Moving to college around the age of 18 can pose a lot of challenges, one of the biggest being financial stability. Lucky for the UNH student population, there are hundreds of job opportunities on campus. Below, I’ll talk about some of the best (and easiest) ways to find a cool part-time job – including the job-seeking app I used to find my current position as a social media intern in UNH’s communications and public affairs department.
UNH Job Fair
Have you ever worked in housing or dining? Do you want to learn how to drive a bus? Do you love being around food? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, UNH Hospitality and Campus Services is the spot for you!
UNH Hospitality and Campus Services is one of the largest student employers on campus. This includes working in places like the dining halls and campus cafes, but also transportation and more.
You can always see the list of open positions here and apply online here.
UNH Handshake
Are you interested in an on-campus internship? Is there a specific department you want to work for? Do you have a special skill you want to expand upon? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then UNH Handshake is the best resource for you!
Handshake is a student-only job website. It is similar to LinkedIn, but it has opportunities specific to students and recent graduates. You can filter job results to only show on-campus positions. The job postings usually show the hourly pay rate as well as the number of hours a week the position will require. (P.S. This is how I got my internship with UNH social media!)
This includes paid positions for a number of important programs and departments across campus, such as SHARPP (Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention Program), CaPS (Career and Professional Success), Health and Wellness, Hamel Recreation Center, University Advising, Wildcat Athletics, and Undergraduate Admissions! Alongside earning money, these are great opportunities to develop your professional skillsets, make a difference in the lives and students and connect with professionals in fields you are interested in.
Professors
Is there a specific class you love? Do you take really good notes? Is there a topic or issue you always wanted to learn more about? Have you ever wanted to teach? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then your professors are your best resource for finding a campus job!
UNH Student Accessibility Services requests well-written notes for certain classes in exchange for financial compensation. This is a great opportunity if you do not have a lot of free time outside of your courses.
As an R1 Carnegie Research University, there are also a lot of paid undergraduate research positions. Reach out to one of your professors (a great place to begin is just stopping by office hours) and ask if they know of any opportunities. Research positions are often hired through word of mouth or faculty connections, so starting a conversation can open doors you didn’t even know were there. Many Wildcats will work with the same professor on research from their first year on campus to graduation, benefitting from mentorship that supports them in their post-UNH life as well.
If you’ve ever wanted to be a teacher or just like helping your peers, you can also explore becoming an undergraduate teaching assistant or tutor. Some of these positions are paid or offer course credit. This is a fun way to make a little bit of money and help fellow students! Again, getting to know your professors is the best way to learn about open positions since many students will become undergraduate teaching assistants in courses they previously took and loved – even outside their major.
More about my campus job search
I found my internship on Handshake and applied in the spring of my freshman year. I am now a senior graduating in a few months with three years of internship experience. I learned how to launch a university Tik Tok account, edit photos and videos on Adobe Creative Cloud and manage Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook accounts for current students! Connect with me on LinkedIn to see all the ways I’ve gained professional experience on and off campus.
My advice to future Wildcats
If you have an interest or passion, there is definitely an opportunity on campus to get paid to pursue it further. You just have to know where to look!
