By Rob Owen<\/p>\n
When the bills are piling up and the rent comes due, it\u2019s time to get a job. But what jobs are the best for college students?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt depends on the student\u2019s interests,\u201d said Miriam Ruiz, a career adviser for Daytona State College. \u201cIf they are in the culinary program, they may want to work at restaurants, but at the same time a person going into business would want to work in retail.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some students may not know what they want to do or may just need the money. In that case, \u00a0an occupation in a restaurant may be the best course.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost retail jobs will pay $10 an hour, but as a server in a restaurants, students can make a lot more,\u201d explained Ruiz.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics conducted a study that found the average wage of an employee working in food preparation or a serving-related occupation was about $10, but the study did not calculate wages earned in tips.<\/p>\n
\u201cI make about two hundred a night in tips,\u201d said Robert Garver, a food runner at a local restaurant in Daytona, adding that his average earnings a night range from $150 dollars to $200. \u201cBut now Im trying to become a server, so I can make a lot more doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although a job in the food business can make a student a lot of money, the work is not for everyone. According to Garver, the job requires a lot from people both physically and emotionally. The worker has to have great people skills to deal with unruly patrons, organization and a great memory for orders, and stamina for running around all the time with food in your arms. Getting along with fellow employees is also a required talent and tips are taxed by the IRS.<\/p>\n
For students who might not want to deal with the stress that goes with restaurants, a retail job may be what they are looking for.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a good company to work for. The pay is alright and I get stock options\u2026401K, medical, and dental,\u201d said Marc Peters, a team leader at a big retail store.<\/p>\n
Peters started working for the company in high school, working for minimum wage in one of the its lowest professions. Peters said within four years of working there he had become a team leader making a larger amount of money.<\/p>\n
Ruiz suggests that if a student decides to go into retail, they should look into big retail stores and stick with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cSmall stores won\u2019t have the same ability of growth within a company that a big store does,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The prospect of working for a big retail store is that if a person works there long enough, they will advance just as Peters did. Big retail stores also offer benefits such as stock options, insurance and financial security if the employee works long enough. Some companies may also offer scholarships or tuition reimbursement if the student is going for a four-year degree in a field relevant to the company\u2019s interests. It might even hire them as an executive when the student graduates, giving them a job coming out of college.<\/p>\n
Ruiz advises that once a student finds a store they like, they should stick with the company. This ensures that the student earns the benefits, rises through the ranks and progresses in pay.<\/p>\n
The Bureau of Labor Statistics found the average starting salary for most hourly workers in retail is around $7, \u00a0whereas the average wage for a retail salesperson is $11.86 an hour.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought about changing companies. I was working for around $10 an hour and the other companies wanted to start me at minimum. So I decided to stick with my company,\u201d said Peters.<\/p>\n
Another option is what Ruiz did when she went to college. She was a student worker in the Learning Center for two years when she attended Daytona Beach Community College in 1996<\/p>\n
\u201cI went to school in the morning and work in the afternoon without having to go anywhere,\u201d she recalled. After graduating, Ruiz got a job working for the College thanks to the connections she made as a student worker.. She now is a counselor helping students find jobs. Ruiz also has a student working for her as an assistant.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is learning a lot about the college as a student employee and may want to continue work with us after he graduates.\u201d<\/p>\n
The job possibilities are out there and students have a lot of opportunities to find a good job. If a student is interested in learning about what jobs are out there, the Career Placement Center in Building 100 Room 205, offers help in finding a job and even preparing for interviews.<\/p>\n
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When the bills are piling up and the rent comes due, it\u2019s time to get a job. But what jobs are the best for college students?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt depends on the student\u2019s interests,\u201d said Miriam Ruiz, a career adviser for Daytona State College. \u201cIf they are in the culinary program, they may want to work at restaurants, but at the same time a person going into business would want to work in retail.\u201d Continue reading Career Center offers one-stop shopping for job hunters<\/span>