There are many pros and cons when it comes to working on campus. A lot of your experience really depends on the type of work you find, if you like it, and your attitude. Personally, I have had a pretty good experience with it, however, I know some other students who have not enjoyed it.
Pros:
You are always in close proximity to your job. This is a huge pro for me. No matter where I am on campus I am always less than 15 minutes from work. This makes being on time easy and allows me to plan my day better. I never have to worry about a random delay or traffic on the way to work.
In addition, having a job on campus might give you the opportunity to meet other students. This is not always true; for example, I work at a desk by myself and only see other students when we switch shifts. However, some jobs involve interacting or working with other students such as tour guides or working at the desk in the library.
Finally, on-campus employers are more understanding about obligations that come because you are a student (at least in my experience). With off-campus jobs you may be scheduled whenever you have a free-time, no matter how inconvenient it is for you and if any conflicts come up with school they are not always extremely understanding. In my experience with on-campus jobs, employers fully respect that you are a student first and are ready to work with you when conflicts arise.
Cons:
Often you must start at minimum wage and possibly receive few raises the longer you work at a job. For students who have never had a job or only use their job just to have some spending/saving money this is not a huge deal. However, if you are using your job to pay for school or major bills, this is not the most optimal situation.
In addition, jobs are limited on-campus. That means your options for jobs are probably pretty narrow and you have to take what you can get. This may not be a great option if you are looking for a particular type of job. If you decide to work on-campus, you will most likely need to do a lot of research and ask around about where openings are.
There are definitely pros and cons of working on-campus; these are just a few. My experience working on-campus has been pretty good, however, that may not be true for everyone. Before deciding to work on campus, consider what your priorities are, such as proximity or working at a certain place, and consider back-up options. Visit the Career Service Center and search Spartan Careers for information and postings about on-campus jobs.