The best college jobs for your future self

Not every college student wants to craft cocktails behind a bar or wait tables.

But the task of finding a job to earn some extra cash can be overwhelming in a packed schedule of academics and social activities.

Nearly two-thirds of college students work, according to education think tank Lumina Foundation, but that hasn't prevented student loan debt. Some 61 percent of college students who graduate with a bachelor's degree take out loans, research site Education Data Initiative found, with the average debt at $40,467.

However, the benefits of working a job in college goes beyond the paycheck, said Dr. Claire Handby, an executive coach and career development expert.

"Just committing to earning their own money, getting a role, and making an impression is valuable," she told The Independent in an email. "For me, it's about them showing initiative and getting a job... It takes a positive attitude to get a job at a young age, which is an important life skill."

So where to start? Firstly, approach a job search with an open mind and don't limit the options to positions related to your major, said Heather Henderson, a former tech recruiter and academic advisor at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

"I don't think a job related to your area [of] study is necessary; so many people change their minds, so stressing about this isn't necessary," Henderson told The Independent in an email. "Find a role with transferable skills, and if you don't know what you want to do, find a common denominator."

Henderson knew she wanted a career working with people, so she kept her job search focused on people-facing positions such as a campus tour guide and peer advisor.

"The biggest unlock for my career was the jobs I had in college," she said.

The college career center can help you find a job as a peer mentor or advisor, said Sammie Walker Herrera, a former career consultant at the University of Florida and Carnegie Mellon, and public-speaking trainer.

The roles often have the benefit of learning critical professional skills, she said.

"You learn directly from trained career consultants on how to write a resume, cover letter, build a strong LinkedIn profile, network, interview, and more," Walker Herrera said in an email to The Independent. "It doesn't matter what major you're in - these skills will [come] in handy because they're life skills."

Mentoring and advising require a lot of time with people, so it may not be a good fit for introverts.

"Often you're advising students 1:1 and other times you're building your public speaking skills by hosting workshops in residence halls and for student organizations," Walker Herrera said.

On-campus positions changed the trajectory of Henderson's professional life.

"Students don't need to choose between being a student and being an employee," she told The Independent in an email. "They are one and the same. It is also a great resume builder to have a major university as an employer."

Some of the job responsibilities required of peer mentors and advisors include helping students strategize to get a full-time job; writing and editing resumes and cover letters; helping staff prepare for career fairs; creating elevator pitches, and participating in mock interviews, according to the University of North Florida.

A customer-facing job like a front desk role at a gym, clinic or student service office is a great way for college students to earn money and improve their people skills, said Jan Hendrik von Ahlen, founder of job platform JobLeads.

A front-desk job doesn't sound exciting, but it's a gold mine for skills like emotional intelligence.

"Being able to handle frustrated customers with emotional intelligence and good candor, switching context, good judgement, and serving as a representative of a business can all help in [their] future career," Von Ahlen said in an email to The Independent.

The value of emotional intelligence should not be underestimated, the Yale School of Medicine notes. Workers who possess the trait are happier in their jobs, perform better, get more raises, and move higher up in their company than their colleagues.

Daily responsibilities include serving as the first contact customers have with the company, booking appointments, setting schedules, handling customer complaints and organizing documents, the California Association of Community Managers says.

Research assistant jobs are a good fit for students who love their field of study and want to boost their knowledge and expertise, said Rebecca Andersen Polimeda, a senior director of professional development at Stevens Institute of Technology's Career Center.

"It gives students a chance to work with faculty and staff, explore ideas that interest them and learn how ideas [move] from the classroom into real projects," Andersen Polimeda said in an email to The Independent. "Students are already immersed in learning, and can connect their coursework to hands-on work."

The position typically teaches assistants how to gather, analyze and document data; create presentations about findings; edit research papers and conduct experiments, according to career site Indeed. Some research assistant jobs can even help students earn additional education credits.

Research assistant roles are great for networking, a hallmark of a good college job, Andersen Polimeda said.

"The best student jobs (hopefully) do more than help pay the bills - they help students with confidence, skills, and connections they can carry into their careers," she said.