Hello everyone, so I have qualified for work-study and I am going into my first year of college in the fall. I understand the premise of how work-study fits into my life, but I was hoping that someone can explain to me when I go about actually applying for a job. Do I do it before the summer ends? Wait until I’m on campus? And should I work on or off campus? Any job recommendations? As always, thank you!
Your school may have a website with job listings. My daughter’s does, and while there are always a few jobs listed, a lot of new jobs are listed around the first of August. Students can apply for those, but decisions might not be made until they meet you in person at the start of the semester. Look them over and see if there is anything that appeals. If there isn’t a online listing, when you arrive at school go to the student job office and there should be a binder of jobs or a bulletin board.
Make sure you have your social security card and an ID or a passport for your I-9 forms.
At my son’s school, they have a page on their student portal website that lists on campus jobs. It lists all the departments and jobs that are work study or just for any student. Each had a contact. Some had a link to an application. He emailed several different ones that looked like the would like doing them. They typically responded with an application for him to fill out and return. He had an interview for his work study before school started (although I’m sure they do plenty once students are on campus - he didn’t live far from campus). Working on campus is nice because they are typically very flexible. Each semester he (and the other students) email in their schedule and their work schedule is set. You want to be sure you have blocks of time in your schedule that allow you to work (ie if it is a 9-5 office then you need typically at least 2 hour blocks of time you can work).
My daughter applied for work-study jobs only after she had her schedule, that way she was able to ensure work didn’t interfere with classes.
Work-study usually means you are prioritized when it comes to campus job selection, but you still have to actually apply to the jobs that you want. There are a fair number of desk jobs at college campuses (ex: the lost and found desk, information desk, academic offices, etc.) These tend to be fairly easy and often allow you to catch up on homework while you are there. Being an RA is also a potentially very fulfilling job that often offers you room and board, but most people who get those jobs are sophomores or older.
Varies from school to school. At older D’s small school you got to pick top three from list and you were assigned a job. At friends son small school you looked at list and applied and interviewed. He is rising sr and has yet to have been given a work study job. (Which I think is horrible since part of financial aid and is corn field town with few other options). At D2’s large university, you looked at job postings and applied but lots of options.
There should be information on your specific college’s process somewhere on website or call.
At my daughter’s orientation on Friday, they said: “You guys have a leg up on all the other incoming freshmen. You’re the first orientation session. Lots of the other kids won’t know to go to the website now and look at the work-study options that are already posted.”