Working during college is a plus on your resume
When Jack Schacht and Stephanie Kennedy launched My College Planning Team three years ago, they brought years of on-campus student affairs and financial experience with them.
Their admission coaching company specializes in college selection and funding. MCPT brings together specialists from academia and business to help families lower their college costs.
Because college is expensive, working while in school is a necessity for many students. But while holding a job and studying can be challenging, it can also open doors when grads are ready to start a career, say Schacht and Kennedy.
Schacht, who attended Quincy College (now Quincy University) and majored in theater, spent roughly 15 to 20 hours a week working various jobs as a full-time student. He gave guitar lessons and even started two businesses. Schacht rented used cars to students on campus and ran a small mail order business.
Kennedy participated in the work-study program as an undergrad at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn.
Q&A: WORKING STUDENT
Q: Do you feel that working while in school is detrimental or beneficial with regard to establishing a career or finding a job after graduation?
A: Schacht: Working while in school is beneficial in two important ways. First of all, it keeps the students focused and improves their grades. There were three major studies conducted in 2011 — all showing that students who worked up to 20 hours a week got better grades than students who didn’t work. Colleges took notice of this, and many of them now promote student work on and off campus. Secondly, students who work during their college years have a competitive edge when they enter the job market right out of college.
Q: What’s the best way to find a job related to a student’s major? Do colleges usually have resources to help with this?
A: Schacht: Most colleges can help students find paid internships in areas related to their field of study. It needs to be said, however, that a student pursuing a degree in computer science is going to find a paid internship more easily than one seeking a degree in art or theater. The more demand for a particular major field, the more plentiful the paid internships.
Q: For those looking to gain work experience while in school to put on their resumes, what types of jobs are most helpful?
A: Schacht: Jobs that place the student in a work environment that relates to their major or intended career are definitely the best. In many ways, working in a “low-level” job in an environment where he or she can interact with professionals in the field can beat a higher-paid position that’s a “dead end” to a field of interest. Aspiring scientific researchers often start their careers washing beakers in the science lab.
Q: For those working while going to school, do you suggest limiting work hours to a certain number per day/week?
Kennedy: Generally, 20 hours per week is the recommended maximum. I’d advise a minimum of five hours a week so the student develops some continuity and establishes a bond with co-workers. Experiencing the dynamics of the workplace can be more valuable than the specific work skills developed.
Q: How can those who work during college maintain a balance between a job, academic demands and their personal life?
A: Kennedy: Discipline, of course. But finding a work environment that’s supportive of students (and the ensuing demands and flexibility) can help achieve that balance. Finding work on campus in a lab or office is an ideal situation. University staff and professors can be tremendous links to the next step on (a student’s) career path.
Q: Do hiring managers regard work experience very highly when hiring new grads?
A: Kennedy: There’s no doubt that working and being a student must go hand in hand. I just spoke to a human resources professional who said, “Your college grades don’t make that much difference. It’s that internship or a part-time job that gets you the next ‘real’ job.”