Grad school is when you hone in your skills and truly pinpoint your career goals. It doesn’t, however, have to be a debilitating period of money-sucking horror.
If you’re feeling the monetary burden of your graduate education, have no fear. Here are a few ideas for getting a job that will not only supplement your education, but may boost your resume along the way.
1. Become a writing tutor
Most universities seek out writing tutors who can help both undergraduate and graduate students navigate their essays with ease.
In some cases, this job will give you the flexibility to set your own schedule, which is ideal when you’re juggling increased responsibilities compared to your undergrad years.
Sydney Post, a former grad student at Emerson College, found the role of writing tutor to be the best fit for her, continuing a similar job she had in undergrad. She says, “I wasn’t interested in taking a role quite as involved as TA’ing, but I still liked working with students in a one-on-one environment. The job also definitely gave me a better sense of the college—which can be hard when you’re a grad student who lives off campus.”
The process to become a writing tutor varies from school to school, so check with your college's writing center to learn about the requirements necessary for the role.
2. Become a TA
One of the more popular job options for grad students is becoming a teacher’s assistant in the area of your choice. Whether or not you’re looking into teaching post-college, this is a great opportunity to learn from a professor and delve into a subject.
Additionally, you’ll be able to gain valuable experience in a leadership role, overseeing students’ papers and tests and even leading discussion sections for a lecture class. There is no question that this type of job will appear strong on a resume and act as a great talking point in an interview.
Medical student Diana Liu, who previously taught high school English, became a TA because she missed teaching. She says, "Some benefits of being a TA include reinforcing recently acquired knowledge and working with a fantastic group of people who are as passionate about the learning process as the subject matter."
Related: How To Go To Grad School For Free
3. Conduct research for a professor
Research opportunities can sometimes be hard to find, but are available if you seek them out.
Talk to a favorite former professor or a different professor in your department to see if you can assist them on a project of theirs; oftentimes, they will have paid opportunities that might be time consuming, but are worthwhile in acting as an additional educational resource and enhancing your grad school experience. These types of positions are also listed on your college's on-campus jobs website.
Related: The Perfect On-Campus Job for Your Personality
4. Apply for a co-op or apprenticeship
While pursuing a graduate degree, it's important to gain some real world experience in that field to set yourself up for full-time employment by graduation. Co-ops and apprenticeships are a great opportunity to bring your newfound knowledge from the classroom into the office.
Depending on the school, co-ops and apprenticeships differ from internships in the sense that they often demand more of your time and may replace either a course or an entire semester's worth of classes. The types of experiences for pay will vary, ranging from full-time employment for a corporation to assisting a professor with an intensive research project.
In grad school, it might seem as though you have no time for anything besides schoolwork. However, if job seeking is a priority, there are opportunities at every school to broaden your skill set and build upon what you learn in the classroom.