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MEAGAN HALL
MEAGAN HALL
08.24.17
Students at Ohio University can help keep their bank accounts happy while balancing work and social lives by working part-time on campus, and finding a job can be easy when students use the right tools.
Students should reflect on the type of position or environment they would like to work in before anything else, Erika Peyton, assistant director for Employer Relations and Marketing at the Career & Leadership Development Center, said.
“There are opportunities in Culinary, Event Services, Campus Recreation and Alden Library – but those are just a few of many departments that hire students,” she said in an email.
Students should then consider the types of positions they are eligible for, such as the Program to Aid Career Exploration (PACE), Federal Work-Study or Student Hourly Employment (SHE). Approximately 8,300 students have jobs with one of those types of positions, according to OU’s human resources department.
PACE employs about 300 students each year, according to the university’s website. The program is unique to OU and is set up to give students an opportunity to explore their career paths. Students must be eligible for a PACE job to apply.
Students qualify for Federal Work-Study jobs based on what information they fill out in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and only students who qualify can view and select those jobs. In contrast, hourly positions are open to any student who is enrolled at least half-time.
“Each type of position will have a different application and job search process,” Peyton said in an email.
Another important step students should follow is reaching out to the department that the student is most interested in to learn more about the position and how to apply. Peyton said the CLDC can help students through the entire process and can provide resources for preparing resumes and cover letters and practicing for interviews.
When it comes to the interview, Peyton suggests students schedule a 30-minute mock interview with a CLDC staff member.
“(Students) practice interviewing and get valuable feedback on how to improve,” she said in an email. “When it comes to interviews, practice makes perfect.”
Although many employment opportunities are available on campus, Culinary Services is one of the largest student employers, OU Spokesman Dan Pittman said.
Alex Driehaus | FILE
Max Wolff makes a Frappuccino in Front Room on Sunday, August 28, 2016. Front Room is one of many student jobs available on campus.
There are different opportunities for students to work with Culinary Services. Students can prepare meals for the dining halls, operate campus markets and cafes, and help with banquet and catering services, according to the university’s website.
A student’s starting wage can range from $8.15 per hour, which is the minimum wage in the state of Ohio, to $8.30 an hour. Students also have the opportunity to earn $1 more per hour if they work shifts that are difficult to fill. According to OU policy, students may work up to 25 hours each week, and those hours can be scheduled to work around classes.
“Be realistic about what you can take on,” Peyton said in an email. “Take time to reflect on yourself and commit to what suits you and will help you be successful.”
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This story is part of a series of specially designed stories that represents some of the best journalism The Post has to offer. Check out the rest of the special projects here.