Imagine getting paid to watch basketball games, travel with the team and witness every practice.

That's the kind of work general management senior Justin Squires gets to enjoy as a manager for MSU's men's basketball team.

"If (students) are goal driven and want to experience something none of their other classmates could, I would say this is something they would really want to do," he said. "Basketball helps me in more ways than you might think, with life, school, friends and experiences."

About 17,000 students find work right here on campus every year.

From managing a basketball team to working with animals at University Farms, students can find many jobs to suit their hobbies and skills, said Gale Gower, assistant director for MSU's Career Services & Placement student employment office.

"We never run out of jobs," she said. "There's a lot more to working part-time than just a paycheck."

While money and nagging parents might be an incentive to going out and find a job, gaining work experience from the comfort of campus also should be on the minds of students, Gower said.

"(Employers) like to see a student has a work history," she said.

Working on MSU's campus also can be beneficial for students since job hours are flexible enough to work with class schedules, said Bruce Haskell, food service coordinator for University Housing.

"We rely heavily on student employees," he said. "Most of the time students can find a job in the building where they live. It's very convenient."

Whether it's cooking up turkey stew for the cafeteria's dinner menu or sorting mail at the receptionist desk, students take on a variety of jobs.

But if working and sleeping in the same building doesn't seem interesting, students also can venture to other areas around campus.

The university's Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, across the street from the Brody Complex, has several jobs available.

Work opportunities at The State Room Restaurant include hosting, serving and busing tables. If students want to get away from food, there are spots open for hotel bellman and front office employees, said Jill Respecki, human resource coordinator for the center.

About 250 student employees are hired each year, she said. The center works with several hospitality business students to provide internship opportunities - just one of the ways students can get a head start on their chosen career paths.

If settling down on a career isn't what a student has in mind, there are other places on campus that offer a short-lived job with a fun and interesting angle.

"They have to dip properly," said John Engstrom, MSU Dairy Store operations manager with a laugh as he described the job responsibilities of an MSU Dairy Store employee. The ice cream ice is in Anthony Hall.

Making sure each cone ice cream scoop is the same is the key to keeping customers happy and holding down a job serving the tasty treat, he said.

Although the summer season might be a busier time for employees, the store is open all year, Engstrom said.

"Sometimes in the summer we have four or five students behind the counter to keep the line moving," he said. "We're a little all greedy when it comes to our ice cream."

For more information on how to find a student job on campus, contact Career Placement & Services at www.csp.msu.edu.