As a university student, working on-campus can be a super fun and rewarding experience. You get to hang out with your peers, you get to learn on the job, and best of all, many positions don’t require no prior experience. Having worked in many different on-campus roles, I have compiled the cheat code to help you figure out what your on-campus role could be your best fit.
The Ambassador – If you love meeting and helping people
If you consider yourself a chatty, open, and helpful person, a position with the Student Experience Office (SEO) or Recreation might be the best for you!
If you think you are a certified gym bro, consider working with Recreation. You will get to interact with tons of different people throughout the day who share your passion for movement.
If you aren’t a gym bro but still love helping people, the SEO has a ton of positions available. A Student Connector role would be a great fit; they help connect students with different campus resources and opportunities. You can also look into the SEO Student Coordinator roles, which are tied to specific SEO programs. Whether it be the Tuum Est Initiative Fund program, the Pride program, or the Black Student Success program, you are bound to find your niche and help others like yourself excel in their UBCO journey.
The Supporter – If you are more on the chill side
If you consider yourself more easy-going and low-key but still love meeting and helping people, a position as a Collegia Assistant or a role in the Student Learning Hub as a Subject Tutor or Supplemental Learning Leader might be great. Both these roles entail meeting and engaging with students, but you also get to sit at a desk and be friendly from a distance, which is a great bonus for introverts like me.
That does not mean you do not get to be creative, though. As part of the Collegia Assistant role you also get to run fun events and activities for the students in the space. During my time as a Collegia Assistant, I loved being able to have some quiet time and build community, truly the best of both worlds!
The Imagineer – If you love being creative
If you are a true creative, full of ideas that keep bursting out, a creative role like the Student Content & Community Builder with @ubcostudents or Videographer with UBCO Heat might be the best fit for you. Positions like these allow you to build community and explore your craft in fun, creative, and very fulfilling ways.
The Student Content Creator role has been one of the most fun jobs I have had so far. I love the opportunity to connect with fellow students, to make them laugh and share their stories through social media. It allowed me to have fun while also building a creative portfolio. Plus, the hours are flexible, which is a cool bonus if you are like me, and inspiration strikes you at all odd hours of the day.
The Leader – If you love planning and being on your feet
If you consider yourself open and inviting person, and love problem-solving, the Orientation Team roles might be a perfect fit for you. Whether you choose to be an Orientation Leader, on the Event Planning crew, or a Transition Specialist, you will have a very rewarding time helping new students as they navigate their first year in university. You get to be helpful, supportive, creative, and meet some amazing people over the summer before school starts.
I loved my experience at orientation, and it made me want to return as an Orientation Leader. Even though it was busy, it was very fulfilling and rewarding watching the students settle in as the school year progressed. I loved meeting new people from diverse backgrounds, watching them become friends, and helping them take baby steps into such a major journey of their lives.
Ultimately, the student role you pick is entirely up to you, but each role offers something for everyone. If you feel like you will not fit it, just remember these are jobs specifically for students; you will receive training and your supervisor understands your academic commitments. Do not self-reject and be open to trying new things. On-campus jobs are a fantastic way to get a taste of a real workplace with all the comforts of being a student. So, hop on the Student Job Board—it keeps getting updated with new jobs frequently. You are bound to find something that fits!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sanaa Shaikh is a third-year international student from India. She is studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics with a minor in Spanish. Sanaa loves spontaneous trips, petting small animals, and starting new projects that she’ll never finish. Her favourite thing to do in Kelowna is getting ice cream downtown and chilling by the marina.
