Top Off-Campus Jobs for College Students

By Brittany Hawes on October 24, 2017

Some college students might find themselves feeling intimidated by the prospect of searching for a job away from their home campus. It might seem scary when you first start hunting for jobs off-campus because you know your own campus so well.

But there are plenty of job opportunities off-campus that may work better with your schedule and offer incentives that some on-campus jobs may not. There are many good reasons to start your hunt for an off-campus job today. Off-campus jobs help with networking — you’ll be setting up links in the “real-world.” You’ll also have the chance to leave a good impression on people in your potential work field, build your resume for future employers, and gain hands-on experience.

If you’ve found yourself interested in finding a job off-campus, the following job options may interest you.

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Restaurant Worker

Working at a restaurant can be a good off-campus job. As part of the waiting staff, you will be earning tips, which is tax-free money collected from the guests you serve during their time at your establishment. I’ve heard of people earning close to a hundred dollars in tips a night for doing a great job. As a college student, a hundred dollars can be made to go a long way.

Tips paired with your hourly pay can end up putting pretty large sums of money in your pocket so if you’re looking for fast cash in an off-campus job, working as part of the waiting staff at a restaurant could really pay off.

Substitute Teacher

Becoming a substitute teacher can seem daunting but it doesn’t have to be. Some institutions require a high school diploma to become one of their substitute teachers so don’t let the fear of not yet having enough education under your belt hold you back.

Substitute teachers, once hired, will get to pick their own hours (often from an online job board posted by your county) so you can schedule to sub for a class that won’t interfere with your school work. If you’re interested in becoming an elementary, middle, or high school teacher, this can be some good hands-on experience!

TOEFL Assistant Teacher/Tutor

Does the thought of teaching a virtual classroom make you excited? Do you have a strong interest in different languages or would like to help interested parties learn more about your own? If so, becoming an online English teacher is another good off-campus job to consider.

Sites like TEFL.com and Upwork.com offer a list of companies looking to hire temporary tutors or teachers. You will be able to work from home in most cases, depending on the company you decide to work for. There are also some TOEFL jobs that don’t require prior knowledge of the foreign language for you to be hired because there will be teachers that speak that language helping you. Pay is good (many sites list hourly pay above $17) and hours differ from job to job.

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County or State Job

Working with the county or state has many perks and benefits. As a part-time employee with my county, I have had access to free training sessions for information on computer knowledge, emergency operations, and more as well as the opportunity to meet others who work for the county.

There’s also the chance to receive annual pay raises, accrue leave (good for going home to visit family for the holidays), receive low-cost health insurance, and dental and vision plans. Besides some great benefits, you will get to meet some great people and learn more about how your county works.

Bookstore

I’m a book-lover so the idea of being surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of literary creations at my workplace sounds exciting. If the thought appeals to you as well, finding a job at a bookstore could turn out to be an excellent source decision.

As an employee at a bookstore, you’ll be amongst the first to know when a new book hits the shelves, be able to chat about books with other bibliophiles, and also be around (and possibly able to help set up) for any events in the store such as author signings and book fairs. Hours are flexible!

Pet Supply Store

Pet owners and students who have a deep love for animals and their well-being might enjoy working at a pet supply store. Duties might include guiding customers to their desired products, handling small animals like mice and gerbils, organizing shelves and displays, using the cash register to check out customers, placing online orders, answering questions customers may have about pets or pet products, and maintaining a clean area.

This job could be ideal for animal lovers because you’ll be able to help others who share your passion. Store associate hours are usually part-time and flexible so you should be able to figure out a schedule that will work best with your classes and other activities.

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