4 Reasons Why Being a Brand Ambassador Is the Smartest Career Move Students Can Make This Fall

While there are many types of jobs out there that can boost your resume (and your wallet), brand ambassador roles (also known as campus reps) are able to do both and can be one of the best jobs you have all through college.

Don’t believe us? Check out our top four reasons why you should be a brand ambassador this coming semester! Then, be sure to apply to the thousands of brand ambassador programs on WayUp (and did we mention that we’re hiring paid brand ambassadors right now? Apply here!)

1. You Meet Influential People

While it might seem obvious, networking both on campus and within the company you are repping are two huge perks of brand ambassador roles.

As a representative for a company on campus, you are often asked to connect with influential figures at your college as a way to promote your brand. Whether it be speaking with student government members, big-time student organizations or well-known professors, you will make new and valuable connections you otherwise would not have had the opportunity to find.

In addition, brand ambassadors often have the ability to connect with their peers in the program. They’re able to make professional and personal connections with their peers from all across the country, and they often stay in touch even after the program comes to an end.

2. You Gain Professional Skills You Can Take to Any Job (and a Paycheck!)

Often, students must choose between a job that pays the bills (like a work-study job on campus) or an unpaid opportunity that grants experience (like a marketing internship for a local startup).

The best part about brand ambassador roles? You can gain that relevant work experience without having to forgo a paycheck.

As a brand ambassador, you gain valuable skills in marketing, sales, social media strategy, public speaking, writing and so much more. You learn how to communicate effectively more than anything, and according to a recent report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), verbal communication is the most important candidate skill in new college graduates.

Being a brand ambassador will allow you to build out your resume for careers in a multitude of industries; the sky’s the limit!

3. You Choose Your Hours

College schedules are crazy, and it can be near-impossible to fit a 15 or 20 hour per week job into your schedule, especially if the job requires you work certain shifts off-campus. The beauty of brand ambassador roles is that you create your own hours and don’t have to leave campus to be amazing at your job.

Have three midterms and an event for Model Congress coming up? No worries! Because most brand ambassador roles offer flexible hours, you get your tasks done when you can and when works best for you.

Additionally, some brand ambassador roles pay based on performance, not hourly. This means that you determine how much you make and aren’t subject to a flat hourly rate. The harder you work, the more money you make. In some cases, campus reps have been able to earn thousands of dollars in a single semester.

4. You Earn Insider Perks

We’re not just talking about free swag. As a brand ambassador for a company, you often become an extension of the full-time team. You could be asked to demo a new product, test a new app feature or be interviewed for certain press articles!

Are you convinced yet? There’s no better way to get involved with a growing company from the ground up than being a brand ambassador while still in school.