UTD offers a variety of on-campus jobs that allow students to work during the semester. Positions for students of all experience levels and majors provide opportunities to earn money while serving the campus.
While the Office of Student Employment aims to help students jobs toward the end of their degree through programs such as the Federal Work-Study and application assistance, students say less attention is given to more accessible on-campus jobs. Here are several employment opportunities offered to UTD students.
For students looking to earn extra cash, one option is the Comet Pi restaurant. Comet Pi, the pizzeria outside of the dining hall, serves hundreds of students per day and provides meals such as pizzas, pastas and snacks.
“It’s an easy job,” said freshman Comet Pi employee Aniyah Singleton. “The work itself isn’t too hard, but it’s still stimulating having to deal with so many students coming in and out all the time.”
All employees, regardless of title, assist with cooking, restocking and cashier duties. Managing large waves of customers can be demanding and difficult. “Everyone is really nice here, but you definitely have to learn quickly [in order to] not get left behind,” Singleton said.
Comet Pi compensation starts at $14.50 an hour, with pay increasing based on work experience. The job offers flexible hours and requires no prior working experience to get started. Applications are available through Handshake.
Another option for students without prior work experience is employment with the athletics department, which hires students to assist during sporting events. Duties may include collecting tickets, working concessions, recording statistics or mopping courts during games.
Freshman Caitlin Ochuwa, a student worker in the athletics office, described the role as low-stress. “It’s just a good little way to make some extra money,” Ochuwa said. “Pretty much whenever a home game gets scheduled, you just try to pick up a shift you want there.”
Athletics student workers are not required to work preset schedules and can choose how many hours they want to take that work that week. “Just know the rules and put your best foot forward. Nothing crazy,” Ochuwa said.
Athletics jobs start at $10 an hour and offer flexible scheduling and a wide range of responsibilities. Ochuwa advises students to apply early through Handshake.
More competitive roles include peer advisor positions. This role is highly sought after due to benefits such as free housing, a meal plan and a $175 starting stipend. However, the university requires that all PAs are at least sophomores.
Peer advisors assist freshmen during their first year of college by fostering community through activities and providing support.
Divine Ekuma, a peer advisor for Andromeda Hall, describes the role.
“[Essentially] your job is to talk to your residents and listen to what they have to say,” she said. “But I don’t even see it as a job because I like my residents.”
Peer advisors are expected to work a 2 1/2-hour desk shift every week, where they will answer questions at reception and make sure packages delivered to residents are received, be on call every other week and attend weekly meetings.
“It sounds like a lot, but if you like talking to people, it flies by,” Ekuma said. “Really, just be yourself and manage your time well because your classes start to get hard around your second year.”
She said that the role also offers professional benefits. “The best part is really making connections and learning from the people older and younger than you,” Ekuma said. “If you need a letter of recommendation, you can get that done in a week; you get to talk to all of the people from your dorm and it makes you better socially.”
For upperclassmen and graduate students interested in academics, research assistant positions . Oriented toward upperclassmen, master’s and Ph.D. students, applicants have the opportunity to be sponsored by a professor and help out with their research. UTD’s prestigious programs across different schools make this a premier opportunity to put reputable research on a resume.
“I used to work in industry, but I didn’t learn much,” Ph.D. student Sameer Dhole said. “You always have to depend on someone who knows better than you and you really can’t be self-sufficient.” Research gives students the opportunity to go in-depth into topics that they care about and support themselves while they are at it. “I wanted to gain that ability for myself to do my own thing,” Dhole said.
However, researching is a demanding task. “I used to sacrifice sleep, physical activity and even eating on some days. I’ve gotten better, though,” Dhole said.
Research is a competitive field with students from around the world looking for sponsorships. Researchers at UTD have pay that varies, but they can expect around $2,100 a semester, 30- to 35-hour work weeks and a lot of testing and writing.
“If you have a professor and you like their subject, don’t hesitate to contact them. There’s a high chance that they have positions open, especially now,” Dhole said.
Regardless of schedule, experience level or interests, students say jobs at UTD provide opportunities to earn money, gain experience and build connections.
