Choosing the Right Part-time Job in College

Fast-food restaurants, retail outlets, and movietheater will not make much of an impression on the
theatres are all common places of employment forhiring principal. But by taking a different path by
many college students. Though these places may beaccepting a part-time job mentoring or tutoring
fun hangout spots for the who's who of the collegeacademically challenged students would be an asset
community, is it the best part-time employmentthat many principals will value when considering filling a
choice students can make to increase theirteaching position for such students.
competitiveness when applying for full-timeBoth positions, the mentoring and the movie theater,
employment after graduation?do not require any previous experience. It is just a
Every industry, be it fast-food or retail, can providematter of selecting a job that will come in handy in
valuable experience and job qualifications to collegethe future, when students want to get serious and
students. Basic qualities such as being dependable,start their careers.
being responsible, and being a reliable worker can beAlso, looking for employment opportunities in a
acquired or enhanced in almost any industry. Butparticular industry can be a good move on the
potential employers are not recruiting for individualsstudents' part when preparing for their careers. But
with only the basic employment skills. Employers alsochoosing an industry specific job may not yield
value knowledge, skills, and abilities that are specificimmediate desired job qualifications, as job ranges are
to their industry. Hence, while in college, studentswide. For example, a student that is interested in
should put more emphasis on obtaining a part-timeworking in the computer industry as a software
position that is as closely related to their desireddesigner may be very interested in taking a mail
future careers as possible.room position at Microsoft.
There are ways to match part-time jobs with itsThe qualifications gained in the mail room are
full-time counterpart. On one hand, students may setcompletely different from the qualifications desired
out to find a part-time job that will gain them specificfor a position as a software designer. But with the
job qualifications, no matter what the industry is. Onposition in the mail room, other skills and insider
the other hand, students may set out to gainknowledge can give a competitive edge over outside
non-specific job qualifications in a select industry.competitors.
Job qualifications are skills and abilities that, ifWhen applying for a job, students must be mindful
possessed by an applicant, qualify that applicant to fillof their long-term career goals. If a student plans on
a particular position. Part-time jobs in college are greatmaking his/her career in retail, maybe a job at Macy's
opportunities for students to increase theirwould not be such a bad idea. But for those students
employability after graduating by gaining some jobwho plan to enter a career in the law industry upon
specific qualities. For example, what if a student'sgraduation may be better off taking a part-time job
career goals include teaching underprivilegedat the local courthouse or law office.
students? That student's experience at a movie