Student Worker: Effectively employing on-campus jobs

Money is a big motivator for many people. As college students, even if we have a full or partial scholarship, we still want and need more money. We feel that we should have money, so we can buy new clothes at the mall, go out to eat with friends instead of eating at Daly’s or Cranberry’s for the millionth time or just save for a rainy day.
Most of us complain when we don’t have money, and we wish we could work, but we’re “too busy” to balance a job and school. That’s where people are wrong. When you think about it, working on campus is an amazing opportunity. Not only do you get a paycheck, but also you get to meet new people and boost your résumé. The university is one employer that really will work around your school schedule because ultimately, your academics are most important; I know from experience, since I worked at Rider’s Annual Spring Giving Phonathon this semester.
I defied all odds, considering that I just transferred here and was told by various people that it would be difficult to find a job in the spring. To be frank, I needed to work because it was part of my routine. I started working during my senior year of high school and haven’t stopped since. The key to all of the success was time management.
When I transferred here, checking the Broncs Career Link on Rider’s website became a daily routine. It was discouraging at first to only see jobs that were open to graduate students. Fortunately, one day I saw a job posting for undergraduate students for the Phonathon job, and I applied immediately.
Soon enough, I received an email saying that I was hired and would have to attend a training session. The Phonathon ran from March 9 to April 9, but we didn’t have to work during spring break, thankfully. It was a relief to know that my work schedule revolved around my school schedule. Students who worked at the Phonathon could only work a maximum of 20 hours per week. The shifts were Sunday through Friday evenings and Saturday and Sunday during the day. We called alumni to help raise money for Rider’s Annual Scholarship Fund, which directly impacts students.
Making those calls was a great experience. It was nice to know that they were once in our shoes. I was surprised that some alumni were interested to know how my Rider experience was going. They would ask me about my major, friends, professors and Rider’s food, among other things. Some alumni even shared their memories of Rider and gave me advice about life. It made my first on-campus job a positive experience. I really want to work on campus again in the fall.
Time management is vital. Our lives are going to get a lot busier and crazier after we graduate. Why not practice it now? Earning money is just the bonus.

-Jessica Vento
Junior public relations major

Printed in the 4/26/13 edition.