Looking for a job while being a full-time college student can be difficult, to begin with. When you start to struggle with fake jobs and scams, finding a job becomes even more stressful. Based on my personal experience, finding jobs in the city as a college student can be overwhelming.
When I moved back to the city in August of 2021, it took me over a month to find a job. I had applied to over fifty jobs that I thought I was qualified for before I had heard back from one. After taking that job, I forgot about some of the other applications I had put out because I had not heard anything in a long time. Eventually, months later, I heard back from some of the other companies. However, I was already working at the original job I had taken, and the positions they were inquiring about would not work with my class schedule.
Based on my class schedule, I decided I had to find a different job that would work better for me. I have been applying for jobs for over two months. I have used multiple job boards, applied through company websites, and tried applying to the jobs available on campus. I have now applied to, what seems like, hundreds of positions. Even though I know I am qualified for many of these positions, I have only heard back from a handful. A few that I have heard back from are only looking for full-time employees, which would not work with my schedule. Also, many college students who have scholarships are dedicated to being full-time students and are not allowed to work full-time hours. Some of the positions I have heard back from end up being scams, which makes this process even more stressful.
As I was taught in many business classes when you are preparing for an interview, you should look up the company to learn more about them. This is when I started to realize how many job postings are scams. People online post that they received the same messages that I had from companies and that when they replied and did their interview the job was not legit. Now, I try to take extra precautions when applying to new positions. I have started to research companies before I apply to them through job boards to make sure they are real positions. This can take longer, but I feel it is easier to weed out the fake listings first instead of trying to decipher if a request for an interview is real or not.
Many college students must work while in school which can be a difficult task to juggle. Finding the right place for you that will adhere to your class schedule and understand the number of hours you can work is important. From what I have experienced, I think it is important to research companies before you apply to them, understand what the expectations of the jobs are, and try to judge if the hours will work for you and your class schedule. I have found it helps to contact employers after applying. You can follow up on the job listing and ask more in-depth questions that can help you decide if this position is a possibility for you. Also, I think this allows for the hiring committee to know that you are serious about the position and are interested in working with them. Sending follow-up emails after an interview is also a good way to set you apart from other applicants.
Finding a job is hard, finding a job while being a student can be harder. Even though the task can be daunting, you just have to keep trying and stick with the outlines you have. If you are only able to work 10-15 hours a week due to your schedule, only apply to jobs that offer this. It is difficult to juggle school and work, so make sure that what you choose to do will be the right thing for you. Also, remember that on every campus there should be offices where you can go to ask for assistance in a job search. Hopefully, these resources are helpful if you are applying for jobs while being a student.