<p>Hey guys! I'm a freshman that will be starting in about a week, and I'm very excited. I did have a question about part time jobs. I'm wondering if anyone can recommend any good jobs either on or off campus for freshman? </p>
<p>I'm paying almost full tuition and any way to come up with some extra money would help me a lot. I got a summer job this past summer to save money for USC, but even after putting almost all of my paycheck into paying for school it will barely make a dent. </p>
<p>I applied for a couple of library jobs but it seems they all prefer work study, which I don't have. My friend suggested applying for a job at Jack and Joe's restaurant off campus because apparently they make good tips there, which sounds like an awesome job to me but I'm not sure if I could land a job there seeing I have no restaurant experience. Are there any good jobs people can recommend for non work study freshman with little work experience, and that will also allow me to still maintain good grades? Does such a job even exist?</p>
<p>I’d recommend looking for non-work study jobs on campus. Certain positions at SCA hire a few non-work study students, but they usually prefer majors within SCA.</p>
<p>As far as jobs off-campus, I tried really hard to find a job in one of the nearby locations - I applied EVERYWHERE. I have extensive retail and restaurant experience and I didn’t get any calls, so I imagine it’s pretty competitive. Some places also flat out do not hire USC students (maybe because we would monopolize all of the jobs). One of my roommates used to work at the Coffee Bean on Fig & Expo, you can try there. I also know of people who have worked at Yogurtland, Seattle’s Best, and Freebirds. Check out all of the stores near Gateway and Tuscany. </p>
<p>I’m not 100% sure but maybe Ground Zero (milkshake place on campus, google it!) hires non-work study students? I also had a friend who worked at McKay’s (technically off-campus, but USC-owned). Also check the Lyon Center - I’m not 100% sure about this one either, but I think they hire non-work study students as well…</p>
<p>First and foremost, though, maybe try talking to financial aid and ask if you can at least get a little bit of work study. Sometimes a place will hire you as a work study and allow you to stay on even when your work study funding runs out.</p>
<p>Campus Cruiser (the free service that drives students from point to point around campus at night) takes non-work study people too! The hours are pretty flexible, I’ve heard, and the pay is really great! The job isn’t exactly awesome, but it’s one of your best bets. Try Performance Venues too, if you’re into theatre. There’s always SCallers as well… Campus Cruiser and SCallers generally will take you if you don’t have much work experience as long as you’re outgoing enough.</p>
<p>Pretty much all jobs on campus are part time jobs, it’s hard to find anything typical that’s over 20 hours/week.</p>
<p>The bookstore had non-work study jobs available. They were definitely inquiring a few weeks ago, I can’t imagine they have filled all positions before the semester starts.</p>
<p>I would recommend Campus Cruiser, the pay is great and the hours are somewhat flexible. If you need to study, you can easily get someone to cover or swap your shift and they also have positions during the summer (although seniority gets priority).</p>
<p>dreamupsided0wn-Thanks for the detailed list, I will definitely check those places out. That does worry me though that someone with your experience could not get a retail/restaurant job. Ideally I would work somewhere like Yogurtland or Ground Zero and get discounts on froyo/milkshakes, haha. Unfortunately I already sent financial aid a letter asking for work study/aid, and they just told me my only other option was to sign up for a PLUS loan or the USC payment plan, which I do not think are good alternative options. So it looks like I will be frantically applying for jobs the beginning of the semester. And that’s hilarious that some places refuse to hire USC students simply because we’re SO good we might monopolize all the available jobs. </p>
<p>RandomNewGuy- Thanks for advice, I did see something about them needing help during Orientation, so I will probably apply there before school starts.</p>
<p>War Chant- That’s super helpful, I didn’t know they were that flexible with people covering shifts. I’ve heard good things about Campus Cruiser from other people so I’ll definitely send them an application.</p>
<p>DorianOrange - I think the reason they don’t hire a lot of USC students in nearby retail is that it’s usually family-owned and run by members of the family (especially places in the University Village) or because there are a lot of local non-students who have worked there longer and are probably more reliable as long-term hires who don’t need to take off for school breaks.</p>
<p>But yeah, I’ve had managerial experience and a total of five retail/food industry jobs (all for extended periods of time) so I thought it would be easy, but nope. I do know a few people who work at places like Jacks n Joe, Seattle’s Best, and Coffee Bean but the big chains like CVS, Ralph’s, Denny’s, etc never have students working as far as I can see.</p>
<p>Campus Cruiser pays the best of all the campus jobs (I think it’s $12/hr) - just be aware that the job requires late hours and you have to drive (mostly drunk) students up to a couple miles away from campus. I really could not get my significant other to sign off on that.</p>
<p>Language Center in Taper Hall. Always hiring, especially Freshmen. THH 309, ask for Brandy.</p>
<p>what kind of jobs are there in the language center?</p>
<p>The bookstore hires a lot of freshman. It’s a customer service/ retail job depending on the department. I recently quit my job there and am now working in USC SCA student affairs as an office assistant.</p>
<p>For the bookstore, they hire a lot, but the retention rate for males, if you are one, is like average 6-7 months or less depending if u get promoted, which doesn’t happens as often on the 2nd floor where I worked. It pays $8/hr to start and a quarter raise every semester.</p>
<p>Oh! I also believe the ticket office hires non-work study people and their pay is pretty good.</p>
<p>I believe to work for Campus Cruiser your license also must be from the state of California.</p>
<p>Nope, mine is out of state and they said it was completely fine as long as it hasn’t expired or anything like that.</p>