How to search for student worker jobs on campus

Most of incoming students are not funded from the beginning, and they need to look for student worker jobs to support themselves. In addition to money, these jobs can help gain some valuable experience and open some doors for possible assistantship at the same place. Here are some tips that will help in the search.

Preparation: Learn computer skills and Learn typing.

Resume: Make a one page resume. Your contact details including your email and phone number should be at the top. Carry 20 copies of your resume everyday, everywhere you go.

Ego: Welcome to America and leave your ego behind. Student worker jobs may include not so cool responsibilities like washing dishes, cleaning. Such tasks and those who do those are treated with dignity, so be mentally prepared to do any task.

Never give up: If you really need a student job, keep on looking. No amount of time spent looking for a job is too much. Often time those who get jobs are those who keep on looking, not those who are the smartest.

Speak American English: There is no need to develop a fake accent or pretend to be someone else, but it really helps if you not use the words and lingo of British English, which may mean something else in US English and culture. If you speak “Z” as “Zed” people will think you are from another planet. In USA “Z” is “Zee” Read this.

Speak slowly: People from different cultures have better chance of understanding if you speak slowly. Americans do speak very slowly compared to many other parts of the world, and they appreciate when you speak slowly to them.

Dress code: The dress code on campus is very informal. However when you are looking for or doing a student job, make yourself presentable, and always wear shoes – of any kind. The university T-Shirt is always a good idea for fitting in.

Interview: While facing an interview for a campus job (yes, even for most mundane ones) you need to appear very interested and excited about the job. This criteria is very important for Americans. If you do not show interest and enthusiasm, you cannot get any job in USA, from that of a janitor to CEO.

Avoid Dead Fish handshake: Americans shake hands very firmly, looking in the eyes. Most international students shake hands like their hand was a dead fish and they look….you guessed it, towards the floor. A firm handshake is very important in the USA, and extremely important in a job search scenario.

On campus only: Look for a part time job within the University only. Working outside university is a crime.

This post is about looking for a part time job to support your studies. However many of above points are equally valid for the full-time job search.

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