Students looking for work outside of campus have some options of places in the community.

Most businesses in the community are open to hiring students and may even be able to offer more than jobs at Eastern, said City Manager Bill Riebe.

“I think that (students) can do whatever they want,” Riebe said.

Most businesses in town enjoy having students work for them because of the creativity and enthusiasm that students bring, Riebe said. Students usually have talent and experience, which is what most businesses are looking for.

“Local businesses know that they have a huge resource,” Riebe said.

The fact that students do make up such a large portion of the town’s population can sometimes create a problem with the competition to get a job. Half of Charleston’s population is students, and there are not always as many jobs, Riebe said.

“Since half of the population is students, it is hard to assimilate that many people into a community of the same size,” Riebe said.

Riebe recommends that students with transportation look at surrounding towns like Mattoon that do not have such a large population of students.

According to Jan. 15 payroll sheets, almost one-fifth of Eastern’s population works on campus, said Pam Hendry, student employment counselor. Most of the on-campus employment pays minimum wage, depending on what area the student works in.

Many students who do choose to work off campus can find jobs at local restaurants, businesses, bars, mental health centers, hotels and banks.

The city also offers internships to Eastern students for part-time positions during the year, Riebe said. He suggests that students look for what they are interested in and see what local businesses can accommodate them.

Retail store like Wal-Mart employ as many as 100 employees at a time, while many fast food restaurants hire students for jobs anywhere from flipping burgers to managing the restaurant.