College comes with expenses. Not just the tuition and board, but also the daily necessities. Because of this, most college students end up taking a job at least at some point in their college careers. Whether it be for income or the experience, if you’re in college, you’re probably going to get a job.

Every college has available on jobs on or near campus. Some will be available through work-study, and others will be open-market. While colleges usually try to make it easier for students to get jobs, it’s still a competitive environment that runs on first-come, first-served. And for those who worked minimum wage jobs in high-school, it’s a tradition to jobs that usually require more responsibilities.

If you’re new to finding a job, here’s a few tips:

Apply to as many places as you can

• Unless you have guaranteed spot on a job, you’ll need to keep your options open. You can always turn down a position if you get more than one, but remember to get at least one in the first place.

It’s not about “what” you know. It’s about “who” you know.

• If you want a job in the library, find any excuse you can to talk the head librarian. Want to work for IT? Visit the IT office and talk to people. Want to work as a lab assistant? Find some science professors and talk to them. As long as they like what they see, you’ve got your foot in the door.

Dress smart when being interviewed job

• Business casual is the dress code for a traditional job interview. If you’re squeezing in the interview between classes and don’t have time to change, don’t panic. Just wear something nicer than jeans and a t-shirt to make a good first impression.

If you’ve had a job before, here’s some differences you’ll want to note:

Job consistency

• While jobs in college are “seasonal”, they tend to keep their employees. Unless you burn down the building or lose some master keys, you should be able roll over most jobs you get in college for several semesters.

Opportunities

• Work on a college campus usually leads to you talking to people in higher places, or those who are used to dealing with people with high potential. If you nail a job that relates to the industry you want to work in, do well, and you’ll have an excellent recommendation in life.

Getting a job is almost a staple for your college career. You’ll get some cash. You’ll get some experience. And you may make some connection that will make your post-college climb a lot easier. Happy Hunting!