Seven great jobs to work while you’re in college

College tutor with student. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

When it comes to good jobs, college students are sometimes stuck in the middle.

While they’re not quite qualified for many career jobs that require a degree, students are typically smart enough to snag a number of other excellent positions. But given busy school schedules, the jobs must be flexible and part-time. That limits options. Thankfully, there are a number of great part-time, flexible gigs out there.

Seven good jobs for college students

1. Make others smart: Some colleges and universities have tutoring centers where students can find work as tutors. This not only looks good on a resume, since you get to show expertise in a subject, but it’s also flexible and sometimes offers a good hourly wage. If you don’t live near a campus and are an online student, then look into tutoring from home via Tutor.com. Another option, if you want to help high school students prepare for the SAT, is tutoring for Kaplan.

2. Keep an eye on kids: Babysitting, nannying, or whatever you want to call it, can be great for college students, since the hours can be flexible and the pay can be decent. Just make sure the kids you’re watching don’t make you go crazy, since insanity may be counterproductive to your studies. Look into signing up on Care.com, a website where parents can look for babysitters. Or just ask around school. Professors and grad students are prime candidates for babysitting help.

3. Give them a jolt: Working at a coffee shop as a barista can actually be fun. You get to become friends with the regulars, enjoy a schedule that works around your classes, and probably score some free coffee. Plus, if you work somewhere like Starbucks you may qualify for benefits as a part-time employee. Health benefits for a poor, starving college student? Dream come true! Plus, you never know who you’ll meet in a coffee shop: perhaps someone who will hire you after college. Network it up!

4. Freelance writer: Got a knack for writing? Then get paid to do it. You can either run your own blog, using a pay-per-click platform like Google AdSense, which pays when people click on advertisements, or freelance for a company writing articles, press releases, blogs or other copy. For the latter, you may find gigs at networking events, on Craigslist or on sites like FreelanceWritingGigs.com. The pay varies, but you often work whenever you want. This option could be perfect for journalism and English majors looking to gain relevant experience.

5. Know it all: Working for ChaCha, a company that gives real-time answers to questions people text or ask online, could be an interesting student gig. You can either become a guide, earning between one and 20 cents per answered question, or a transcriber (three cents per task), who interprets muffled questions or transcribes phone questions into text. Questions can range from the practical to the absurd. The money can add up fast and you work whenever you want. In other words, it’s a viable job for a college student.

6. Table service: Don’t let the movie “Waiting” (featuring Ryan Reynolds and Justin Long) dissuade you: Waiting tables can be an excellent job that works around your school schedule. Plus, can you say tips? Some waiters can really rake in the dough, which could come in handy if you want to pay off some of those student loans you’re taking out before you graduate. You need to have excellent customer service skills and be quick on your feet.

7. Campus tour guide: If you’re an on-campus student, look into becoming a tour guide. According to U.S. News & World Report, “By showing prospective students, their families, and alumni around university grounds, you’ll no doubt improve your speaking and presentation skills.” Build your resume, build some skills and enjoy a fun, flexible job. Plus, you get to learn lots of cool facts about your school.

There are several fields that have great positions for college students. If you choose to work while in school, then landing one of these gigs can really enhance your college experience. Plus, your wallet surely won’t regret it. Now, go earn some dough!

By Jon Fortenbury

About the Author

Jon Fortenbury is an Austin-based freelance writer who specializes in writing about higher education. He’s been published all over the place, ranging from the Huffington Post to USA Today, and first got published at age 10. Follow him on Twitter (@jonwrites).

This article is originally published on Schools.com.