Billy Ferguson/Fourth Estate
Find work that works for you
BY: SHYLOH-SYMONE BAILEY, STAFF WRITER
Let’s be honest: Time is money.
As college students, it’s highly probable that both are very limited assets in our lives. In 2015, a study from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce reported that more than 70 percent of college students are working while completing their degree.
Properly managing your time and money is essential to future success. The problem lies in finding employers that are sensitive to the demands of college coursework.
Many companies need workers that are always able to come in, but for students flexibility is key. Fortunately, there are many emerging companies that are catering to this need. The art of the side hustle is in full effect in the modern world.
Freelancing can go a long way. Apps like Shipt and Instacart allow you to shop and deliver groceries to customers in your area. They serve as an opportunity to help other people in your community that are unable to make it out to the grocery store.
I will never forget one of my first orders with Shipt. I delivered to a mom who was pregnant and raising a two-year-old. She thanked me for simply picking up a few things from Target so she could stay home and get dinner started. It’s a win-win situation. There is also an option for customers to tip you in addition to your pay.
If you don’t have the wheels to become Northern Virginia’s personal shopper, that is very much understandable. Companies like Snag Work offer employment to the D.C. Metro area.
The beauty of Snag Work rests in the fact that you can pick up shifts with various companies (within a 50 mile radius) whenever you have time. Simply clicking “Claim Shift” on the app will get you into your next shift at places like Five Guys, CAVA or &Pizza.
There is often a brief training required to ensure safety and efficiency. It’s similar to a temp agency in many aspects. Workers choose when they can work, and there is no consequence if you can’t pick up a shift on any given day.
If you don’t like a particular job, no one forces you to go back, but at least you gained experience and learned your limits. What’s important to freelance companies is that you are flexible and ready to meet the needs of whatever company or customer you work with.
Even if freelance jobs are outside of your major, it’s important to get into the workforce and network with other people who have a stake in your community. These are people that can vouch for you and your work ethic in the future — regardless of industry.
Companies like Lyft, Postmates and Grubhub are just the beginning of what is to come for workers who are in need of flexibility. There are several options.
If you need help with your next job or career move, make an appointment with a career advisor, located in Career Services within SUB I.
