Balancing Act: Is Waiting Tables a Good Job for College Students? Weighing the Benefits and Drawbacks
For many college students, the pursuit of higher education is intertwined with the necessity of earning an income. The facts about working adults show that 64% of college students work, and 40% work full time. In fact, about 40 percent of undergraduates work at least 30 hours a week. As the cost of higher education has grown, so has the number of students who earn their own income to pay for tuition, fees and related expenses. A fall 2023 survey from Trellis Strategies found 68 percent of students were working for pay while enrolled, and 41 percent of working students worked 40 or more hours in a typical week. Waiting tables has long been a go-to job for college students. But is it really a good option? This article explores the benefits and drawbacks of waiting tables for college students, considering factors like financial independence, academic performance, skill development, and overall well-being.
The Financial Imperative
One of the most obvious reasons college students seek employment is financial need. 49% of college students are financially independent from their parents. Many adult learners can’t afford hot meals or shelter. If they’re parents, they can’t afford child care. Three out of five college students say they lack the necessities of life, with students of color disproportionately affected. Earning your own spending money during college will definitely come in handy. A part-time job won’t pay enough to live on once you graduate and enter the real world, but for now it can help you pay for books, food, gas and occasional splurges. Waiting tables offers the potential for earning tips on top of a regular paycheck can be appealing. For nontraditional students, working may be more of a necessity. “Non-traditional students are often already employed when starting college or are returning back to school after stopping for a number of years. Another perk of working while in college is the ability to chip away at tuition bills and student loans as you go.
The Impact on Academics
While working can ease financial burdens, it's crucial to consider the potential impact on academic performance. Working more than 20 hours per week negatively affects academic performance. Prior research finds there are benefits for students who work while enrolled in college, but that educational outcomes (including grades, credits earned, persistence, stopping out and dropping out) suffer among students who work over 20 hours a week and are even more severe for students working 28-plus hours a week. A study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that students who worked more than 20 hours per week were 2.5 times more likely to drop out of school than those who did not work. Students who worked part time were 1.7 times more likely to drop out than their full-time counterparts (full-time being defined as working 30 hours or more per week). A potential downfall of working while in college is stretching yourself too thin - in some cases at the cost of your grades. Students need to prioritize and efficiently manage their time so that their grades aren’t negatively affected by work.
Building Essential Skills
Beyond the paycheck, waiting tables can provide valuable life and career skills. No matter the industry you hope to work in after college, working while in college can strengthen one important soft skill that will help you as you progress through your career: time management. “Working while in college teaches you how to prioritize your time,” iterates content associate, Andrew Rombach. “If you have to work part-time on top of managing a semester’s course load, it’s an absolute necessity to manage your time effectively. Even if you don’t gain work experience in the career field you plan on entering after graduation, you never know who you might meet. Working while in school gave me the hands-on experience I used to get my first real job, far ahead of other college graduates with only classroom learning. There’s no substitute for experience,” says CMO of Community Health Charities, Amanda J. Whether or not the job is directly related to their major or desired career path, just about any job can provide students with transferable skills. Working somewhere gives you a first-hand look at how things run. You will also be able to observe different managers and their actions / reactions to employees and customers. Working shows prospective employers that you’re dedicated and responsible.
The Time Crunch and Social Life
College is a busy time in anyone’s life, but adding work into the mix can fill up your schedule even faster. The No. 1 stressor for college students was balancing academics with other responsibilities, followed by paying for college. Among respondents who work over 30 hours a week, 59 percent said balancing academics with personal, family or financial responsibilities was a top stressor. “You may find that your social life suffers. Your work life and school life take up a lot of time. It’s not all bad, though. Being devoted to your studies and work help to keep you free from other distractions.
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Institutional Support for Working Students
As more and more students work while in college, it’s becoming a necessity for institutions to find ways to support them. Students who work while in college may need more resources along their educational journey, such as IT support for technical issues while learning remotely. They may also need advisement support to ensure they’re scheduling themselves efficiently and academic support if they’ve been out of school for a while, he adds. Colleges can gather information about students’ work situations and the socioeconomics of their students to share with the wider campus, helping paint an accurate picture of who is enrolled and what difficulties they may be facing. Career centers can also play a role in supporting students who are working, sharing during orientation the benefits or pitfalls of working while studying or highlighting jobs with student-friendly employers in the area. Within classes, faculty could also collect data among their students about how personal circumstances may impact their learning. Providing students with flexible attendance policies or deadlines can accommodate students who must also prioritize work. Colleges and universities should consider ways to listen to and elevate the voices of working students to better support them. One way institutions are already supporting working students is through online education.
Alternative Job Options for College Students
Waiting tables isn't the only option for college students seeking employment. Social media and other digital channels open up a world of opportunities to make money remotely, from your own electronic device.
- Freelance Writing/Blogging: Businesses that understand the importance of digital content don’t always have the in-house capacity to write and post blogs as often as they’d like. They hire people to do that.
- Social Media Ambassador: If you have a strong social media presence, you may want to consider reaching out to some of your favorite brands to ask if they are in the market for an ambassador.
- Social Media Manager: Companies have come to terms with the reality that social media is here to stay. They know they need a social presence, but they may not have the right kind of experts on staff.
- Virtual Assistant: Put your computer skills to work by supporting professionals with remote administrative services.
- Dog Walker/Pet Sitter: Love animals? People who need to leave their dogs at home while they work often need someone to take them for walks during the day.
- Fitness Instructor/Personal Trainer: If you enjoy spending your free time at the gym, why not make some money while you’re there?
- House Cleaner: You can get a pretty good workout cleaning homes, offices, schools or other facilities.
- Lifeguard: Fitness, stamina, outstanding swimming skills and a strong sense of responsibility are required to become a lifeguard.
- Warehouse Worker: The rise of e-commerce has warehouses jumping day and night - and weekends!
- Barista: There’s no more iconic duo than college students and coffee.
- Babysitter/Nanny: If you have experience taking care of little ones, babysitting could be an ideal job for you.
- Retail Sales Associate: One of the great things about a job in a retail store is that their peak seasons tend to be when school is out of session, so you may be able to schedule more hours then.
- Summer Camp Counselor: As a summer camp counselor, you can get paid to engage in fun outdoor activities as you supervise kids or teens.
- Painter: You need painting experience, and ideally some referrals, to land projects painting people’s homes, but some painting crews will hire and train college students.
- Landscaper: Landscaping can be hard work. It may include mowing lawns, planting trees and shrubs, cleaning up debris, pulling weeds and a variety of other activities focused on property beautification.
- Parking Attendant: If you have a driver’s license, impeccable driving skills and a friendly demeanor, you might make an excellent parking attendant.
- Office Assistant/Clerk: Whether you’re considering a business career or you just like the structure of an office job, you have many job options.
- Intern: An internship can be a great way to build your professional skill set and find out more about career options in your field of interest.
- Call Center Representative: Some companies will pay you to talk on the phone.
- Receptionist: Hotels, gyms, salons and other businesses often need someone to greet and interact with clients.
- Rideshare/Delivery Driver: These jobs are in consistently high demand in college towns, where not everyone has a car or regular access to public transportation.
- Freelance Designer/Writer: Creativity can open a lot of doors to income.
- Tutor: If there’s a subject you excel in, say chemistry or a foreign language, consider helping other students improve their grades in that area of study.
- On-Demand Worker: On-demand assignments offer the ultimate in schedule flexibility.
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