Many students at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) work part-time and full-time jobs while going to school. Some indulge in internship opportunities; others work hourly jobs on the weekends for some extra cash. However, some students have discovered the benefits of working one of the varieties of on-campus jobs that UTEP offers, which are also resume builders for a student’s career.
UTEP has jobs that fit students’ wants and needs. The opportunities on campus range from hourly positions to internships, from tutors to assistants and much more to choose from.
Many of these positions involve helping other students and staff, whether it’s through being a peer leader and leading students through orientation or assisting professors in their research.
Computer science student, Samantha Dominguez-Flores works at the Information Center located on the first floor of the Union’s east wing and is a customer service representative that primarily tends to students.
Dominguez’s duties involve answering UTEP students’ questions on events, directing them to correct departments and helping student organizations by booking rooms for their meetings.
The Information Center provided Dominguez with her first job, and she says it couldn’t have been better. She says working on campus has taught her lessons to apply even outside the workplace and leaves her satisfied when she gets to be helpful to others.
“I love my job,” Dominguez said. “It teaches you to be punctual, how to be responsible about your workspace, and how to be kind towards others. I am the first person a new student sees when they come to ask for information about UTEP so it’s important to have them feeling satisfied with their service. Although it may seem like a small job, it goes a really long way to be as kind and as useful as you can.”
Dominguez’s job also offers a healthy balance between her work and school life. She said her job allows her to work on school-related tasks once all her duties are complete, which is a similar experience for many students who work on campus.
On top of all the rich experience that Dominguez has gained, she’s also had the chance to make unique connections by networking.
“I have made the best connections at work. I have met the most amazing people in my life. I have a lot of new friendships since I started working there and that’s also a plus,” Dominguez said.
UTEP jobs are not just limited to enrolled students, but some recent graduates have access to work opportunities after graduation.
2024 graduate and soon-to-be master student Brianna Cooper works for The Center of Community Engagement (CCE) as a campus compact AmeriCorps vista member.
Her primary role is to address food insecurity by creating and enhancing initiatives that help all kinds of people on campus. Before her current position, she was a work study for CCE.
Cooper’s connections from her work study position opened doors for her which led to her current title. She stresses the importance of networking through student jobs and using them to guide one through their career.
“For new students I encourage you to take advantage of internships and work study opportunities if you can,” Cooper said. “They help you get a sense of what your desired field looks like in the real world, enhance your resumes, help you network with individuals that could potentially open doors in the future and overall, they can end up being memorable experiences that enhance your education.”
Student jobs can be found on websites like MineTracker and Handshake and can also be presented through networking with professors and other students. On campus jobs can offer viable work and life experience to students while providing the extra benefits of social life and community.
Jesie Garcia is a staff reporter and may be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram @empanaditawrites.
