus, Penn State Berks has tons of work-study opportunities! Just go to “Financial” on your eLion and click “Work-Study Job Search.”