Family Assistant: Pay Your Way Through College

By Brittany Loeffler on April 30, 2017

Pay your way through college by being a family assistant. Most college students feel the emptiness of their wallets at some point during their college experience. The fear of paying back student loans after graduation may have some students worried.

By taking a job as a family assistant, you can add money to your savings and feel secure when you graduate and have some money to start out with.

What is a family assistant? We’re glad you asked.

via Pixabay

What is a Family Assistant?

A family assistant is someone who helps out busy parents with everyday tasks. It is more intensive than being a nanny. A family assistant not only cares for the children, but they may also be asked to take care of the house and run errands for the parents.

The point of a family assistant is to take the stress of everyday activities, such as making dinner every night, off of busy and working parents. It’s important to know that an assistant is an extension of the parents in the household.

via Pixabay

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of a family assistant will vary with each family. Some families may need some more help than others. The typical responsibilities include:

•Caring for children

•Preparing meals

•Helping children with homework

•Driving children to appointments

•Grocery shopping

•Household cleaning

•Laundry

•Tutoring or helping children with schoolwork

They can be strenuous activities for college students who are not used to taking care of a home or children. These tasks may be viewed as something a stay-at-home mother would complete, but since the parents are off working and are out of the house, you have essentially become the stay-at-home mother.

Skills Required

Taking on the position of a family assistant is not a part-time job you cannot care about. You are not standing behind a register scanning things for customers. This job requires your full attention and a great personality.

You must have great time management skills. There may be days where the parents give you a long list of things that need to be done before they return home that evening. You must also be extremely organized. This is important when keeping schedules, especially when taking the children to appointments or play dates and running time sensitive errands. Being able to follow directions is extremely crucial. The main part of the job is to follow the instructions given to you by your employers.

A deal breaking quality you must have is being good with children. You must be patient and friendly. Being a family assistant and taking care of a child will have a major impact on that child’s life. They will remember you playing with them, helping them with schoolwork, and growing up with you. It’s important that you leave a positive impression on their development.

via Pixabay

Compensation

Compensation will vary between families, but the average hourly salary is between $20-$30 an hour. Think about how much you could make in a week if you are able to work 20 hours!

This can also include reimbursements for travel expenses and any other expenses. It typically also includes paid time off, such as sick days, vacation days, and personal days.

In the summer, if you choose not to take summer classes, your schedule will be freer to take on more hours with the family.

Benefits

There are many benefits from working as a family assistant. First of all, you’re making a great amount of money with room for raises and bonuses. Second, you’re forming a relationship with the family and their children. Some family assistants may be asked to come with the family on vacations or outings. As a family assistant, you become a part of the family and loved by them.

Not only are you helping another family, but you are teaching yourself crucial skills for when you have a family of your own or own a home. You will experience what it is like to care for a child, clean a home, and other household tricks and tips many other college students will not acquire while sitting in a classroom or behind a cash register.

via Pixabay

Disadvantages

As mentioned before, this is a very hands-on responsibility you will be taking if you choose to become a family assistant. You cannot come to work and slack off some days while waiting tables. You always have to be “on” even when you’re exhausted from midterms and group projects. The family is counting on you to take care of their needs.

It is more responsibility than some college students may feel comfortable taking on. A child is put in your hands and you are expected to keep them safe, entertain them, and take care of them. It is not your typical part-time job, but it is a great experience.

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