Sophomore Bella Alvarado was looking for an internship for the summer. She applied to more than 10 before she decided instead to take a job as a babysitter.
She said she “kind of got ghosted” from the internships she applied for, then “freaked out and tried to find a service job.”
For some students, finding employment is not a simple task, but for others, work has become a space and time to further their aspirations.
Alvarado found her job as a babysitter for a family in Brookline after joining a Facebook group for nannies and parents to connect. She got the job within 48 hours of contacting the family.
Compared to her previous job as a barista at Thinking Cup on Newbury Street, her new employers are more transparent about payment.
“I just had to guess when I would receive a paycheck because I was dependent on tips,” she said. “That pay would fluctuate a lot throughout the year.”
BU also offers on-campus jobs for students to help support them financially.
In one of BU’s student work opportunities, qualifying students can apply for a Federal Work-Study grant for on- and off-campus employment. The program includes more than 2,500 students, according to the Student Employment Office.
Undergraduate students can also participate in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, which offers funding for student research.
“They get to learn a lot of things, such as designing flyers [and] answering emails and inquiries from people about the department,” said Sunil Sharma, a professor in the Department of World Languages and Literatures, about UROP.
Junior Nevaeh Calliste works at Innovate@BU, an entrepreneurial hub for BU students. Calliste said she began as a part of the front desk team, but has since been promoted to also working in the student ambassador program, where she serves as a mentor for others interested in pursuing entrepreneurship.
Innovate@BU’s flexibility allowed Calliste to divide her time between more social hours as a mentor and quieter work at the front desk, so she can maintain a better work-life balance, she said.
Calliste’s job has become more than just a job — she has instead found a second home among fellow student entrepreneurs, she said.
“I live, breathe and eat this place,” she said. “I kind of found a home here.”
Allison Cinelli, a sophomore, works at the BU Sailing Pavilion, her first time working while also taking classes. She said the sailing pavilion offers her “a lot of wiggle room,” which helps her plan around other obligations.
Working while also being a full time student is a demanding endeavor and one that many college students take on, but students like Cinelli have found the experiences rewarding.
“I love [working with] people that are also college students,” Cinelli said. “We’re all struggling or thriving in classes together. It’s nice to have a community there.”