Student Jobs
Work Part-Time
Working part-time as a studentcan be a valuable experience at all class levels, generating income for your studies and developing skills for future opportunities. Even a job working as a waiter or a cashier develops skills that employers seekin various fields and industries.
Jobs on campus can be beneficial for convenience and flexibilitywith your schedule, while jobs off-campus can sometimes be more lucrative. Use this page to guide your search.
Learn how to practice #SafeSearch and avoid online job fraudso youDon't Get Scammed.
Search for Student Jobs
On-Campus Jobs
Are you looking to find a job on campus?There are many options available. While mostrecruitment for on-campus positions is conducted near the start of fall quarter, other positions are posted throughout the year.
Handshake
The first resourcewe recommend you review is Handshake, the premium job and internship platform for UCSB students.Most campus departments at UCSB post their job and internship positions to Handshake, including all approved Work-Study positions.
To learn about Handshake, visit our Handshake Help Centeror click belowto login.
Recruitment Events
Career Services hosts two events during the year that can help you meet prospective employers andlearn about on-campus employment. These events are advertised on Handshakevia our Events page:
- On-Campus Job Fair: Held at the start of fall quarter during the Week of Welcome and providesyou the opportunity to speak with departments who are actively looking to hire.
- On-Campus Job & Internship Mixer: Held during winter quarter for students who are looking to learn more about on-campus employment opportunities.
PRO TIP
If you do not land an on-campus position during your first attempt, keep trying! Students sometimes quit their position or reject an offerfor various reasons, leading on-campus departments to hire an"alternate" or reach out to others who originally applied. As with all of your career endeavors, apply a long-term mindset to your search, so that you keep doors open for future opportunities.
More Departments ThatHire
In addition to utilizing Handshake and recruitment events, we recommend that youreview department websites when seekingon-campus employment.
Many on-campus departments post on Handshake when they have a job available, but some do not always do so, and others only post duringa short recruitment period.
Jobs Potentially Not Listed on Handshake
Here are a few departments that may not post their positions on Handshake:
- Campus Learning Assistance Services (CLAS): CLAS provides employment for over 100 students to provide academic support to their fellow Gauchos.
- Campus Store: The Campus Store (formerly known as the Bookstore) offers many job opportunities for students in various departments of the store.
- Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER): The Cheadle Center is housed under the Office of Research which focuses on restoration of campus lands and preservation management of natural history collections.
- Educational Opportunity Program (EOP): Through mentorship, academic programs, one-to-one counseling/advising, campus student support service referrals and social/cultural programming, EOP strives to maximize a student's involvement and success in the campus academic community. EOP also helps motivate and inform students to utilize services to enhance their preparation for the job market and/or graduate/professional school admission.
- Family Vacation Center (Alumni): UCSB Alumni hosts the Summer Family Camp from mid-June to late-August and they look for energetic and responsible students to work as camp counselors. Staff are provided room and board as well as an hourly wage.
- : Job opportunities can be found in areas of Residential & Community Living, Residential Operations, Residential Dining Services, Conference Services, and more. Additionally, they employ approximately 200 students each summer to assist with the summer conference program.
- Multicultural Center (MCC): The MCC offers a broad spectrum of events including lectures, panel discussions, films and videos, musical, dance and dramatic performances. Students are hired to staff the front desk and help with special projects.
- Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS): OISS serves UCSB’s international students and scholars and departments that work with the international population. OISS provides immigration support for the UCSB community, advising for international students, and cultural programming.
- Research Experience and Education Facility (REEF): REEF is UCSB’s teaching aquarium and outreach touch tank facility. They provide K-12 programs, on-campus classes, and tours for the General Public. Gain hands-on experience working with local marine life and kids by teaching K-12 students about marine science.
- : Student Engagement & Leadership (formerly the Office of Student Life) coordinates student activities and events on campus and administers campus organizations, fraternities and sororities, leadership development programs, and veteran and military services. In conjunction with the Dean of Students Office, they also offer referrals, general assistance, and problem-solving to students facing personal emergencies.
- Sustainability: The Sustainability office helps the university rethink the way it manages energy, water, recycling, transportation, food, the built environment, and much more. Through various programs, they work to make UCSB friendlier to the environment and a healthier place to live, work, research and study. Internships and volunteer opportunities are offered.
Teaching Assistantships (for Graduate Students)
If you are searching for on-campus Teaching Assistantships as a graduate student, here are a few of the most useful resources to support your search:
- Department list-serves
- Faculty in your department
- GradPost
Off-Campus Jobs
If you are looking for a job off-campus, there are many opportunities for part-time employment in Isla Vista, Goleta, and Santa Barbara. Organizations that hire part-time employees frequently include retail outlets, restaurants, hotels, and small offices, as well as other organizations.
Here are some key tips to help you look for off-campus jobs:
- Many local businesses post part-time opportunities on Handshake, but additional platforms to check include Indeed,WayUp, and related resources on our Job Search Strategies page.
- Manylocal hotels host career fairs throughout the year, which wetypically advertise on our social media pages.
- Visitinga retail outlet or business in-personcan be a method to learn about the steps to apply, make a name for yourself, or submityour application.
- Transportation to off-campus jobs is a key consideration;do you have a car, or does the bus route [i.e., Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD)],travel to your destination?
Work-Study Jobs
If you have Work-Study as part of your financial aid package, we recommend that you use it! Work-Study is a need-based form of Financial Aid that you earn through on- or off-campus employment and receive in the form of a paycheck. Your financial aid package will state whether or not you have Work-Study funds.
Finding Work-Study Positions
All officially approved Work-Study positions are posted on Handshake. To find opportunities that are currently available, slect "Work Study" as a filter on the Jobs tab. Be sure to also check other on-campus jobs through the "On-Campus" filter in the jobs tab. Some departments hire both work-study an non-work study students. Check each on-campus posting requirements for more details. Many work-study positions are posted in August or September, while others are posted year-round.
Additional Considerations
If you do not have access to work-study, then please do not apply to positions that state that only work-study students are eligible.
Visit the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for further information about the Work-Study Program through UCSB.
Learn More
Need additional tips and resources to find work? Be sure to browse all our Gain Experience, Career Paths, and Job Search Strategies pages.
Take Action: Where to Go From Here
Take Action: Where to Go From HereSuggested Steps for Success
GO TO HANDSHAKE HELP
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GET CAREER ADVISING
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ATTEND AN EVENT
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CONTINUE TO RESEARCH
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