Finding a job on campus can be important if you are paying your way through school, need beer money, or have some extra time to kill. It can also be pretty competitive on campus, so always stay tuned.
When to look
If you are intend on having a job on campus, be sure to start looking as early as possible. Unless absolutely necessary, try not to have a job your first semester at school. This semester should be focused on orienting yourself with everything at U of I and to make sure you start off your college career with a solid GPA. When you are ready for a job, I would suggest getting down to school at LEAST a few days before classes start. However, a week or two before classes resume would be preferable. By doing this, you are beating the competitive rush that occurs when everyone gets back to campus and you will also have plenty of free time to job search and interview.
Some jobs even interview before students leave school in the spring. So keep your eyes open, and if you find a job you like - inquire about it.
How to look
The best place to look for jobs on campus is the Daily Illini classified section. In the DI classifieds, campus businesses are directly seeking student workers. However, keep in mind that thousands of students are reading about the same job openings you are. Also, look out for jobs that sound too good to be true. Another good job resource is Craigslist. The University also offers a Virtual Job Board.
While all three of these resources can give you a good idea of what is available, your friends can be your greatest resource. Listen to what kind of jobs people you know have or have had and follow up with them. Your friends will be the most upfront with you about what they like and/or hate about their jobs. If you are interested, have your friend recommend you to their manager.
Recommended Jobs
The following have always been popular campus jobs for U of I students:
- Bartender - This is one of the most competitive jobs on campus and hardest to find. There is a definite hierarchy at each bar. The first problem is landing the job. The best way to get a job at a bar is to know someone currently working at that bar. Once you do get the job, you will have to pay your dues for a few semesters before you can be considered for a bartending position. This usually entails cleaning the disgusting bathrooms, mopping the floor, or picking up beer cans. However, once you land the bartending position, the rewards can be lucrative.
- Campus Recreation - While being employed with Campus Rec is not nearly as lucrative or competitive as working at a popular bar, Campus Rec always has plenty of positions for all types of intramurals. The pay leaves much to be desired, but it is not difficult to climb the ladder to become a supervisor or manager. You may also need to consider the late night hours you may have to work as a referee or supervisor.
- Daily Illini - The DI offers a lot of jobs to students, especially those interested in journalism. For those not looking to pursue a job in journalism, there are still a handful of jobs related to marketing and advertising.
- Local Movie Theaters - While the life of a movie theater employee may not bring you much pride (not many campus jobs do), the two local movie theaters (Savoy 16 and the Beverly) employee a great deal of students each year. However, you need to make sure that you have transportation to get to work.
- Local Coffee Houses - The coffee houses on campus (mostly Expresso Royale) offer a great deal of jobs each semester to Illinois students. These jobs are easily accessible for those that will need to walk to work, but may require you to wake up early after a long night of studying (…or other various activities).
- Libraries - The University employees hundreds of students each year to work in the various college libraries. The hours are usually decent and the work is quiet.
