There are lots of great paid opportunities for students on and around the University of Maryland campus! There is not currently one central website with all of the openings, so you’ll have to look in a few different places. Start with the resources below, but keep your eyes and ears open to explore many more options!

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students on campus

Locate Openings

 

If you are interested in working on campus, consider starting your search by exploring the places that generally hire a lot of students each year. 

Federal Work-Study is a federally funded employment program available to both undergraduate and graduate students who have financial need. Guidelines for federal work studyOffice of Student Financial Aid. Many campus departments encourage applications from students on the Federal Work-Study program. If you receive FWS as a part of your financial aid packet, you should definitely check their website for postings of part-time employment opportunities. If you do not know for sure if you have it (or are not sure if you qualify for it) you should check with the Office of Student Financial Aid to inquire. 

Locate Hidden Openings: Many UMD academic and campus departments employ students. Many times, these openings are spread by word of mouth and NOT posted anywhere. The best way to find out about an opening in a department on campus is to ask! Try walking into an office you find interesting (maybe start with your major’s academic office) and say something like: 

"Greetings, my name is _______. I am a  ______ major and would love to work in this office because ________. Is the person in charge of hiring student employees available to speak with me?"

Preparing your pitch before you get there will help you look (and feel!) more confident and prepared.

 

Working at a research center is also a great way to gain skills and earn money. There are over 200 research centers on or just off campus at the University of Maryland.

Decide which one you find interesting and explore their websites or call the lab supervisor (i.e. the contact information is usually listed on the website) to find out about openings. 

 

Many local businesses employ UMD students! Restaurants are a big hirer and offer weekend/evening shift options, for example. Broaden your search by exploring openings off-campus (i.e. Snagajob.com, Uloop.com or indeed.com). You can also look at each organization’s websites to review openings, but the most efficient way to find out if someone is hiring is to walk into the store, restaurant, or office and ASK! Not sure what to say?

Try something like:

"Hi, my name is ______. I am a student at the University of Maryland and I am looking for a part-time job. I would love to work here because ______. Who is the best person to speak to here about your current or projected openings?"
 

 

"Gigs" are short term experiences that revolve around your current skills, time, or resources. A gig can be used as an avenue for social impact, an outlet to express creative talents, or just a way to diversify your income stream as a student.   

Defined: A gig economy is an environment in which temporary positions are common and organizations contract with independent workers for short-term engagements. Read more

START A BUSINESS: The UMD Innovation Gateway offers many resources: There are classes, programs, clubs, consulting groups, maker spaces, hackathons, accelerators, internships, mentors, pitch competitions, online networks, funding, and more. If you have a fearless idea, you can launch it at UMD.

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Freelance Services: Use your skills to make money 

Shared Economy: Like sharing your things for money?

  • Rent out a room, your house, parking spot, etc. (Airbnb, VRBO & Couchsurfing)
  • Crowdfunding an idea (Kickstarter and Indiegogo)
  • Ridesharing and Carsharing (Uber and Lyft)
  • Coworking- share the cost of office rent, utilities, etc.
  • Rent your “stuff” (Spinlister, DogVacay)