Strategies for College Students to Gain Work Experience

You’ve been told that going to college and graduating can help you land a stable job in the future. While there’s some truth to this, you’ll soon find out that when you eventually step into the hypercompetitive job market, a college degree will only take you so far—you’ll need to gain work experience as well. 

But how? After all, you’ve just graduated. Well, in reality, during your time in college, you’ll get plenty of chances to work and earn a decent amount of professional experience and knowledge—all you have to do is look. From part-time work to internships, each activity is a potential chance to show employers you’ve got what it takes. 

It’s also worth noting that many companies nowadays are starting to find little value in a college degree. This is forcing universities to adapt and offer extra and co-curricular activities to improve their students’ chances of landing future jobs. So, don’t think twice about joining these activities to help you gain some much-needed work experience. 

In fact, in 2019, researchers studied the impact of universities adapting to the perception that college degrees might not be as valuable today by offering extra and co-curricular activities to improve employability. They surveyed 352 university students in Australia and the UK, focusing on the students’ participation in employability-related activities and their perceptions of the importance of these activities for their employability. 

The results revealed that students engaged in different activities, and some had a more significant impact. Moreover, students felt that activities directly connected to their desired careers were the most valuable. These activities helped students build connections, gain insights into future careers, and make themselves more appealing to potential employers.

So, let’s explore these activities one by one and see how they can contribute to your work experience, ultimately setting you up for future success. 

Part-Time Jobs

According to a report from Statista, the typical expense for attending a public four-year in-state college in the US, covering tuition, fees, as well as room and board, amounted to $24,030 in the academic year 2023 to 2024. Meanwhile, public two-year in-district institutions cost $13,960.

Based on the report above, it’s quite clear that pursuing a college degree can get pretty expensive. As a student, one way to mitigate the expenses you’ll accrue in college is to get a part-time job. With a part-time job, you can gain work experience and earn extra money during your free time and still have time for classes. 

Don’t expect to get a high-paying part-time job from the get-go. Since you’ll essentially be applying for a job that doesn’t require a college degree, you can expect that the pay may not be as high as the jobs you’ll land after you graduate—and that’s okay. Always remember that part-time jobs aren’t just about earning money—they’re an avenue for teaching you the value of hard work.

But if you really want to earn more, one good way is to focus on skill acquisition. Skilled work can be very lucrative if you’re good at a certain skill. For instance, if you’re good at speaking or motivating others, professional speakers earn, on average, around $24.47 an hour as of June 2024, according to ZipRecruiter, a career assistance website.

However, part-time jobs, as the name suggests, take a part of your time as a student. As such, finding the right work-life-school balance is essential. That’s because part-time jobs can have a negative effect on your health, which may lead to decreased academic performance, which was proven in a 2022 study on the link between part-time employment, health outcomes, and academic performance among university students. 

In this study, researchers surveyed 700 full-time sophomore undergraduate students from the Caucasus University in Georgia in 2019. The results of the study revealed that 61% of the students had part-time jobs and dedicated on average about 18 hours per week. The study also found that 76% of students took on part-time jobs out of financial need.

That’s because these students also supported their families and needed to cover expenses. Moreover, many students opted for part-time jobs unrelated to their future careers. Sleep disturbances were frequent among students from balancing work and studies. This strain on their well-being had a ripple effect on academic performance, impacting 44% of students.

Internships

Internships are usually collaboratively developed by schools and organizations to give students a chance to learn the ins and outs of their industry. It can also serve as the first opportunity for students to gain work experience and build a professional network, as they’ll be able to meet and work with people from different companies, groups, and institutions. 

Performing well during your internship can help you get noticed by employers and you may be awarded a job at their company after you graduate. Employers value hard work and seeing you perform at your best can help them ascertain that you’re a valuable asset to their company.

In 2020, researchers reviewed the impact of internships and organizations, emphasizing their role in bridging the gap between education and career readiness. In this review, the researchers gathered and analyzed relevant information regarding the matter. The review’s findings found that internships mutually benefitted both interns and organizations.

Moreover, while compensation is not mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act, many internships were found to offer paid opportunities, contributing to their positive attributes. The review also found that internships serve as valuable learning experiences, enhancing skills and positioning interns as strong contenders for future full-time roles.

The many of advantages of doing an internship, such as gaining valuable work experience before graduating, makes them a great stepping stone to success. However, before getting into an internship, remember that internships don’t usually pay you for your hard work. So, take this into consideration when applying for one. 

Volunteer Work

If you want to earn work experience and make a positive impact in your community, participating in volunteer work is definitely the best place to start. From organizing feeding programs to teaching children from less fortunate families, these jobs usually task you with lending a helping hand to various communities that desperately need them most.

However, like many internships, volunteer work means you’ll be working hard without compensation. But, the experiences you’ll earn during this time can provide you with experiences more valuable than money—personal development, accomplishment, and a sense of community and well-being. 

In 2019, researchers investigated why student volunteering was beneficial from the perspectives of students, universities, and nonprofit organizations (NPOs). To gain insight, the researchers interviewed 60 students in 6 Australian universities to examine the role of expectations in shaping these benefits and to identify instances when the benefits exceeded or fell short of their expectations.

The study revealed that a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction was achieved when volunteering-related benefits aligned with the volunteers’ expectations. Unexpected benefits led to even greater satisfaction, while unmet expectations resulted in disappointment and a sense of breached psychological contract. 

The benefits of student volunteering for students were employability skills, personal development, learning outcomes, and global citizenship. Universities benefitted by addressing key goals, developing responsible citizens, and building partnerships, with surprises in increased diversity awareness. NPOs gained skilled labor, energy from students, partnership opportunities, and, surprisingly, quality service.

Leadership Roles in Student Organizations

During your time in college, there are practically dozens of different clubs where you can join other students and sometimes teachers who share a collective passion or interest. From athletics and STEM to social sciences, these clubs are a way for students to gather, socialize, and participate in activities beyond the classroom. 

Joining these clubs and eventually leading them can help you develop a number of soft skills that would undoubtedly prove to be valuable in any profession. Highlighting the leadership roles you played in clubs can help you stand out against applicants without extracurricular activities. 

In 2022, a study was conducted to understand the key competencies student leaders possessed and how these competencies matched the capability requirement of employers. To gather data, the researchers used semi-structured interviews with nine exceptional student leaders, four class teachers, two student affairs administrators, and eight human resource managers from two vocational colleges in Beijing.

The findings revealed that student leaders exhibited strong social skills, emotional intelligence, effective action-taking, a sense of responsibility, and resilience. These skills enabled student leaders to quickly adapt to the demands of real-world work environments, and employers highly valued these attributes as they contributed to success in the workplace.

Research Projects

Colleges and Universities often conduct research initiatives to gain further understanding and insights across all fields of science. While these studies are mostly performed by professors who are experts in their field, you, as a student, can also get the opportunity to assist and learn from these experts and even conduct research of your own. 

If you’re someone who’s planning a career that mostly revolves around research, the experiences and insights you’ll gain from conducting research can lay the foundation for future success in your field. If you want to land a job in academia or in reputable publications, participating in research can make it possible. 

In 2023, a study was conducted on the impact of student-driven research on various academic outcomes, including postgraduate training placement rates, pharmacy faculty appointments, and lifetime publications. The study focused on 300 Doctor of Pharmacy graduates involved in student research between 2002 and 2015.

The researchers collected data on the participant’s research involvement, abstract submissions, presentations, post-graduate training, full-time faculty jobs, and publications. The results of the findings revealed that among the graduates, 167 or 56% submitted at least one abstract, while 68 students – around 23% – successfully published their research work. 

Engaging in research work helped students gain work experience, which increased their likelihood of postgraduate and specialty training and positively affected the likelihood of securing faculty jobs in academia and lifetime publication rate. 

Participating in Conferences and Workshops

Participating in conferences and workshops gives students and professionals a way to gather and discuss the most recent trends, discoveries, and innovations that encompass their field. It serves as a platform for your industry to evolve as students and professionals exchange thoughts and learn from each other.  

During these events, you’ll meet a host of people from various groups and institutions throughout the U.S. and sometimes across the globe. Therefore, attending conferences and workshops will give you the chance to to build professional networks with the people you meet and connect with. They can provide advice, knowledge, and even future collaboration or job opportunities. 

While merely taking part in these events is more than enough to merit its substantial benefits—you can take it up a notch and further prove yourself by participating as a speaker. This can help you earn credibility among peers and employers and even help you develop the skills you’ll need to pursue your chosen career path and ultimately grow. 

In 2021 researchers looked at how student-led conferences contributed to students’ development of important skills needed in the 21st century, such as responsibility, self-management, self-expression, communication, and leadership. The study involved 249 students, 280 parents, and 22 teachers from different grade levels in a private school. 

The researchers used questionnaires, interviews, and document reviews to gather data. The study’s findings demonstrated that student-led conferences positively impacted helping students develop the 21st-century skills mentioned above. This means that the process of students leading their conferences is valuable for their overall growth. 

Conclusion

Although college can be academically taxing, going the extra mile can be very rewarding. You’ll find out sooner or later that academics is important, but employers also need well-rounded individuals. Thankfully, college is an excellent place of endless opportunities for personal and professional growth—all you have to do is look. 

So, assume leadership roles or look for part-time jobs, internships, and volunteer work to help you build character and gain essential professional skills. Also, engage in research projects and join conferences to consistently stay up to date in your field. Each of these opportunities is a stepping stone toward a successful future, so seize them all!