This year I transitioned from off-campus retail employment to a job on campus and it’s honestly the best decision I’ve ever made. I have gained experience, friendships and more importantly an income.
The first thing to realise is the sheer number of jobs available on campus for students. Too many to list, in fact: Project Assistants, Research Assistants, PASS Leaders, Student Engagement Assistants, Residential Mentors, Ambassadors, Receptionists and Content Contributors isn’t even a scratch on the surface. There are tons of jobs on campus across many different faculties, and all of them are accessible through the webpage and the Facebook Group.
Here are 5 reasons why you should look at getting an on-campus job.
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$$$
Put that ‘poor uni student’ stereotype to rest. Money is the essential element to a savings account…
And cash money to treat yourself because self-love is important.
Let’s be honest there is nothing more rewarding than getting a paycheck that shows that your hard work is earning you that cold hard cash.
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Getting that valuable experience
No student wants to get to the end of their degree with the ‘Experience’ section on their resume near blank. How else did you think you were going to get that dream job?
Bachelor of Communication/Laws student and Content Coordinator at Student Central, Sarah James, says “after working at the University I feel so much more prepared to enter the workforce after graduating. While I’ve learnt heaps of useful skills during my degree, I feel that having practical experience in media will hopefully give me an edge”.
Not only will you develop the soft skills employers desire but you can experience a working field that interests you. Or even if you’re completely clueless about what you want to do with your life, on-campus jobs are the perfect opportunity for you to discover what you like and dislike.
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Gives you the opportunity to get involved
Being a University employee connects you with the university community, and engaging with the campus is a keystone to academic success.
Working on campus is the perfect way to become a walking University knowledge base, which has its perks. Having in-depth knowledge about the University it a great way to help other students and yourself, making you an asset to the university.
“One of the not so obvious benefits of working at the University is suddenly you have all this new knowledge about the uni. If you’re ever having a problem, you generally know who you need to contact, or someone you’re working with will know. Also, you basically become your friends go-to person when comes to everything University” says Sarah.
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Your employer understands that study comes first
Off-campus jobs can sometimes be demanding and expect you to work 6-8 hour shifts. On-campus jobs are super flexible when it comes to your studies and sometimes allow you to work a few hours in-between classes and offer you plenty of time off to study.
Sarah says “I’ve found that staff at the University are really understanding when it comes to study. They understand that sometimes your study has to come first, which is really useful around exam time. Getting that work-life balance actually seems achievable for once”.
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Because it’s fun
If you love studying here because of the culture then working here might be for you because it gets even better.
The team I work with are sociable, helpful and funny which makes the hours clock by like a breeze. We all get along, work well together, share great conversations and just simply sling jokes to one another.
Plus you also have access to a fridge and the toasted sandwich press!
To find a job on campus make sure you are following Uni Newcastle Students on Facebook and are part of the Jobs on Campus Facebook Group for regular job postings or visit CareerHub the University’s dedicated online career services site. You can also book into appointments, career skills and resume workshops and find a range of career information resources on the CareerHub site.