<p>i don't have any previous paid work experience, only volunteer, and I'm trying to find a job at UChicago that is non-work study. I have looked at the school's student employment website and have expressed my interest in many offerings but have heard back from few. Most of the positions either have been filled, or I haven't heard back. I have sent in a revised resume, and I was hoping on some advice in my job search. For those of you who are currently working or have held a position at the school how did you go about your job search? i remember during visitation days, I heard that there are more jobs available than there are students, but I'm getting slightly frustrated at perhaps my perceived difficulty (or maybe its just that hard, especially with the economy). any suggestions, recommendations, etc would be great!</p>
<p>I would suggest that you talk to your professors and mention that you're looking for a job. I would also talk to your friends, your RA, your RH's, and other housemates. I know a lot of people who are employed by campus institutions (Court Theater, OI, Smart Museum) and got their jobs easily, some of them recently.</p>
<p>I would also suggest checking out NSP, as they seem to hire often:
Neighborhood</a> Schools Program</p>
<p>Perhaps one of the difficulties of finding a part-time job this time of year is that many positions have already been taken up. But I'm sure you can find one if you do enough asking around!</p>
<p>If you are looking at RA type jobs, most are just either science, psychology, or economics related, so if you major does not fall in those fields you are very unlikely to get picked up. </p>
<p>I worked for two professors while at the College, and I was suprised when I had to help recruit my replacements how many people from random subjects tried to get positions they were not qualified to take. </p>
<p>Just an FYI if you are perhaps thinking that RA jobs are easy to come by (a common misconception I suppose).</p>
<p>There ARE more positions than there are students looking, its just a matter of finding someone who can actually do the work well.</p>
<p>Do you mean RA as in resident assistant? I've looked for many different types of jobs. Most fall under the category of office/clerical work, like filing, data entry, dealing with Excel, etc. I've only applied to positions that require duties I can handle, but I'm not sure why most of the positions I have expressed interest in (I've sent in a resume in my e-mail), no one has even replied back to say they've received my e-mail. Do you think I should send in a cover letter too?</p>
<p>oh, and I'm undecided in my major right now. I'm a first year currently.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>As used above, RA = research assistant.</p></li>
<li><p>It's undoubtedly a down time to be looking for a job. I suspect most jobs that really need filling get filled within a week or so of the beginning of a quarter. Look for people who may be going away spring quarter, and offer to "fill in" for them.</p></li>
<li><p>My kids' experience is that the jobs are out there. One of my kids was working so many hours at multiple jobs at one point last year that the University had to restrict her to keep her from qualifying as full-time.</p></li>
<li><p>Phone. Talk to a person. They'll probably tell you what you need to know.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>it is common for employers never to respond to your e-mail when you express interest in applying? It seems to be the trend for me.</p>
<p>I think it could be that they are not passionately looking for somebody. E-mail non-read rate is very high, and I confess that I tend to skim over most of the 100+ e-mails I receive a day.</p>
<p>This is why using informal networks (talk to housemates, friends, etc.) will probably get you farther than the student employment website. Talk to your advisor and to CAPS as well.</p>