What Makes a Good Job for a Community College Student?

Paid work-based learning has proven benefits for students, like increased wages after graduation. But it takes a well-developed strategy to make work-based learning opportunities like internships and work-study accessible to the majority of community college students who work. We conducted focus groups with current working learners to understand how they juggle school and work and what they think about work-based learning opportunities offered through their college.

What we learned is that these students had a lot of skepticism about internships and work-study jobs, and most felt positively about their current jobs and employers. We heard four key characteristics of students’ jobs that they valued most. Community colleges should use these to inform how they build work-based learning experiences.

Good jobs for students allow them to connect classroom learning to work. Students who had jobs in the same field as their program described how their work environment provided a place to practice what they have learned in class. For example, a business student working in construction has benefited from observing how current managers assign and assess work on their job site. “As a business student, I've been taught about delegation of authority, and but I've not been able to see it ... I've been able to see how [managers delegate] to the next person and watch that person carry it out efficiently. This has come to inspire me more to see how it's been done practically and how I can do better in my course of study.”

Of the 16 students in our focus groups, only half had jobs in the same field as their college program. However, even some students who are currently working in a completely unrelated field described how their work experience is preparing them for their desired career change. One student currently works at a shipping company and aims to become a psychologist. While these may seem far removed from one another, the student sees connections. “I notice people getting frustrated when there's a lot of people calling out [sick or unavailable to work]. So, that helps because I can see how each person reacts differently or how each person manages their emotions.” Another student in nursing school works part-time as a waitress and feels her current job helps her hone her interpersonal communication, saying, “I feel like it helped a lot with my people skills and being able to interact with all different kinds of people. It’s a good side job to have some spending money and pay for some basic necessities.” If it is paying the bills and students see value in the work environment—related or unrelated to their studies—that makes a good job for students.

Good jobs for students offer work modalities and schedules that make room for school. Several participants in our focus groups discussed how juggling school and work is easier with jobs that offer flexible schedules. In fact, some students said they pursued their current jobs specifically for the flexible hours. For one student, the confidence that their employer is prepared to adjust their work schedule to accommodate college obligations is a huge benefit. “I already know that [my supervisor]'s open to giving me more time when I need it… She told me already that she's willing to give me whatever time I needed to focus on school.”

Beyond flexible hours, the flexibility to work remotely can also draw in students aiming to maximize work and study hours and reduce commute time. One nursing student employed part-time for a mortgage company brought up how working remotely is important for her progress in college. “At the mortgage company I work for, we work from home, so it makes it a lot easier balancing with school. This job doesn't require a lot from me during the day, so it provides me more time to study and get things done for school.” Community college students, especially adults, may prioritize work over school. For those students particularly, good jobs are those that don’t put them in a position to have to choose between the two.

Good jobs for students offer motivation to progress toward a credential. Several students mentioned that encouragement from their employer to continue their education meant something to them and motivated them to keep going. One student working as a nanny for a family as they pursue a career in early childhood education described her employers’ support saying, “They actually encourage me to pursue my education. They give me some time when I'm taking care of their kids during nap time to study.”

Another student felt little encouragement from supervisors, but draws inspiration from residents at the long-term care facility where they work cheering on their educational progress toward a nursing career. “I would say my residents, the people that I work for, they're the ones that encourage me to do better. ‘Oh, you’re in school? Keep it up!’” And another student’s consistent support from their employer makes the sometimes daunting path forward seem manageable: “[My supervisor] just cheers me on. He'll be like, ‘You're so smart, you've got this.’ Like a cheerleader.” While faculty and staff can be important supporters and motivators for students, it is important to recognize how supportive employers can encourage students’ progress as well.

Good jobs for students pay enough to support their needs and offer benefits. One student has a job outside their future career field but values many aspects of the job, especially wages and benefits. As they put it, “[My company] offers health insurance for part-time and school reimbursement. It was a win-win: part-time, health insurance, and school reimbursement.” A job outside their area of study might be the best choice for them with wages, benefits, tuition reimbursement, and scheduling that communicate respect for their work and respect for their studies.

When focus group participants were asked whether they’d be interested in a paid internship offered through their college, their questions stuck closely to a clear theme: “Is the job consistent with normal pay?” “It's the pay. Pay and benefits.” “If benefits are available, then I feel like more people would be on board, whatever job it is.” There you have it. Most of these students, if not all, were employees before they were college students. If a job or work-based learning opportunity offers poor wages and/or no benefits, don’t expect working adults to beat the doors down applying.

The reality is that the vast majority of today’s community college students have jobs. As we heard from students in our focus groups, good jobs for students offer good pay, benefits, flexibility, and motivation to keep pursuing education. Community college leaders need to consider what they can learn from how these students’ current jobs support them as institutions build work-based learning programming with adults.

Is there a way that these opportunities can offer good pay and benefits? In many cases that may not be possible. If it is not, colleges should consider whether the work-based learning opportunity can work around students’ current employment by being more embedded into curriculum and course time. These are tricky design questions, but they are key to making paid work-based learning opportunities accessible to the majority of community college students.