How do college students find part-time jobs in the US?

College students find part-time jobs in the US through the school's student employment or career office, campus departments, local employers near campus and word of mouth. Pick jobs with flexible shifts, apply early in the semester, put your class schedule on your application and check pay and hours before you accept. International students need work authorization first.

At a glance

• Start with your school: campus jobs often work around classes.
• Off-campus jobs in retail, food service, tutoring and delivery commonly hire students.
• Know your minimum wage: the higher of the federal or state rate applies.
• Keep work hours realistic so your grades do not suffer.
• International students on F-1 status must follow special rules. See below.

Where do you look?

Ask your student employment office how postings work and when hiring peaks, usually near the start of a term.

How do you apply with no work history?

Use the layout in Resume With No Experience: What to Include. Lead with education, then clubs, volunteering, school projects and skills. Say which days and hours you can work. Employers value reliability and a clear schedule more than a long history.

What pay rules should you know?

The Department of Labor says the federal minimum wage applies to covered nonexempt workers and that many states set their own rates. If both apply, you are entitled to the higher. Look up your state on the Department of Labor's State Minimum Wage Laws page. Ask whether you will be paid hourly, how often and how tips or overtime are handled.

Be cautious about "pay to start" jobs: a genuine employer does not charge for training kits, uniforms or placement. Use the 10-point fake posting check on any job you found by message or social media.

How many hours should you work?

There is no single answer. Many students find that a modest weekly load leaves enough time for study. Check the policy at your school; some campus jobs set hour caps, and scholarships or aid may have their own conditions. Raise schedule needs early, for example exam weeks, and ask your supervisor whether shifts can be traded.

What do international students need to know?

If you are on an F-1 student visa, you cannot take any job you like. On-campus work is allowed under conditions. ICE Study in the States says an F-1 student may not work more than 20 hours a week when school is in session, and the student must first talk to the designated school official (DSO). USCIS says F-1 students may not work off campus during the first academic year, and that off-campus options such as Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training must be authorized before work starts. Read F-1 on-campus jobs and speak to your DSO before accepting anything.

How do you make a part-time job count for your career?

• Pick tasks you can describe on a resume: customer service, cash handling, scheduling, research or training others.
• Ask your supervisor for a reference near the end of the term.
• Track what you did with numbers that are true.
• If the job relates to your major, mention it in interviews.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work part time and get financial aid? Often yes, but rules differ by aid type. Ask your financial aid office.

Do campus jobs pay minimum wage? Pay varies by school and role. Ask for the posted rate and compare it with your state's minimum wage.

Is gig work counted as a job? It can be, but for international students unauthorized work can threaten status. Ask your DSO first.

What should I do if my employer asks me to work unpaid? Ask for the terms in writing and see what the Department of Labor says about when unpaid work is allowed.

When should I start applying? Two to four weeks before the term begins, or earlier for campus jobs.

By LiveRec Editorial. Read our editorial standards.