My kids both worked. We asked them not to work their first term as freshmen. Both found jobs that were excellent, and fit in their schedules nicely…so they worked.
There was nothing counterproductive at all about them working. Each had good job experience to put on their resumes (both worked the same job for 3 1/2 years), and had excellent job references as well.
Oh…and they had spending money too…which they earned and could spend as they pleased.