There is a constant debate among college students on the question, “Should I work while I go to school?” While the best answer to this question falls with each individual student, recent data shows employers prefer students to work or complete internships while they are attending college.
“Internships provide a vital community service element by supporting the education goals of our students and Gulf Coast State College.” said Kim Hoyt, Coordinator of Cooperative Education at Gulf Coast State College. “Our employer partners contribute workplace expertise that enhances our student’s academic knowledge process by providing valuable career-related experience enabling students to acquire skills and self-confidence, clarify their career goals, and build a network of contacts.”
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook 2015 Report, 72.5 percent of employers prefer to hire candidates with relevant work experience while 60 percent of employers prefer internships/co-ops as a means to gaining work experience.
“A major benefit to a student whether they work on-campus or off-campus while enrolled in college is that employment can help them become a better student and get a jump on his/her career track by enabling them to gain fundamental workforce skills like problem-solving skills like problem-solving and communication, which in turn can help them in their college courses as well,” said Hoyt.
According to officials with Gulf Coast State College, participating in internships will allow students to gain practical work experience, habits and skills which could open the door to a potential job offer in the future. Participants will find that they are able to take what they learned in the classroom and use it to explore prospective career paths while earning additional college credit. For students who choose to work off-campus, retail and fast-food jobs tend to offer students a more flexible work schedule than other employers. A lot of students like to work on campus as a student assistant and through work study programs because of the convenience of not having to travel to and from work and class, and due to the flexibility in schedules.
Another question students who are considering employment ask is, “How much should I work?” While it is important to have a job so bills can be paid, Hoyt advised against working too much. “Today, most students have to maintain some type of employment while attending college. However, keeping their work schedule to no more than 30-40 hours a week should realistically allow them adequate time to achieve their academic goals and earn a degree which is a smart investment in their future.”
Students can also earn elective academic credit while they are working by enrolling in a Co-op course. Co-op is an elective course in which a student can earn one to six hours of elective academic credit for work experience via employment, an internship or volunteering during the semester(s) the student is enrolled in Co-op. Students and their employer/supervisor complete a learning agreement containing learning objectives the student should meet or progress towards during their internship or other work experience. Internships can be paid or unpaid work opportunities and look great on a student’s resume!
Gulf Coast State College students wishing to participate in co-op opportunities should contact Kim Hoyt at 850.872.3874 or at khoyt@gulfcoast.edu.
College leaders are also reopening a Career Development Center on campus in the Welcome Center. This department provides Gulf Coast State College students who are in search and preparation for meaningful employment. They assist students from their first day in college via career assessments and workshops through graduation by helping them obtain employment in their degree field. Currently, two employees, Nikki Jackson and Carl Dixon, are working in the department. They encourage walk-ins and phone calls from students interested in employment. Nikki can be reached at (850) 769-1551 ext. 3339 or at sjackson1@gulfcoast.edu. Carol may be reached at (850) 769-1551 ext. 3835 or at cdixon@gulfcoast.edu.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Taylor Smith
Student - Spring 2017
Taylor Smith is in his last semester of the Digital Media Program at Gulf Coast State College. In May, he will graduate with his Bachelors of Applied Science in Digital Media and plans to start his Masters in October. He currently serves as the Vice President of Communications at the Bay County Chamber of Commerce and is involved with many facets of the community.
