Worried about finding a job to make ends meet while you're in college? Money exists on campus if you know where to look for it. I went ahead and talked to the folks over at Student Employment to figure out what students can expect from employment at EWU. I also did a little digging and found some current jobs available even in the second week of school!
When and how should I apply?
Jobs at Eastern become available through Handshake, a website designed for students to find work in and out of college. Right after summer quarter is the perfect time to start looking for jobs, as EWU employers will post jobs mid-August. Once you fill out your profile you’ll know whether you qualify for jobs: a sidebar has green checks if you meet qualifications and a grey minus sign if you don’t.
What jobs are popular?
The most popular jobs are usually Dining Services and Athletics so apply early to those positions if they interest you. Student Employment recommends you contact the employer over the phone and introduce yourself a couple days after you apply. This can be as simple as “Hello my name is Swoop and I applied to dining services. I wanted to call up and introduce myself and ask a question or two about the job” and then go from there. Good questions might range from “What are you looking for in a worker” to something that wasn’t listed on the post. Stay away from questions involving the pay or your chances of landing the job.
Where should I apply?
As for where you should apply, I recommend applying to multiple jobs, perhaps up to five or even more! Apply to at least one job you don’t think you’re fully qualified for but is on the path you want to take. Even if you don’t have the experience, if you make a good impression with the employer you’ll have an opportunity for the future.
The interview process. Ahh!
One of my biggest hurdles going into college was the interview process. I came to interviews completely unprepared and panicked when I spoke to interviewers. Recently I’ve learned how to get past my anxiety of interviewing, but I could have gotten through much faster with the help of Career Services. You can sign up for an appointment to prepare for mock interviews, get help with your resume and cover letter, or have an adviser review a grad school application resume. It’s completely free for students and alumni and your future self will thank you for it.
You should definitely do this. Really. Students who go to Career Services are more likely to land jobs both in and after college.
Recap
1: Apply to a few jobs through Handshake after summer quarter ends
2: A couple days after you apply, call the employer and introduce yourself
3: Talk to Career Services, meet with an adviser to look over your resume, and set up a mock interview
4: Do your interview and ace it!
5: Profit (see, no ??? in this one)
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