A sign advertises jobs in on-campus dining halls outside the Starbucks in the University Memorial Center on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Celia Frazier/CU Independent)
During my first week on the University of Colorado Boulder’s campus, I spent all the money I saved up for the summer much earlier than I expected, so I needed a job. That Saturday, I opened the CU Boulder job posting website and went down the list, applying to every job until I got bored. Most of the jobs were run-of-the-mill babysitting and tutoring jobs, but one stood out amongst the others.
It was a job in the university’s Access Services Department. It was the first time I’d ever applied to a job that required me to know how to use a hammer. It goes without saying that this one intrigued me more than the others. That next Monday, I received an email asking me to come in for an interview anytime I could before 3 p.m. Already, the job was easily accessible to students, letting me come in whenever it worked for my schedule.
The next day I came in for the job interview. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. I walked into a door behind Folsom Field, and inside was a room filled with every key to the entire campus (not including housing) and multiple people working to make the keys on little machines and stamping the names onto keys with hammers. I went into the interview and begged for the job. This was a completely different world to me, and I needed to be a part of it. They hired me on the spot, so if you’ve ever gotten a key to a door on campus, there’s a pretty good chance I made it.
This job has made my college experience better than I could ever have imagined. It’s so rewarding to feel like an important member of the CU Boulder community. I’ve learned so much more about the school than I would have ever known otherwise. Plus, they are so lenient towards my schedule because they understand that school comes first. I’ve never met anyone with an on-campus job that doesn’t benefit from the flexibility they get from their employer.
I came here from Illinois feeling lost and confused, but my on-campus job made me feel loved and important. My coworkers, for the most part, are long-time CU Boulder employees. They understand the culture and intricacies of this school like no one else. They’ve made me feel so comfortable here by showing endless kindness and teaching me the ins and outs of the school.
Learning about the place I go to school has really made me feel a part of the community. That’s why on-campus jobs are so important. I know a lot about the Access Service Department, but that’s just my experience. Everyone that works on campus gets to learn insider information on a different niche of the school.
Not only does my on-campus job make me feel loved, but it also makes me feel important. Maybe I’m delusional, but this place wouldn’t run as smoothly without me; without the key to your door, you can’t do much. There’s a reason people say, “Can’t go far without these,” when they have to run inside to get their keys. Feeling important in your community may seem like a thing of the past, but it really does add to your sense of belonging.
The leniency of their scheduling is definitely crucial because it’s the most special to on-campus jobs. I get to pick my own hours at the beginning of the semester, and I’m allowed to change them whenever I feel the need. They’re also very relaxed about calling in sick because they know that in college things come up. This has been a lifesaver, so I’m grateful for their tolerance and understanding.
On-campus jobs add so much to the CU student lifestyle because they help you feel like part of the community. My on-campus job has hands down been one of the best parts of my CU Boulder experience.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Grace Moore at Grace.Moore@colorado.edu.
