By Hannah Lynn, World News Editor
There is no doubt that college expenses have always been pricey, and it just keeps getting more expensive as time goes on. Many students find it essential to pick up a job to not only pay their college expenses, but to also make lasting memories apart from academics.
To combat this situation that many students find themselves in, Saint Leo University offers many job opportunities on campus for students.
While finding a job, even at the college level, is always a somewhat tedious process, there are multiple steps that a person can take throughout the job application process to help make themselves stand out to their future employers, and to make the process just a little bit easier to ensure you have funding for these everlasting memories with your new friends.
The first step in looking for any job is to create or update a resume. Saint Leo student worker, Emily Shute, a junior majoring in political science, reflected that “the hardest part of the application process is creating and polishing your resume.”
In general, the point of a resume, according to Shute, is to “highlight your skills and any past experience.”
This is an essential aspect that cannot be missed in a resume. Highlighting your skills and past experiences can help a job candidate stand out to an employer, which, in turn, will help to increase the chance of obtaining a job interview.
It is also critical at the resume stage of the application process to “make sure to ask for help and have someone check it over before submitting it,” Shute remarked.
Having another set of eyes on a resume helps to ensure that there are no typos and that everything adds up in the mind of another person, which will help to ensure the resume is clear and easy to understand.
Before applying to jobs on campus, it’s important to understand the difference between Federal Work-Study and the non-Federal Work-Study Programs.
The Federal Work-Study is a federal “scholarship” for students who demonstrate financial need. You can find out if you qualify for this “scholarship” through your financial aid on eLion. The amount provided is how much funding the recipient will receive a semester. It is important to note that this scholarship is paid through paychecks, not on top of it.
The thing to look out for with the Federal Work-Study Program is that if more scholarships are added to your financial aid while having this type of job, there is a risk of the amount of money allocated dropping significantly, or risk losing the job entirely.
Jobs labeled non-Federal Work-Study are open for any student on campus who is not qualified for Federal Work-Study, and these positions typically have fewer restrictions than the Federal Work-Study Program does.
In either category, these jobs could be found in the Canon Memorial Library, the registrar’s office, the Wellness Center, dining services, or the Print Shop. Keep your options open!
There are many questions that students ask themselves during the application process, such as what paperwork they need, how many hours they can work, and how much they can be paid. The answers to many of these questions can be found in the Saint Leo University Student Employee Handbook.
Going to college for the first time is a new and often scary experience, and this may make many students hesitant to get a job when they first start college.
“Having a job was an adjustment at first, but I eventually stuck to a routine that helped manage my time well,” said Shute.
Routines can look different from person to person, but they are essential when managing a college course load and a job. Once a stable routine is found, everything will fall into place.
Although it may take some time to get there, the next stage of the job application process is the interview. This can be done in multiple ways, through Zoom or in person. At this stage, people may find themselves excited, but nervous.
At this stage, it is important to make a good first impression with the interviewer. One way to do this, Shute recommends, is to “bring a printed copy of your resume.” Many interviewers may not have all job applicants’ resume on hand, and bringing in a copy can help to reinforce your qualifications for the position or let the interviewer ask any questions they may have.
When looking for a job, Shute recommends not limiting opportunities to those the school offers, “but also talk to friends and professors about job openings as well.” This tactic may allow students to have a job that is closely related to their major and get a step closer to their future goals.
It is important, once in the workforce, to have a work-life balance, so there is time to make memories with friends, time for school, and work. Shute wanted to reinforce the advice of “having a schedule being super important and making sure that you have designated time for schoolwork. Don’t overwork yourself.”
The many job opportunities that Saint Leo offers can be found at Employment at Saint Leo University (myworkdayjobs.com).
Having a job and going to school, along with having fun with friends, is certainly manageable. Many people often find themselves loving the job they work and the routine they’ve established, and they don’t regret their decision.
