Every girl’s college career is marked by core memories: first football game, first exam, couch rots with roommates, discovering the local sweet treat spot, and first time contracting an illness (because not every memory is a good one). One of my most formative memories? The 2023 on-campus job fair.
At peak freshman obliviousness, before I knew the grip of business casual or the art of a printed resume, I stumbled into the Student Union in pursuit of some spending cash and an answer to my mom’s “Do you have a job yet?” phone calls.
After a little conversation with some campus departments, and a lot of generosity from the one that hired an eager freshman with nothing but her biker shorts and a dream, I walked away with a lot more — some resume bullets, a filler of spare time, a community, and a sense of stability in a campus I still had to Google Maps my way through.
While going to your campus’s job fair might not be the first to-do on any incoming freshman’s list, it should at least make the list, and here’s why.
- Convenience
-
In a world where gas prices are sky high, there’s nothing more convenient than rolling out of bed and walking to work. If you’re like me, it may even afford you one extra snooze on your alarm, and while I wouldn’t advocate waking up 10 minutes before you clock in, I’m not beyond it. It’s nice to know the option is available when that twin XL is feeling a little too comfortable.
This is perhaps one of the few perks of student housing. Still, even after I’ve moved off-campus, I can still make it to work within 20 minutes of my head leaving the pillow.
- Early Career Building
-
High school bullet points still on your resume? While the baking club or the swim team are certainly impressive accomplishments, they’ve done their time. An on-campus job is a soft entry into the professional world, perfect for updating that resume, gaining real team experience, and even making a LinkedIn post about it.
As a communication major and proud bestower of not one but two campus jobs, I’ve developed a professional portfolio of writing samples, social media posts, digital design, and more, all by simply showing up to work each day.
I’ve slowly started to build my professional closet, trading in my biker shorts for a few pairs of slacks, and I’ve made a host of professional connections that’re more than happy to offer me career advice, networking referrals, and the occasional recommendation letter.
- Getting Engaged With Your Campus
-
Working for my school almost feels like a security clearance. Upcoming event? Knew about it. New program on campus? Made the Instagram post for it.
There’s a fulfilling sense of involvement in your college community that comes from watching it operate behind the scenes. You’ll become your friend group’s expert on parking, the campus library, or whichever department you work. A subtle flex, but a flex nonetheless.
For people who have online classes or have moved out of university housing, a job at your school also gives you a perfect excuse to still make it to campus, walk through the heart of it all, and see just what your tuition is going towards. Odds are, you’ll leave with some free goodies, because if anything’s a given about college campuses, it’s food trucks and free T-shirts.
- Making Friends
-
While my resume has certainly benefited from my campus jobs, and my bank account isn’t upset either, the best thing I’ve gained from working on campus is a new community. I’ve become close friends with people I may not have met otherwise, successfully moving the work friendship outside of the office.
Work becomes a little bit more fun when you’re getting paid to do it alongside people you like, and I’ve become invested in 10 new sets of life stories, boy drama, and inside jokes.
When career fairs, networking events, and LinkedIn connections are becoming a little too much, start simple on your campus itself. Whether it’s a desk job, internship, or position as a student ID swiper at the campus gym, you’re bound to make connections, meet friends, and make just enough money to fund the occasional sweet treat or Chick-fil-A run. What more could you need?
Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest!