Every Saturday night during Winter Quarter, Bienen senior Oliver Koenig left his music practice room to work at NaKorn Thai. Among friendly staff and patrons, Koenig said he would perform a three hour set of ambient jazz music. 

Whether at Target, Whole Foods Market or Colectivo Coffee, many students in Evanston find local jobs fulfilling and enjoyable. 

First-year clarinet performance graduate student Sophie Ross works at a local coffee shop. Ross said she enjoys being part of a community outside of school.

“I work with a lot of people who didn’t go to college,” Ross said. “It’s nice to pop the Northwestern bubble a little bit.”

Ross said she started out working as an arts administrator during her junior year at the University of Maryland. Before coming to NU, she managed the Lohff & Pfeiffer U.S. branch and was the competition coordinator of the Sidney Forrest Clarinet Competition. 

Despite her experience, Ross said it was difficult for her to secure her job. She managed to get her current minimum wage position at the coffee shop through a friend who recommended her application to the manager.

“I have so much (work) experience,” Ross said. “And, getting a minimum wage job has always been the hardest for me.” 

Ross said she works around 20 to 30 hours a week. To make time for both work and school, Ross works from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. or noon depending on the day, leaving the rest of the day free to study and do chores. 

Clinton Dishman Jr. is a manager at Kilwins in Evanston. Dishman said most Evanston students who apply to Kilwins are looking for seasonal positions. Dishman prefers employees who work full time.

“When it comes to student employees, it’s up or down, hit or miss,” Dishman said. “Some of them are full time and some of them want to work seasonal. In most cases, we look for people who are trying to work full time — I’m pretty sure every manager would want that.” 

Dishman said one of his current employees is an Evanston Township High School student who works four days a week.  

While Dishman said he has had no issues with the student, their schedule can often change at the last minute.

“They don’t say anything and then say ‘Oh,’ and call you a day before the schedule is about to be published and say, ‘Hey, I start cheer next week,’ or ‘I’m going back home to visit my grandparents.’ It’s like now it’s hitting me hard,” Dishman said. 

Prairie State College sophomore Justin Collins, who lives in Evanston, currently works at Target and takes online classes. He said his employer is very flexible and works to accommodate his school schedule. 

Collins said he applied for 15 to 20 jobs before being hired at Target. At 19 years old, without work experience or a college degree, the job search was difficult, he said. 

Still, Collins said he likes how the flexible schedule and relaxed environment at Target allows him to focus on his online courses.  

“It’s a pretty healthy environment here, especially as a student,” Collins said. “It’s not too much of a balance.” 

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