Around 7000 students at the University of Iowa are involved in a part-time on-campus job. And I’m one of them.
I was initially apprehensive about undertaking any job on campus, considering that it would be my first job ever. I felt like I didn’t have enough skills, and being trusted with a responsibility felt like a daunting task.
Now, I’m nearing the two-month mark of being a library support assistant at the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences. And wow, I was so wrong to have worried so much!
There are several benefits to working at this time. It’s a great way to meet people and make friends, and it also allows you to explore the campus beyond commuting to classes. Those are definitely things to value as a freshman!
A job can definitely be time-consuming, but such occupations also help you value time better. As someone who used to procrastinate a lot, starting a job encouraged me to make the best use of the time I had left. Do remember that the university only allows students to work up to 20 hours per week. That ensures that you get time for classes and to have time for yourself!
Speaking of time, it also does seem to be going by faster every day. I still can’t believe we’re halfway through the fall semester. Before we know it, we’ll be thrust into the real adult world. That’s why learning workplace skills and tasks is super important. Many tend to talk about soft skills. While I do think that’s important, a new thing I learned through this job experience was the related documentation. When I received the offer, I had to complete my I-9 and W-4, which could be intimidating at first. Having this experience during college will certainly be useful for my future jobs.
I would encourage any student, freshman or not, to find an on- or off-campus job. It doesn’t necessarily have to be related to your major or dream career. Take my case – working in the library may not immediately be related to psychology. However, I have to communicate with patrons and organize the library’s resources, and these soft skills are essential to any career. It’s not about what the experience is. Rather, it’s about how you leverage that experience for your own development.
If you want to learn more, check out these sites to learn about student employment at the University of Iowa:
- University Human Resources: https://hr.uiowa.edu/careers/employment-categories-and-classifications/student-employment
- Pomerantz Career Center: https://careers.uiowa.edu/jobs/student-employment
Explore what the University of Iowa has to offer!
Stay tuned for more, Hawkeyes!
