Finding a Campus Job
Finding a job on campus can be approached in a number of ways. Some students utilize the online Bulletin Board while most students simply approach various departments and offices face to face and door to door. Others may email departments individually and ask if they are hiring.
NOTE: Students should "subscribe" to each topic on the Bulletin Board under the "ON-CAMPUS JOBS" section. When new jobs are posted, an email will be automatically sent to the student.
Nearly every standing building and office on campus hires students in some capacity, so there are plenty of opportunities and options. It is not mandatory, but we highly encourage students, especially first-year students, to seek employment during the few weeks of school. The earlier a student searches for work, the higher the success rate of finding employment on campus.
Each Fall, campus employers are seek to replace student employees from the prior year who have graduated. Another advantage for first-year students is that most departments prefer to hire hard-working first-year students so that they may be trained and will hopefully remain in employment for their four years. This is a beneficial model to all.
Some logistics and tips to follow when seeking employment on campus:
1. Read the Policies, Procedures, Updates, and Expectations of Student Employment. Students are responsible for understanding and following all policies and procedures prior to and during employment on campus.
2. Complete a Pre-Employment Agreement and submit it to the Office of Financial Aid for your file. You need only complete this form once during your enrollment at F&M.
3. Complete your Federal I-9 and W-4 Forms with Ms. Lori Few in the Student Payroll Office in the Business Office located on Race Avenue. You cannot be hired to work without completing this important Federal process.
Ms. Few will require specific personal and original documentation from you in order to complete this process. A list of information can be located on the Student Payroll Web site. Ms. Few is available for first-year students at Beginnings in May and during First-Year Orientation in August. This is a prime opportunity to complete this process and send your valuable documents back home with your parents.
4. This is fairly uncommon for students to do when seeking on-campus employment, so if you have a resume, you will likely stand out among other applicants. You need nothing long in the way of a cover letter - just a sentence or two. However, if you are a "work aided" student (meaning that you have work awarded to you as part of your need-based financial aid package), then you may wish to let that be known in your cover letter/email. For assistance in developing your resume, for on-campus or off-campus employment, please visit Career Services, located at 619 College Avenue
5. Be proactive in your search, and be open in your availability. Get out there and ask. Every department or office on campus that hires students has a supervisor, or supervisors, who hire students. Seek this person out. As mentioned earlier, the culture of F&M allows for students to approach offices in person or via email or via the Web. You will find that different departments do things differently, but the best way to know is to simply approach your desired employer and ask.
The benefit of working on campus is that offices can hire you around your student schedule more easily than perhaps an off-campus, private employer or business. If you are hired through the Federal Work Study or College Work Option program, you may work up to 10 hours between Sunday and Saturday, and many offices may hire you at various times throughout the week to accommodate their needs and your schedule. Some departments may need students to work early hours of the morning (8:00 - 9:00 start time), so be open to this, and you will certainly separate yourself from the pack.
6. Interview with intent. When you approach offices to seek work bring your class schedule and look presentable. You may be interviewed on the spot, so having your schedule ready and knowing when you can and can't work is smart and makes you look prepared. Do not schedule yourself too close to class times or other committments. You don't want to be late for work, or for class or practice.
Remember that some offices deal with the general public and want students who need not be told about proper attire. Of course, you may dress as a college student, but appropriately dressed under common sense guidelines.
7. Do well. Be industrious, be prompt, be respectful, and be professional, and you will increase the likelihood that you will continue to be employed. Remember that no student is guaranteed a job on campus and jobs are competitive. If someone else loses their employment opportunity for any reason, chances are high that several students will seek that opportunity as a first job, a second job, or a job to replace the job they have. To ensure that you are on the winning end of this dynamic, do well, and be a great student employee.
8. Take it seriously. Your on-campus employers are often contacted by your future employers either after you graduate and are seeking your first "real" job, or sometimes for summer internships to which you may have applied. The faculty and professional staff who supervise you in your campus job are your future references, so keep that in mind.
9. Multiple jobs on campus. A good number of students are able to find more than one job on campus to fulfill their 10 hours/week allowance. You are able to seek a second job on campus as early as October 1. This restriction is put into place to help ensure that all students who want to work are given ample opportunity to find at least one job on campus.
10. If you are an international student with non-U.S. citizenship, please contact Ms. Jackie Haring () in the Office of International Programs for the additional steps you will need to take to secure your employment forms.
11. Students are not guaranteed jobs on campus, so finding a job is entirely up to you and is as competitive as finding employment off-campus. The College does attempt to prioritize hiring students who are "work aided" (meaning that work is part of their need-based financial aid package), but ALL full-time students are able to seek work on campus.
If you are a work-aided student, be prepared to let your potential campus employer know that you are work-aided. You may even, if you feel comfortable, print a copy of your aid package from MyAidAward and show your potential employer a select portion of your award that illustrates that you have been awarded Federal Work Study or College Work Option - if you feel comfortable doing so.
Other things to know:
1. You will be paid $7.25/hour (Federal Minimum Wage as of July 24, 2009). Some specially skilled jobs on campus, hired outside of the Federal Work Study or College Work Option programs, may pay a hirer wage. Those opportunities are usually available to upperclass students or to students by special invitation or a competitive selection process.
2. You will be paid every two weeks per the Student Payroll schedule.
3. We recommend that you sign up for direct deposit into your checking account. When you are paid, your payment is yours to do with as you and/or your parents have agreed. Most students use their paycheck for personal spending money.
If you have other questions or concerns, please contact your department supervisor or contact .
