by Madeline Roscoe
Before, between and after classes, many Whitworth students report to their jobs both on and off campus.Students benefit from having money to put toward tuition or other expenses.
Staff and students agree, though it may be difficult at times, there are several other benefits that come along with working in college. Career Services helps students to find the perfect job.
Career Services has records of about 700 students working on campus and about 80 students working off campus, according to Laurie Armstrong-Sargent, assistant director of student employment. There are many other students working in the Spokane community that Career Services does not keep on record.
Armstrong-Sargent assists students in the job search and application process.
She sits down with students, talks with them about their interests and skills and finds out if they are eligible for work study. From there, Armstrong-Sargent can determine what options the student has available.
“I’ve hardly ever had a student we couldn’t find a job for,” Armstrong-Sargent said. “If I’m working with a motivated student, we can find one.”
She makes calls across campus departments and searches WhitJobs to make it happen.
“I don’t want students to feel frustrated when looking for a job,” Armstrong-Sargent added. “They can come see me and I’ll work with them.”
Armstrong-Sargent strongly recommends working in college.
“Studies have shown that students are more organized and do better in school because of their time-management skills,” Armstrong-Sargent said.
Freshman Joel Trefry is an assistant grounds worker on campus. He has also had experience working off campus. He says there are benefits to both.
He was given more hours at his off-campus job, but enjoys the flexibility and accommodations that come along with working on campus.
“I was going to work in the custodial department and my hours did not match with their hours so they sent me to the grounds department and I got a job there,” Trefry said.
He likes that he doesn’t have to stress about transportation and commute times because he can be at work whenever he needs to be.
“I work in the morning, then I get off and go to my first class, then I go back to work until my next class, and so on,” Trefry said.
Senior Andie Ingram works on campus as a WhitJobs manager. She researches people who come to Whitworth with job opportunities to make sure they are not fraudulent.
She recommends working in college because students can start making connections and collecting references for future employment.
“There are lots of benefits of having an on-campus job. One of them is how supervisors stress that we’re students first,” Ingram said. “So, if midterms come along and we are super stressed out and can’t come to work, my supervisor is very understanding.”
She cautions students that WhitJobs are in high-demand.
“If students want a job on campus, then they need to be ready,” Ingram said. “The first weekend of school is when positions become available and they fill up fast. Students ought to already have their resumes prepared.”
On the other hand, freshman Bailey Dickinson loves working a part-time job, off campus. She started working at Lane Bryant in August.
“It’s kind of nice because you can get away from your dorm and everyone else on campus,” Dickinson said. She likes being able to socialize with new people.
“You definitely have to plan,” said Dickinson, in reference to juggling classes, work and her studies. Last semester, she had to leave class early so she could make it to work on time.
“I always take my books to work so I can read on my break,” Dickinson added. She says she doesn’t always have as much time as she wants to get homework done, but she makes it work.
Ingram has even been able to study abroad and her jobs were there waiting for her when she came back. This is one of the benefits of having an on-campus job.
In listing the benefits of having a job in college, Ingram included the development of time-management skills, professionalism and responsibility.
“Even if it’s not related to your career you are pursuing you are showing ‘I can respond to authority,’” Ingram said. Future employers value this ability.
Career Services wants to meet specifically with freshman and alumni to help them in figuring out a career path.
“We also meet with alumni,” Ingram said. “Whether you have graduated a year or two ago or if you are in your mid 40s looking for career change, we will work with you saying ‘Where have you been and where do you want to go?’ We help in that transition.”
She wants students to know that whether they need help finding a part-time job while in school, or a career after graduation, Career Services is there to help them reap the benefits of working in college. Career Services can be found upstairs in the HUB.
Contact Madeline Roscoe at mroscoe19@my.whitworth.edu