Earning a master’s degree is a fantastic way to expand your horizons professionally, but it can be time-consuming. Many students struggle to keep up with intensive, graduate-level coursework while holding down a full-time position. In some cases, it may not be feasible for you to give enough time to both your career and studies. When that happens, you may feel torn between earning your degree or foregoing it to work instead. Rather than picking one over the other, you may consider getting a part-time job while you study.
Working part-time during a graduate program gives you a steady source of income without compromising your education. After all, for such a major financial investment, you deserve to get the most out of the program as you possibly can. Working part-time can also help offset some of the debts you’ll incur as you pursue your degree. In addition to contributing a bit of your income toward supplies and tuition, you may also look into taking out a student loan from a private lender. This can give you fewer debt worries and a greater sense of control over your finances. As you look ahead at your potential work opportunities, here are the best part-time jobs for graduate students.
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Content Writer
Writing articles for companies to boost brand loyalty and visibility is a flexible career. As a student, you’re likely to have excellent writing skills, so why not monetize them? Content writers can be independent contractors, offering their services on freelance job sites. Or they can work for a specific company to produce web content, advertising materials and social media posts. The opportunities are vast, and you can even look for writing gigs in your field of study to apply your knowledge. Expert writers also tend to fetch higher pay per piece.
Research Assistant
If you’ll be on campus anyway, working part-time as a research assistant can be a useful way to apply your existing knowledge. From supervising undergraduates to preparing studies for publication, you’ll have plenty of work to do that ties in nicely with your coursework. It can also be a great way to network and find a mentor in your field.
Tutor
Tutoring students in high school and college will allow you to earn a flexible income while honing your own knowledge. Tutors for most online sites must hold at least a bachelors. In addition to finding tutoring jobs online, you can also see if your school offers any peer mentoring or tutoring jobs. The pay can typically range from $15 to over $30 an hour, and the hours range from 10 to 30 hours per week. One of the best ways to master any subject is to teach it to others, so this job benefits you as much as your students. For someone who aspires to work in education, experience as a tutor can also help strengthen your resume.
Campus-based Jobs
Entry-level careers might be harder to hold down while in school, but you should always be able to find positions available on campus. Work-study programs allow you to contribute a portion of your income toward tuition, lowering your overall cost and resulting in less student debt upon graduation. You could work in admissions, serve as a teaching assistant or even get free meals by helping out in the dining hall. Working on campus also reduces your commute time, which can drastically lower stress. Between work and class, you’ll be able to spend your breaks more efficiently and save on transportation costs.
Dog Walker
If you live in the right area, being a dog walker allows you to get exercise and earn some cash all while spending your afternoons with adorable pooches. Dog walkers can also double as pet sitters, checking in homes while owners are away to refill food and water bowls, offer some playtime and do general housekeeping for the pet. You could even take this a step further and offer ideas to plan a healthy diet for dogs, make and sell healthy treats for these pets, or help with pet parties or photoshoots. For someone who wants to set their own hours or only pick up work when they’re available, dog walking is a great gig. You might even realize that it’s therapeutic for you, too, and decide to pull a few hours even after you’ve graduated and moved into your field.