Need Extra Money At College? Get Your Career Started Sooner!
Each year around this time in August, before school starts, I re-watch Felicity. It’s one of my favorite series because it’s set in a fictional NYU, where I went to college.
College offers so much - the opportunity to become independent, meet new people and of course, work towards your future. It was one of my favorite times in my life. I felt so free to be myself, and I just loved living in NYC for the first time ever.
While college opens the door to many exciting experiences, it can also lead to some challenges - especially for your finances. For many students, college is the first time they truly have to handle money and make tough decisions about spending.
Credit card companies offer students cards for the first time, and if no one's ever taught you about money, you can really go broke with credit cards that have exorbitant fees. I got my first card, and I left university with about $3300 of debt, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but I was probably maxing out the card.
If you’re struggling for money at college, then there are a few options you can consider, including getting a head start on your creative career. Learn more from this collaborative contributed post about how to get started and earn some extra money at the same time.
Building skills, experience and confidence
There are a lot of work opportunities at college. Universities have work study programs. You can also find college jobs that can fit around your classes and schedule, helping you work while prioritizing your studies. These jobs are perfect for helping to build some basic skills that will be valuable in the workplace. From essential office skills to learning communications techniques, you’ll be surprised at how these early jobs can make a difference to your future career.
Seek out jobs in your chosen field
Just because you’re working towards your degree, doesn’t mean you can’t get ahead with jobs relevant to your chosen field. Whether you want to work in music, film or the arts, so why not look at roles in these areas? Even if they’re entry-level or casual jobs, they could be an excellent gateway to making contacts and discovering jobs ready for when you have your diploma.
When I was at NYU, I studied Journalism and Art History (amongst some other things), so when I looked for jobs, I looked for ones where I had some interest. I had a Gallery Assistant position at an Art Gallery. I also received a stipend for a few positions at WNYU, the college radio station. I worked as a Desk Assistant at CBS. I also had paid internships during the summer - one at an advertising agency and another at WCBS, the local all-news radio station. I also had a job that didn’t really directly relate to my majors or my future career, but they needed some journalism and writing skills, It was working for a detective agency, writing reports. They would give me a folder with all of the “intelligence” the detectives gathered, and I would write up a comprehensive report, putting it all together. It paid pretty well, generally $300-$500 per report.
So, I would love to encourage you to reach out to different companies to see if they have any positions that fits your skills. An email, LinkedIn message or even a contact through professors (which is how I got that detective agency job) could lead to an internship or a part-time role, helping you get on the ladder early and get some experience that will help you after you graduate.
Turn your skills into income
If you have a talent for crafting, design, photography or other creative skills, why not try to make some money from it? Monetizing your hobbies could be a great way to make some extra money at college, and beyond. There are so many ways you can turn your skills into a creative venture, including Etsy, Fiverr and other marketplaces - put yourself out there and who knows where it may lead?
Research additional funding
In addition to finding some work, you could qualify for some additional funding at college to help make your finances stretch a little further. Your college may offer scholarships, which can ease the pressure, or you can consider taking a loan with a credit union. It’s okay to need a little extra help with your finances while at college, so make sure you explore your different options.
I had a scholarship for tuition, but each year, the price of tuition would creep up, but my scholarship amount stayed the same. I had student loans that totaled over $35,000 when I graduated, which is so small in comparison to how much universities cost these days.
Higher education can be expensive, and you may find yourself worrying about money instead of being able to focus on your studies. While I was contributing to this post, the episode I was watching on Felicity just happened to be one where Elana was having financial aid issues at college, and it was stressing out her relationships and her ability to focus.
Finding a way to earn some extra income can help ease some of the stress, and could also be beneficial to your future career. Whether you find some work in an industry you’re interested in, or you find a way to turn your talents into cash, you’ll learn a lot of additional skills that will make your college life more rounded and ready to prepare you for your future.
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