4. University bookstore retail specialist

The nitty-gritty: Bookworms, take note. This job requires more than a passion for reading. You've got to be a cool and organized person to take charge in this venue. The campus bookstore is a central hub of campus life. There are all those textbooks to sell. And visitors stop in to purchase a T-shirt or pair of socks with the school's logo; on home game football weekends in the fall, the store can be a madhouse. Be prepared to be on your feet for long periods. You'll be directing shoppers and stocking the sales floor. Some lifting is involved. It's likely you'll be ordering merchandise, too, and at peak hours putting in time at the cash register.

Median pay: $10.09 per hour. (The University of Virginia was recently offering $10.61 to $19.81 per hour.)

Qualifications: Basic computer skills and retail experience. Customer service skills, knowledge of merchandising and ability to multitask.

5. Shuttle bus driver

The nitty-gritty: If you like to drive, climb aboard. You cruise the campus byways in university transit wheels. The routes are clearly set and you keep to a regular schedule. You might occasionally have to give directions or help someone on or off the bus.

Heavy traffic is not usually a problem unless it's a city campus. Bad weather can make road conditions dicey. If you drive the night shift, your riders might get a little exuberant. You'll usually be the one in charge of checking the tires, lights and oil.

Median pay: $13.51 an hour. Range: $8.45 to $20.98 per hour.

Qualifications: You must have a commercial drivers license (CDL) in good standing and undergo some short training that will include a driving course and practice of various maneuvers with a bus. The qualifications for getting a CDL vary by state, but normally include both knowledge and driving tests. Your vision and hearing will be checked too. States have the right to withhold a license from someone who's had a CDL suspended by another state.

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Kerry Hannon is the author of What’s Next? Follow Your Passion and Find Your Dream Job.