Lesson 6.2 · 3 minLanding a job on campusLanding a job on campus
This lesson walks you through finding, applying for and starting a campus job, with or without a work-study award. Campus employers expect to hire students, so a short, clear application and an honest schedule carry real weight.
Where campus jobs are listed
Most colleges gather student jobs in one place, usually a portal run by the student employment office or the career center. Libraries, dining halls, recreation centers, labs, tutoring centers, admissions offices and residence halls all hire students. Some postings are marked for work-study students only, and others are open to anyone enrolled.
Departments also hire by word of mouth. If you enjoy a class, ask the department office or the professor whether they need a student assistant. A front desk that sees you every week may know about an opening before it is ever posted.
Applying and interviewing
A campus application usually asks for a short resume, your weekly availability and sometimes a brief cover note. List school activities, volunteering, caring for family members and any past job, because each one shows that you turn up and follow through. Keep the resume to a single page and read it over twice for spelling.
Put your class schedule in front of you before you fill in your availability. Supervisors build shifts around the hours students give them, and a schedule you cannot keep causes trouble on both sides. Interviews tend to be short and informal, and you may be asked how you would handle a busy shift or a shift you have to miss.
Your first week of paperwork
Every US employer must confirm that a new hire is allowed to work, so you will complete Form I-9 and show identity documents within your first few days. Common choices are a US passport, or a driver's license together with a Social Security card or birth certificate. Bring the originals, because in most cases the employer has to examine them in person.
You will also fill in a W-4 for federal tax withholding, often a state withholding form, and a direct deposit form. Lesson four of this course covers the W-4 in detail, so you can come back to it before your start date.
If you hold a student visa, your international student office sets limits on where and how much you may work, so check with that office before you accept any offer. Many schools also cap weekly hours for every student employee while classes are in session.
Try this week
- Bookmark your school's student job portal
- Write out your weekly availability around your classes
- Draft a one-page resume
- Gather the original documents for Form I-9
Takeaway. Campus employers hire around class schedules, so an honest list of the hours you can work is the strongest part of your application.