The Benefits of Babysitting as a College Student

By Victoria Robertson on October 19, 2017

Most of us grew up babysitting our younger siblings or neighbors’ children. This was the main source of income (for whatever it is we bought at that age), and we gained some much-needed experience in that way.

However, that doesn’t have to be the end of it. In fact, you can still babysit while you’re in college. While it may feel a little juvenile, it’s actually one of the best part-time jobs that you can obtain while you’re still in school, so long as you’re responsible.

So what exactly are the benefits of babysitting while in college? Here are four of them.

pixabay.com

1. Spending money

First and foremost, working as a babysitter while in college is going to earn you some money. And when you’re away at school, you’re doing almost nothing but spending money, so this is definitely a good thing.

As a general rule of thumb, you should be using this money as your spending money, and try not to spend any more money than you are taking in (meaning personal/needless spending). While you’ll have to buy textbooks and other school-related materials, that trip to the coffee shop isn’t necessary, so should only be made when you have the spending money in your pocket.

Babysitting is really great for that extra cash, as you earn money rather quickly and, depending on your rates, may even be able to save some of it!

2. Your resume

Your resume is one of the most important things you will have upon departing from college. However, it’s not going to be filled to the brim with experience, but rather, potential. With babysitting experience, you will at least have some job history to list on your resume for future employers to see.

In this way, they’ll know you were responsible enough to hold a job, and they’ll be able to note the longevity of your experience, which is a positive thing for many companies. Most companies are looking to take on entry-level individuals and train them into employees that move up the ladder, and this is a great way to demonstrate your dedication to your future employers.

In addition, having that job experience on your resume shows that you are motivated, driven, and ultimately that you’re willing to put the work in to get what you want. These are all great qualities in the workforce.

3. References

Perhaps one of the most underrated aspects of job hunting is references. Having professional references is a huge deal, and when you’re looking for an entry-level opening, it can really impact your candidacy. Most college students will use internship managers, family friends, and even family members.

However, you will have a glowing recommendation from someone that has worked with you over the past four years of school. They’ll not only be able to speak to your organization and timeliness skills but also your dedication and ability to follow orders.

Again, these are seemingly minute details when you’re considering the bigger picture, but having that one, glowing reference could just set you apart from another college student in a similar situation. This is another reason to foster a relationship with the family you babysit for, as they are ultimately going to help you, even if you are the one helping them for the time being.

4. Experience

No, babysitting is not going to provide you with the right workforce experience when your field of study is engineering. However, it will provide you some key skills necessary in all occupations.

For example, organizational skills are valued more highly than ever in the job market. Employers want to see that you’re able to stay on top of your tasks and perform them appropriately, no matter the job. In addition, you’ll learn the importance of multi-tasking, adapting to a situation and, ultimately, conducting yourself professionally.

While these may all seem like common sense traits of an employee, they often are not and are therefore that much more valuable. The earlier you’re able to demonstrate your ability to be responsible, the more likely a company is going to take notice when you graduate and begin your job search.

Babysitting while you’re in college has many benefits, and it might just help earn you some of that much-needed money.

It’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day life, feeling overwhelmed with school and the pressure for internships and other “experience,” however, babysitting is a good way to provide your future employer with a solid work history and referrals.

In addition, babysitting is great for that spending money you’ve been dying for!

So while it may seem like a lot to take on at one time, I promise you, it’s going to be worth it in the long run!

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format