UC Berkeley students share a trifecta of goals: pass that weeder-class for their major, get into a reputable club and get a job. Whether it’s working to pay for your tuition, advance your career or merely make some spending money, having some financial independence feels good! But as with most things at UC Berkeley, finding a job isn’t easy, and the process can be quite overwhelming. To help you get your foot in the door, here’s a breakdown of where to start your job search, the most popular jobs on campus and why they could be the right — or wrong — fit for you.
Campus ambassador — $19.87/hour, about 10 hours a week
I myself am a newly trained campus ambassador! These are the people you see giving tours, sitting in the Koret Visitor Center and working the Campanile. In terms of the application, which you can find on UC Berkeley’s Visitor Services website, you’ll be required to submit your resume and a video explaining why you want to represent UC Berkeley. If you make it past that round, you’re invited to an in-person group “audition” where you display your quick thinking and school spirit.
Once hired, the training process is different from any other campus job. The fall semester through March is spent learning the history and fun facts of UC Berkeley, drafting a tour speech and taking written and practice tour evaluations. This long onboarding process is definitely the job’s biggest challenge. But the ability to make a real impact once you’re finally out in the field is the biggest reward. You can be that person who gives prospective students the confidence to apply or accept their offer. I’d 100% consider applying if you’re interested in customer service, want to improve your public speaking and love connecting with people!
Tutor — $21.36 to $25.61/hour, about 8 hours a week
Many of the larger classes on campus, such as Data 8, “Foundations of Data Science,” require a larger staff of tutors and discussion section leaders to help run the course. The process of becoming a tutor for Data 8 is simple! During the semester, staff openings will be promoted in Ed Discussion, the course-wide discussion server, to students who formerly took the class. The application requires you to submit your grades and answer written prompts showcasing your qualifications for the job. There’s no interview, and you don’t have to apply for the semester directly after you’ve completed the course.
Besides attending regular staff meetings and proctoring exams, you’ll be tasked with holding two tutoring sections every week, holding office hours and assisting GSIs in lab sections. Be prepared to treat it similarly to another four-plus-unit class, as a lot of outside preparation is needed. While this position requires a lot of effort, it’s a great way to connect with the extremely social and supportive staff. If you wish to apply, make sure to show your personality and interest in the subject, and be confident in your ability to manage both your schedule and yourself.
Berkeley Dining employee — $19.18 to $19.87/hour, about 10 hours a week)
When you’re waiting in line to get your food at one of the dining halls or campus restaurants, it’s common to see someone you know behind the counter. Berkeley Dining is always in need of workers, so no prior experience is necessary. QR codes are scattered around the dining halls that lead to the application found on the UC Berkeley Dining website. You’ll fill out a Google Form including your resume and a couple of questions, and if accepted, you’ll move on to a final interview.
After a couple of weeks of food service, sanitation and procedural training, you’ll finally be ready to start your duties. Students often feel the job is quite manageable, supervisors take your scheduling preferences into account and you get free food on shifts! For some, working in Berkeley Dining can start to feel repetitive, while slow hours can feel understimulating. It’s also physically taxing to constantly walk, stand and move things around. Overall, the job is a great way to gain some basic working experience and meet new people, all the while comfortably balancing it with your other commitments.
Recreation & Wellbeing — $19.50/hr, about 10 hours a week
Recreation & Wellbeing, or RecWell, covers jobs spanning from working in the Recreational Sports Facility, being a fitness instructor and working in Intramural Sports, or IM Sports. For jobs in IM Sports, you can find listings using Handshake and UC Berkeley’s RecWell website. The application process is made up of submitting a resume and participating in a group interview on Zoom if advanced to the next round.
A normal shift includes checking people in for IM Sports, monitoring games and being ready to jump in if unforeseen circumstances occur. Those holding the position are tasked with assessing situations and obtaining medical help if necessary. While this can feel like a big responsibility, many employees love being able to partake in something they’re passionate about: sports! Additionally, the job is quite manageable since a good portion of games happen in the evening and don’t conflict with classes. While this might interfere with other club commitments, RecWell is pretty flexible and fosters a laidback environment, allowing employees to feel productive while actively engaging with the game.
Residential student coordinator — room and board, about 20 hours a week)
Employment in UC Berkeley’s Residential Life is a good position for creative people who don’t want to directly manage a floor of students, but still want room and board as compensation. The job offering can often be found through the Residential Life weekly newsletter or on UC Berkeley’s Residential Life website. The application consists of a resume, four written responses and two virtual interviews. It also helps to have experience with graphic design platforms, because you’ll be tasked with designing the weekly informational newsletters.
This position has a wide range of duties and deadlines, takes on urgent tasks of creating event flyers, posts social media announcements and meets with the leadership team to work on projects. However, most of what you’ll be doing is self-led, allowing you to take the initiative on projects, positively highlighting Residential Life. While this job gives you a lot of creative freedom, its biggest liberty is also its challenge. It may feel overwhelming to work on projects at your own pace if you have other commitments that also demand a lot of time and creativity. If you’re considering applying, it’s important to have time-management skills and, most importantly, a genuine passion for creating engaging content.