Can You Work Your First Year of College?

First-year College students working while attending school has always been the subject of divergent opinions. Teenagers are expected to find college courses very challenging. To achieve acceptable grades, you will have to spend every spare moment studying.

Another contention is that after students have settled into college life, they will no longer be spending all their time studying, whether or not they work. A work ethic and a strong character are necessary for success at the next level.

In addition to earning income for spending, parents perceive that students should work to save and save money. Parents are already struggling to pay for tuition, books, and other college expenses. In this case, working part-time can provide some relief for the parents.

You can work during your freshman year if you possess a strong work ethic and can manage your studies while working part-time. If you don’t need money then it is better to not work your first year of college.

Keeping a Job While in College

It’s certainly not easier to get good grades while working full-time. Yet, there are many benefits to working full-time and pursuing a college degree. Below are just a few.

To Help Pay for College

For many students, achieving a low student loan debt is a top priority and helps them endure working 30+ hours per week while taking a full course load each semester. Apart from saving you money by not taking out large loans and paying interest, keeping a full-time job can provide you peace of mind, allowing you to focus on your studies without worrying about debt.

Employee Benefits are Available

Employers may offer tuition assistance to employees pursuing educational or training courses relevant to their current careers. Employees may also be able to tap into other benefits, such as health insurance. Depending on your employer, you may qualify for a waiver and reimbursement if your college offers on-campus health coverage before you graduate.

Professional Freedom After Graduation

You must be able to graduate with as little or no debt as possible so that you can pursue the career of your dreams. Graduates may tend to feel pressured to take on high-paying jobs right after school, even if it isn’t the job they want. I believe that this may be particularly true for those with massive student loan debt. To achieve your dream career, you would need to keep your full-time job to enable you to pursue it, not just a job that pays you.

Get Real-World Experience

A degree means little to employers if you lack the experience, knowledge, and skills to contribute fully to your role. The college will teach you a lot, but most of what will be necessary to succeed in the professional world come from on-the-job training and the skills gained from working outside the classroom.

Enhance Your Classroom Learning

Applying the knowledge, we learn in the classroom in a real-life setting is one of the best ways to reinforce what we learn in class. Having the opportunity to discover throughout your career, especially in fields related to your studies, is one of the benefits of full-time employment. The best part is that you can start learning immediately. 

Professionalism is Key

Work and school require different attitudes. People who don’t work can take days off, take hour-long breaks between classes and get long summer and winter breaks. Making the switch from that schedule to a professional one can be tough. When the school term ends, those who already work full-time are relieved, as they have more time in their schedules.

Jobs for College Students

Babysitter 

Nanny’s watch children while their parents’ work; babysitters take care of them during the evenings and weekends. It is also possible that you could get a position in a daycare center as well. In the United States, babysitters earn an average of $14.29 per hour.

Animal Caretaker

College students can take care of animals that are natural stress relievers, making taking care of them the perfect summer job. Get a job walking dogs or caring for animals. You can also get a job feeding, grooming, and taking care of animals. Working in pet care can earn you an average of $13.67 an hour.

Bank Teller

When counting money and handling other financial transactions, banks such as PNC and Bank of America rely on tellers for accuracy. An average bank teller earns $29,081 per year.

Brand Ambassador

Students who hold this position are more likely to be noticed by potential employers. Did you ever see on campus that people were handing out free stuff or even selling things? Taking on the role of a brand ambassador requires you to promote products and brands, and you might even earn a commission or a prize, depending on how well you do.

Bartender

A bartender’s job involves taking orders, pouring drinks, mixing drinks, and sometimes pouring them in fishbowl-like glasses. Imagine what fame you will instantly attain once you have this job under your belt. States have different minimum drinking ages. However, it’s usually a 21-year-old who can work in a bar as a bartender. The median hourly wage for bartenders is $11.34, plus tips.

Accountant

Facts and figures need to be organized by both small and large businesses. A bookkeeper records financial transactions, updates financial statements and verifies that financial records are accurate using spreadsheets and accounting software. In the United States, bookkeepers earn an average salary of $42,779 per annum.

Chef de Line

Line cooks prepare food in a busy restaurant kitchen, handling multiple orders at once. There’s also a chance that you can get a free meal or a discount on food when you work a shift.

Assistant Nurse

As an undergrad, you should gain experience working in a hospital or senior living facility if you seek a job in health care. Registered nurses supervise nursing assistants, and they help care for patients by cleaning, feeding, and transporting them.

Waiter

Waiters and waitresses are common jobs among college students because they do more than take orders and deliver food; they also gain valuable interpersonal skills. When you take a shift at a restaurant, you may be able to get a free meal or a discounted meal.

Clerk

Collect a steady paycheck by scanning and bagging. In a store, cashiers handle money transactions. The average wage for a cashier is $11.29 per hour.

Chauffeur

If you have ever been out drinking and need a ride home after a night of partying, you probably depend on car services, but you could always try your hand at driving for hire and get a job as a driver. If you plan to provide professional transportation, you’ll need a driver’s license issued by the state. Depending on the form, you may also need a special permit. In addition to earning $13.76 an hour, drivers are also entitled to tips.

IT Specialist

Have trouble finishing a paper? Ever had your computer crash? Almost everyone gets stuck at least occasionally, and if you like dealing with software, then being an IT support specialist should be right up your alley. You can work as an IT specialist.

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