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Career Tip: Students @ Work

This time of year, we are bombarded with students looking for part-time jobs…either on or off campus.  This edition of the newsletter is filled with tips on how to look for those jobs: 

On Campus Work Study – One of the most popular student work programs is Federal Work Study.  Work study positions are part time jobs (approximately 10 hours / week) in various departments and offices on campus.  Many times these positions have students working in an office setting, answering phones, filing, helping other students, etc.  The pay is minimum wage ($5.15 / hr).  In order to obtain one of these positions, students must qualify for and be granted work study eligibility from the federal government. This is handled through the financial aid office (Kent Wyatt Hall Room 143).  Just because you qualify for federal work study doesn’t mean that you automatically get a job!  According to Ann Margaret Mullins, Director of Financial Aid, about 2,100 students at DSU qualify, but there are only about 318 funded positions.  Vacant work study positions are posted through the Career Services office on MonsterTRAK (visit http://careerservices.deltastate.edu to log in/register).  When searching in MonsterTRAK, be sure to click the “On-Campus Work Study” search option.

Regular Student Employment (RSE) – RSE positions are student positions that are funded by the department / university.  These positions are reserved for students who do not qualify for federal work study.  Almost identical to the work study program, RSE students usually work approximately 8 hours / week at minimum wage ($5.15 / hr).  Many times, these positions are difficult to find, as they are usually not posted on MonsterTRAK.  I recommend that interested students dress nice, go office to office - resume in hand - asking if they have any RSE positions available.  If not, ask them if you can leave a copy of your resume so they might contact you if anything comes open.  Speaking from experience, it is very impressive when students conduct themselves in such a professional way.

Graduate Assistantships (GA) – Students who have completed an undergraduate degree and are currently enrolled in a graduate program at DSU may qualify for GA positions.  There are approximately 58 GA positions awarded on campus each semester.  A step up from a work study or RSE position, GAs usually have more responsibility (i.e. in charge of special projects, advising / coaching student groups, etc.)  Few offices are granted these positions.  Students interested in these positions should register with Graduate and Continuing Studies (Kent Wyatt Hall Room 239).  I recommend that students prepare a resume, dress up, and call to make an appointment with the director to discuss the assistantship.  Fair warning…more is expected from GAs…make sure that you go in with your “professional” game face on!!!

Part-Time Jobs – Part-time positions in the city of Cleveland and surrounding areas are great for college students.  Many times employers are DSU alum themselves and look forward to hiring our students.  The Career Center is a great way to get connected to these jobs.  By registering with Career Services through MonsterTRAK, you are exposed to job postings, the Career Services Newsletter, and other notifications.  Many local employers do not use our services, however.  The best way to find positions is still pounding the pavement.  Dress nice and go door to door, resume in hand, asking if they have any part time jobs.  If not, asking to leave a resume is a great way to plant the seed for the future.  I HIGHLY discourage phone calls…these can be annoying and show that you don’t care enough to show up face to face. 

Everyone likes to have a little extra cash…but make sure that you don’t loose site of why you are here…to get an education!!!  Try to strike a balance between class, study time, work, and your social life.  Don’t overload your wagon!  For more information, feel free to stop by the Career Center.

 

Source: Jason Umfress, 2006