The Benefits of Student Employment: The Path Towards Experience
![(Photo Credits): This is a photo of Boston University Student Employment Office student workers. They are posed in four different rows. In the back three rows, the students are standing and smiling. In the front row, the students are kneeling down. Each student is wearing a red polo that has the Boston University logo in the right top corner. In the back of the photo, there is a green tree and they are standing outside on stone. The students are wearing various different bottoms. Most are wearing jeans but one student is wearing brown shorts in the front, the female to the left of her is wearing brown pants, and to the left of her, the individual is wearing a brown zebra print maxi skirt.](/files/2023/10/SEO.png)
The Benefits of Student Employment: The Path Towards Experience
When I first received my work-study award and was accepted to Boston University, I was thrilled at the thought of a grant that would help me pay for school, but confused about what was expected of me. I thought: what is a work-study award? Is it a loan? A grant? All I knew was that I would need to find a job soon to keep my work-study award, so I started my hunt on the Student Link. Luckily, I found the perfect job that allowed me to learn about student employment on campus: a social media assistant for the Student Employment Office. Not only would I be running the department’s social media accounts, but I would also be learning about employment as a college student and what my work-study award truly meant. You may ask:
How did I find my ideal on-campus job?
Well, first, what does work-study mean?
“Work-Study is a federal financial aid program designed to promote access to employment to help students meet educational expenses. Students are personally paid for hours worked in an eligible Work-Study position, as the program is intended for students to use their Work-Study earnings to pay for education-related expenses.”—Boston University Student Employment Office (SEO)
I started by asking myself what I valued most in my search for on-campus employment. Things I wanted included: a flexible schedule, an understanding supervisor, and a job that would allow me to build skills for my intended career. After emailing the supervisor listed on the Student Link and meeting with her in person, I knew this job was for me.
As a future marketing professional, I had always felt that graphic design was not my strong suit, but I wanted to improve my skills. In this position, I would design graphics for the Student Employment Office’s social media channels. Now that I am a junior, I have developed the skill significantly, and it has benefited me in group projects, internships, and my e-board position in an on-campus club I am a part of. Regarding flexibility, my supervisor and I agreed that I could choose my hours as long as I checked in with her. This was ideal for me as a freshman who intended to be heavily involved on campus. Not to mention, freshman year can be a challenging transition—it was for me!
While it can be daunting to start a job on campus, feeling uncertain whether you will have time for other responsibilities, I encourage you to talk candidly with your prospective employer about your concerns. You must choose a position that fits both your schedule and your personality. I did not magically find a job that fit all my criteria, but I spoke openly with my supervisor to accommodate my needs. At the end of the day, you want to be able to look forward to working in a positive work environment, even if it is intended to fulfill your work-study award. You may not find this in your first meeting with a prospective employer, but I promise there is a position for everyone!
Here’s how the Student Employment Office can help YOU in your job search:
- Finding a part-time job while you’re enrolled in school
- Understanding if you’re eligible for an increased work-study award
- Getting your paperwork ready for your I-9. Here are some details on why you need to complete your I-9 and what you’ll need to complete it.
- Getting paid!
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