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Part-time Work as Career Exploration

The summer season is a time when part-time job opportunities are plentiful. Part-time jobs are a great way for students to gain work experience to be more competitive in their career and job search. They also serve an important role in a student’s career exploration process, as they allow them to gain transferable skills, become familiar with different working environments and industries, and network with industry professionals.

Gain and Develop Transferable Skills – Students in part-time jobs undertake a variety of duties which help them develop and refine their growing skillset. These skills are qualities that can be transferred from one job to another and are commonly referred to as transferable skills. Many of the transferable skills that students develop in part-time jobs correspond to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career competencies. These include high-demand skills such as teamwork, communication, and leadership skills and are often what employers seek when evaluating applicants for full-time careers. Highlighting evidence of these skills on a resume can contribute toward making students competitive in their career and job search.

Explore Different Working Environments and Industries – Part-time jobs offer a great way for students to branch out and explore a variety of industries that they may not be familiar with. Part-time jobs also allow for students to experience different work environments such as desk work and working on your feet, day and night shifts, large and small organizations, remote and in-person work, etc. Students can use this insight to have better clarity on their work environment and industry preferences when searching for career positions.

Meet and Network with Professionals – Part-time jobs are a great way for students to grow their network and meet an array of individuals and industry professionals. Through these connections, students are able to learn more about each individual’s experiences and potentially receive valuable information about new opportunities and industries that they may not be aware of. Students may also utilize these new connections as references, which is essential when they begin applying for career positions.

UC Davis students have access to a broad spectrum of opportunities on Handshake, when looking to get part-time experience both on and off campus. The campus employs thousands of students each year for part-time positions across campus, as well as at the UC Davis Health campus, the Bodega Marine Laboratory, the Tahoe Environmental Research Center, and more. Whether a student decides to pursue a part-time job on or off campus, the Internship and Career Center (ICC) is available to support students with their job search. The ICC encourages students looking for part-time jobs to attend workshops, review sample materials in the Career Resource Manual, have their documents reviewed virtually, and meet with an advisor in order to get started.

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