Student employment

I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Independence Day, preferably without too much Will Smith included. As summer marches along, we might as well mention student employment.

The two things that college students seem to typically have in short supply are time and money. Which works just fine for student employees, because the work load is usually very manageable, but still provides a steady source of cash. During the academic year, GVSU employs between 2500 and 3000 students for on campus jobs. These can range from working in campus dining to monitoring the rec center, from landscaping to tutoring, and even working as a campus tour guide (a position held by yours truly). The pay for all of these positions varies, and while I know a few rates, I don’t know them well enough to post here.

If you’re interested in working on campus, one of the best things you can do is check out the Employment web site. Just head over to www.gvsu.edu/studentjobs or search “student employment” from the home page, and it’s really easy to sign up from there. On the web site is the university’s Job Board, an exclusive posting of GVSU on campus jobs and students looking for jobs (though there are a few instances where off campus employers can also post there). That’s the best first step, but the best second step is to physically walk around campus and ask different employers if there are positions available, and apply in person (which is how I found both of the campus jobs I’ve had). We also encourage students to apply early for on campus jobs, as they will tend to go very quickly in the fall. This seems to set incoming freshmen at a disadvantage, since you guys won’t be here until the Fall Semester, but realize that you can apply for a job during the summer preceding the fall that you would be employed.

Another common question is “can I qualify for work study?” And the answer is “maybe,” but not everyone really understands how work study works at Grand Valley. Here at GVSU, work study is a form of need based financial aid; in so many words, if you qualify for it, the government will subsidize a portion of your wages, meaning that even though you get the same paycheck, GVSU pays for less of it, making you a pretty lucrative employee.

A lot of students are also unsure if they should even take on a job, being a full time student. The best answer here is that you should evaluate your own situation and determine how well you can balance your time, but the employment website also cites studies that show that work and learning go hand in hand. Additionally, on campus employers realize that you are a student first, and your schedule and workload are based around your classes. Finally, don’t think that the only jobs are on campus; between Standale, downtown Grand Rapids, and Rivertown Mall, not to mention everything inbetween, there are plenty of businesses where a student could work during the school year.

But that's about it, so go ahead and post any questions.

-Kyle