STORY BY HALLIE O’NEIL
Drake is home to some great and not so great work-study jobs. Many students prefer this type of program to a regular job, as most work-studies allow you to pick up just a few hours each week. Nearly all work-study jobs are easily accessible due to their on-campus locations.
It’s no surprise that many students at Drake choose to participate in this program. The hardest part, however, is finding the best one for you.
First things first: the infamous food services job. I’ve heard many things about this work-study program. It gets pretty hot when constantly hovering over steaming food, and the hours aren’t the greatest: one sophomore worked most Friday nights and weekends during her first year at Drake, and she missed out on Painted Street because she was working.
But there are perks to this job that many seem to overlook: not only do you get free meals after your shift, but you get to work with wonderful coworkers who are always willing to help.
Next is the Phonathon, nicknamed the “student alumni-calling center.” It’s actually one of the highest-paying jobs on campus. You start your first month making $7.25 an hour, but after that, it bumps up to $8.25. For every consecutive semester you stay at the job, your pay increases by $0.25.
Junior Jared Freemon enjoys it so much that he’s starting his fifth semester at Phonathon. Current employees agree that once you get used to the script, talking to Drake’s alumni is very enjoyable.
“It looks great on a resumé,” junior Derek Nystrom said.
You learn more about Drake’s history, and you can even work on homework on slower nights. Unfortunately, encountering rude people on the other line is inevitable, so it isn’t for the weak.
Each student is expected to work three 3.5-hour shifts each week, including one every Sunday. For some, this isn’t an issue, but if you already have a busy schedule, this may not be the work-study for you.
If you like athletics, you could try out Underground or the Knapp Center. The hours are fairly minimal, so this one is great for students with busier schedules.
First-year student Leah Blader works about five hours each week, and she likes working at the tennis center because she is able to do homework when she isn’t checking people in.
At Olmsted, employees are required to sit in a chair, simply track which machines students use, make sure no one gets hurt and clean equipment as needed. It’s a little on the boring side, but anyone can do it!
Like the Phonathon, students accumulate a higher hourly wage with each semester they stay.
One of the best work-studies on campus is at the library.
The hours are flexible: some employees work 20 hours a week, some work only one hour. Duties include stocking shelves and checking out books. You can work on homework when it gets slow — and it’s a quiet and relaxing environment to do so.
Library workers earn minimum wage, but there are advancement opportunities after two semesters of work. The only downside may be the closing shift at 1 a.m., but again, since the schedule is self-appointed, you may not even need to work that shift.
Of course, these aren’t the only work studies offered on Drake’s campus—for example, residence hall front desks or Drake catering services also draw students. Hopefully this scratches the surface just enough to entice those looking for a way to make some money this year.
