8/10/25

Finding Your Footing: A Wellesley Student's Guide to Part-Time Jobs

Hey everyone! So you're at Wellesley, one of the most incredible & academically challenging places on the planet. You're probably loving the intellectual deep dives, the beautiful campus, & the lifelong friendships you're already building. But let's be real, college is expensive, & having some extra cash in your pocket for late-night pizza runs, trips into Boston, or just to ease the financial load is a GAME CHANGER.
I've been there, scrolling through job postings wondering how on earth I could fit a job into my already packed schedule of classes, orgs, & trying to have some semblance of a social life. It can feel like a lot. But honestly, working part-time during your Wellesley years is not only possible, it's a super common part of the student experience here.
Turns out, there are a TON of opportunities both on & off campus that are surprisingly flexible & designed with students in mind. This guide is basically everything I've learned about finding a part-time gig that works for you, from someone who's been in the trenches.

The On-Campus Hustle: Working Where You Live

Let's start with the most convenient option: on-campus jobs. The beauty of these is that your commute is literally a walk across campus, & your employers totally get that you're a student first. They understand midterms, finals, & the general chaos of college life.

Where to Look & How to Apply

The go-to platform for all things on-campus employment is Workday. This is where the college posts official student job openings. My advice? Get familiar with it EARLY. If you have a work-study award in your financial aid package, you'll get a head start & can see job postings a few weeks before the general student population. I remember logging on in August before my first year & feeling a bit overwhelmed, but you get the hang of it quickly.
The application process is pretty standard, but don't take it lightly just because it's an on-campus job. Most positions will require a resume & a cover letter. And here's a pro-tip: read the job descriptions CAREFULLY. Some might have role-specific questions or ask for a writing sample, especially for jobs like the one I have writing for the admissions blog!
After you apply, you might get an email for an interview, or you might just... not hear back. It's tough, but that's part of any job search. Don't get discouraged! I got plenty of rejections before I landed my first gig. Once you get that offer (I literally did a happy dance in my dorm room), you'll go through a quick onboarding process with HR to get your paperwork sorted, & then you're good to go.

What Kind of Jobs Can You Get?

The variety of on-campus jobs is pretty cool. You're not just shelving books (though you can totally do that if it's your vibe!). Here are some of the most common types of positions:
  • Administrative & Office Assistants: Almost every academic department & administrative office on campus hires students to help with answering phones, filing, data entry, & other essential tasks. These are great for building professional skills.
  • Library & Service Desk Staff: Working at the main desk in Clapp Library, the mail center, or the Keohane Sports Center (KSC) is a classic student job. They're often quiet enough that you can get some reading done during downtime.
  • Research Assistants: This is a BIG one at Wellesley. Our faculty receive more research funding than professors at many other liberal arts colleges, & they rely on students as key contributors. You can find opportunities in pretty much any field, from the sciences at the Wellesley Centers for Women to the social sciences. Keep an eye on departmental websites & don't be afraid to reach out to professors whose work you find interesting.
  • Academic Success Coaches (ASCs): If you're a great student & want to help others, becoming an ASC is an amazing role. You live in the residence halls & are trained to help your peers with time management & study strategies.
  • Social Media Coordinators: Departments are always looking for students to run their Instagram, Facebook, or other social media accounts. If you're creative & social media savvy, this is a fun one.
  • Event Staff & Greeters: You can often find one-time gigs, like working as a greeter for Friends & Family Weekend. These are perfect if you can't commit to a regular weekly schedule.
  • Other Cool Gigs: Think admissions bloggers, tour guides, tutors, & even assistant coaches for varsity sports teams.
The key is to start looking early, tailor your application materials, & be persistent.

Venturing Off-Campus: The World Beyond the Gates

While on-campus jobs are super convenient, sometimes you want to get out of the "Wellesley bubble." Or maybe you're looking for a specific type of experience you can't find on campus. The good news is, the town of Wellesley & the surrounding areas have a lot to offer.

Finding Your Off-Campus Gig

Wellesley's Career Education office is your best friend here. Their primary platform for posting off-campus opportunities is Handshake. Local businesses & companies who want to hire Wellesley students post their part-time jobs & internships here. Career Education used to post opportunities for things like babysitting or tutoring directly, but they've shifted to having companies post on Handshake, while a Google Group exists for faculty & staff to post babysitting jobs for the Wellesley community.
You can also find listings on general job boards like Uloop, ZipRecruiter, & Jooble, which often have filters for student-friendly jobs in the Wellesley area. These sites list everything from retail & restaurant jobs to tutoring, nanny positions, & brand ambassador roles.

What's Out There?

  • The "Vil": The town of Wellesley, affectionately known as "the Vil," is a short walk from campus & is full of cafes, restaurants, & boutiques that often hire students.
  • Tutoring & Childcare: These have always been popular jobs for Wellesley students. The pay can be really good, & the hours are often flexible.
  • Retail & Food Service: The Natick Mall & the shops in surrounding towns are always looking for part-time help.
  • Brand Ambassadors & Remote Gigs: There's a growing number of companies looking for college students to be brand ambassadors on campus. These roles often involve social media promotion & hosting events. You can also find remote work, like content creation for platforms like CampusReel or online tutoring. This offers MAXIMUM flexibility.
  • Internships: Don't forget about part-time internships! Many local companies offer internships during the academic year, which is a fantastic way to get professional experience (and get paid).

The Commuting Question: How to Get There

This is a big one. If you don't have a car on campus, how do you get to an off-campus job? Honestly, Wellesley has this pretty well figured out.
  • The Shuttle System: The college runs an amazing shuttle service. The MIT Exchange Bus is free on weekdays & can get you to Cambridge/Boston. The Senate Bus runs on Friday nights & weekends for a small fee ($3 last I checked). There are also shuttles to the other colleges in the Babson-Olin-Wellesley collaboration & a shuttle that goes to the Natick Mall & Framingham. These are your lifelines.
  • Public Transit: The MBTA Commuter Rail has a stop right in Wellesley Square. For about $8, you can get to South Station in Boston, where you can connect to the subway (the "T"). The local area is also served by the MWRTA bus system.
  • Zipcar: If you're over 21, you can become a Zipcar member & rent one of the cars parked right on campus by the hour or day. Gas & insurance are included! It's a pretty cool legacy, too—Zipcar was co-founded by a Wellesley alum, Robin Chase '80.
So, getting to an off-campus job is totally doable. But what about getting parking for your own car if you decide to drive to campus for classes or work? For students who live off-campus or need a car for their job, finding reliable & affordable parking can be a real headache. That's where a service like Prked comes in. It's a pretty neat solution that connects people who need parking with homeowners who have extra space in their driveways or garages. Instead of circling for an expensive spot, you could rent a private spot from a local resident. It's a smart way to solve the parking puzzle without the stress.
And for those of you who find yourselves accumulating more stuff than your dorm room can handle (hello, winter clothes & sports equipment), that extra garage space can be a lifesaver. Speaking of storage...

A Quick Detour: The Storage Dilemma

This isn't exactly a "job," but it's related to the whole "space & money" thing. Dorm rooms are small. If you're coming from far away, moving all your stuff in & out every year is a pain. Or maybe you just have too many sweaters (guilty). Before you shell out for a pricey commercial storage unit, think about local solutions. This is another area where a peer-to-peer platform like Prked can be super helpful. You can find people in the Wellesley area who are renting out their empty garage, basement, or even a large closet for storage. It's often cheaper, more convenient, & you're helping out a local resident. A total win-win.

The Balancing Act: How to Work & Still Crush Your Academics

Okay, so you've landed a job. Awesome! Now... how do you do it all? Wellesley is no joke academically. The pressure is real. Finding a balance between work, studies, & your well-being is absolutely crucial. Here are some tips that have genuinely helped me & my friends survive & thrive:
  • Become a Master of Your Calendar: A Wellesley student I know swears by her Google Calendar. She looks at her week in advance & blocks out everything: classes, work shifts, study time, meals, & social events. Seeing those empty blocks of time helps you be intentional about how you use them.
  • Chunk Your Weekends: Another amazing tip I learned from an Academic Success Coach is to think of your weekend in five chunks: Friday night, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning, & Sunday afternoon. Dedicate two or three of those chunks to pure relaxation & fun—no guilt allowed. The other chunks are for focused, productive work. This prevents burnout & ensures you actually get a break.
  • Embrace the Pomodoro Technique: This is a classic for a reason. Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat. It sounds simple, but it's incredibly effective for breaking up daunting tasks into manageable bites. During your 5-minute break, actually step away from your screen. Stretch, get some water, or just stare out the window.
  • Use Your In-Between Time: Those weird 45-minute gaps between classes? Use them! Instead of just scrolling through TikTok, knock out some reading or review your notes. It's amazing how much you can get done in those small pockets of time.
  • Know Your Limits & Learn to Say No: It can be tempting to pick up every extra shift offered, especially when you want the money. But you have to be realistic. Your primary goal is your education. It is PERFECTLY okay to say no to extra hours when you have a big paper due or need to study for an exam. Your mental & physical health comes first.
  • Utilize College Resources: Wellesley has so many support systems in place. Talk to your professors. Go to the Pforzheimer Learning & Teaching Center (PLTC) for peer tutoring. Meet with your class dean or an Academic Success Coach. These resources are there for YOU. Use them!
Finding a part-time job as a Wellesley student is more than just earning money. It's about gaining real-world experience, developing incredible time management skills, & becoming part of a new community, whether it's on campus or off. It might seem like a lot to add to your plate, but with the right strategies & resources, you can totally make it work.
Hope this was helpful! Good luck with the job hunt—you've got this. Let me know what you think or if you have any other tips
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