Part-Time Jobs

Benefits of a Part-time Job

  • Working part-time helps fund your education, lifestyle, or more.
  • It develops new skills while refining others - all of which can be beneficial during and after college.
  • It enhances your socialization and people skills, and possibly more.
  • You can gain valuable work experience to be competitive in your career and job search.
  • It can improve your future earning potential, thus allowing you to start post-college jobs with higher salaries.
  • Meet and work with professionals from different industries.
  • Experience new work environments.

How many hours should you work while in college?

This question has been asked by virtually every student that ever held a job while in college. While each answer is dependent on individual circumstances, studies show that those who work 15-20 hours per week on campus tend to perform better academically than those who work more than 20 hours or do not work at all. Working more than 20 can not only be detrimental to academic performance, it may also delay graduation and limit coursework and classes. Adjusted for a quarter system, that’s approximately 10-14 hours per week of work (taking into account that UC Davis follows the Carnegie rule that students are expected to complete an average of three total hours of work per week (including in-class and out-of-class time) for each course unit). So, a student working 14 hours per week while taking a 15 unit courseload will ideally dedicate 59 hours to classes (15 hours), study/homework (30 hours) and a part-time job (14 hours). Students at UC Davis can work a maximum of 19.5 hours per week during the quarter and 40 hours during breaks (summer, winter, spring). 

Find Part-Time Jobs

Searching and applying for part-time jobs starts with some basic strategies including online job boards, targeting specific employers, networking, and more. In addition, consider the strategies below:

When applying to part-time jobs, it is important to understand what employers seek: the knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), and any requirements needed to perform stated job functions. It’s also important to ascertain if they are willing to train for the position or if a successful candidate must have those skills before applying. Vacancy listings can provide some or all of this information. Describe all necessary skills that you possess on your resume and discuss appropriately in your cover letter.

There are also other ways to find part-time jobs and possibly glean this information. Contact individuals in your professional network to find out if anyone knows about part-time positions that fit you and your needs. Your network consists of UC Davis professors and staff, friends, family, colleagues from former jobs, and more. Even if networking doesn’t yield any leads, your contacts may know others at companies or on organizations that are looking for part-time staff.

Another way is to research local organizations and make a list of employers who are hiring. You can find part-time listings in places like online job and student boards. As you read through listings, write down your favorites, then research job functions and company culture to see if they match you and your values. If, for example, you prefer to work in a more relaxed and laid-back environment, check the company's website and employer reviews in LinkedIn or other sources to see if the organization seems casual enough for you.

You can also visit local businesses and ask about vacancies they may have. Be advised that if you make an in-person visit, and you engage with someone at that organization, you are being interviewed. Any interaction with a potential employer should be considered as part of the interview process.

Before applying to any job, have your materials reviewed by the Career Center. It’s always good to have us look at your materials because we can help in so many different ways.

Types of jobs to consider:

  • Food service
    • Restaurant server/host
    • Barista
    • Bartender
  • Retail and marketing
    • Working for a retail outlet
    • Taking on roles as brand managers
  • Freelancing (vehicle required for some)
    • Tutor
    • Rideshare driver
    • Food delivery
    • Pet sitter/walker
  • On-campus jobs