On-Campus Employment

Noah Wong (’23)

Being broke is the quintessence of college stereotypes, but it doesn’t always need to be that way. Gonzaga University has a plethora of resources to help students find ways to bring home the bacon on campus. 

By visiting the Student Employment Office, students can inquire about on-campus jobs during the school year and even opportunities during summer. The office knows of jobs from Gonzaga as well as those in the surrounding community. ZagsIgnite, a job and internship database like LinkedIn, is another resource for finding on-campus jobs, as well as jobs and internships outside of campus. 

Some common jobs for students are working as front desk staff at various campus buildings (like Hemmingson, the PACCAR center, and the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center), working as a lifeguard or maintaining the gym, instructing fitness classes, officiating intramural games, assisting the librarians, managing the mail room, helping GSBA (Gonzaga Student Body Association), and working as an intern for various departments.  

International students shouldn’t fret, as GU assists in the acquiring of the right permits and information, among other needs. 

I happen to be a Japanese tutor and a staff writer for The Gonzaga Bulletin, two roles I am paid for. While I didn’t seek these positions as a source of income, being paid while acquiring and honing new skills is a plus. The most rewarding facet of these two jobs is the opportunity to meet new people. The Gonzaga community is incredibly amicable and receptive, and each time I’m on the job, I walk away having gained something.  

While working a job may seem difficult to do with time spent in class and studying, student employment is tailored to allow for balance between the two, so being scheduled for too many hours is of no concern.  

All in all, working on campus is more than just the money but a chance to contribute to the community. With so many different kinds of jobs, finding one that seems enjoyable is easy enough. 

Cheyenne Smith (’23)

While most students like the idea of maintaining a job while attending school full time, it requires dedication and self -discipline to have a successful balance. My experience of working while attending school full time has been very demanding but the benefits and personal advantages I have received from doing so have made the demands very well worth it. 

I only worked one part-time job my first year here at Gonzaga. It was a wonderful opportunity not only for financial stability, but also the additional benefits of engaging in a “social group” on campus. Especially as a first year, it provided me with the chance to gain familiarity around a campus I knew very little about and allowed me to meet numerous people that I wouldn't have regularly engaged in from my normal schedule. I was fortunate to have the chance to work at the Rudolf Fitness Center as an Intramural Official. Some of my favorite memories from freshman year were associated with my work at the RFC. The work experience and friendships I made while working my first year will stay with me for not only the remainder of my education here at GU, but throughout my life. Since returning to campus, there has been a shift in the operations and parameters of holding a job while in school due to COVID-19, but the fundamental importance of time management is just as predominant as it was my first year. 

Now as I am in my second year at GU, I have accumulated an additional part time job as a server in a restaurant downtown. From my experience from working two part-time jobs, and the accumulated concessions from my friends who also work part time jobs, multiple jobs, or full 40-hour work weeks while attending Gonzaga, there is crucial emphasis on time management and organization. My biggest advice for being able to balance working and attending school would be to have a clear and organized schedule. I religiously maintain an up-to-date planner; this helps me stay focused on my daily activities. Another thing I have found helpful is finding “study buddies” who you specifically meet up with to work on homework. This accountability is crucial – make sure to bring snacks! Additionally, I would advise posting a schedule somewhere visible (I have a large calendar hanging on my closet) so that you are able to have a visual reminder of your work schedule and school commitments. 

Having a job, or jobs, while in school is a large responsibility and takes discipline. However, if you are driven and organized, working while in school can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Come visit me down at the RFC and go Zags!

Brandon Webb (’23)

Choosing a school where I knew they were many on-campus options played a factor in choosing the school I wanted to go to, and Gonzaga has that. First off, the size of Gonzaga’s campus is perfect for walking to a job; personally, I knew that I was not going to have a car for my first couple years at school and having a more compact campus makes transportation for a job much easier. While I do not have a job on campus, I do know many people who have employment here. One of the jobs I know of is working the front desk for the Center for Global Engagement. This on-campus job is great for international students. I think it is important how Gonzaga chooses to make sure that international students have job opportunities on campus so they can get some experience and money. 

One job that I thought was very interesting is my roommate’s job working with the university to ensure that students who are quarantined with COVID-19 are looked after when they go outside. I think that it is good that Gonzaga cares about the students who have to quarantine and spend so time by themselves. At least they can go outside and see another person because isolation is not healthy for anyone. Even though my roommate is not allowed to get near the people who are in isolation, he says that he has met some nice people who appreciate what he is doing. My roommate is also from another country and he can’t get a job in his home country, so the money that he makes here is very important to him. 

Gonzaga provides many opportunities for anyone to get a job on campus and the jobs are interesting and helping create a more inclusive community on campus and that is something that I appreciate. 

Kaleigh White (’23)

If you are interested in making some money while attending GU, there are tons of great opportunities for employment on campus. A helpful site for finding on-campus jobs are ZagsIgnite. This online platform is valuable for assisting students in finding jobs that would be suitable for them by asking a series of questions about you, your major, and your interests. Another great resource for finding on-campus jobs is the Office of Student Employment. There are various places to work on campus including, but not limited to, the dining hall, fitness center, library, and campus departments such as Student Involvement and Leadership or the Office of Admission. Within these sectors there are often multiple different positions that are open to students.  

One of the biggest perks of working on campus is that the job is flexible. Before applying for a job, you need to figure out what your class schedule looks like, how much time you will need for homework, and what your extracurriculars will look like. With an on-campus job, your work schedule will be based around all of these factors, ensuring that you will have time to focus on your academics and scholastic involvement, while still having the chance to make a financial contribution toward your education.

Through on-campus employment you also get the chance to interact with your peers as coworkers as well as gaining valuable work experience that will serve you well when applying for and working in other jobs later. If you are interested in learning more about on -campus jobs, the best resource page to check out on the Gonzaga website is the Student Employment website. Here, you can find steps to get you working on campus, explore work study options and eligibility, and what you will need when applying and beginning to work on campus.