Finding a Job

1.  Understand Your Eligibility

• Student employment requires three or more credit hours of enrollment at Columbus State
• If Federal Work Study, you must be enrolled in six or more credit hours
• If you do not have Federal Work Study but want to request it, visit Rhodes Hall 143 to speak to Student Employment Services about that possibility. 

2.  Search Current Openings

• Student positions are posted online and available 24/7
• Jobs listed as requiring Federal Work Study are only open to those students who are eligible for Federal Work Study as a part of their Financial Aid award letter

3.  Review Job Descriptions and Requirements

• Only apply for positions for which you are qualified and genuinely interested
• Most positions require a resume and maybe even a cover letter.  If you need assistance with preparing such documents, visit our Training & Resources page for some instructive guides.  You can also visit our staff in RH 143 for a one-on-one resume review
• Carefully read the exact duties, responsibilities, and preferred qualifications
• Read the Special Instructions to Applicants section of each description for any additional steps that may be required to process your application
• Positions through the Community Work Study program will list the nonprofit agency’s name in the job title - e.g. Office Assistant (Salvation Army)

4.  Apply for a Job

• To apply, you will need to create a username and password for the site
• Some positions may ask for a resume and/or cover letter
• Click APPLY FOR THIS POSTING at the bottom of any job posting
• Answer any required questions, attach resume, and submit your application

5.  Be Prepared to Interview

If selected for an interview, you will be contacted by the hiring department.  Please understand that the process of reviewing applicants may take upwards of 2 or 3 weeks for some positions.

Questions you may be asked in an interview:
 
What prior work experience do you have?
 
Why are you interested in our position?
 
Why do you do think we should hire you?
 
How many credit hours are you taking – what is your academic plan?

Tips for interviewing:
 
Show up on time
 
Dress appropriately
 
Stay positive about yourself and your abilities
 
Remember, you are interviewing as soon as you walk in the door.  Be polite and courteous to all staff.
 
If you can not make your scheduled interview time due to an emergency, call to apologize and request a reschedule.

6.  Keep Trying

Student jobs are in high demand, and eligibility for student employment does not guarantee a position.  Open positions go quickly, so keep checking in on the online postings.  You might not find your dream job, and you may even need to consider off-campus employment. 

International Students

International students are permitted to work part-time on the premises of Columbus State's campus and are welcome to apply for any student employment position as long as it does not require Federal Work Study eligibility.  International students per visa requirements must be enrolled full-time (12 credits hours or more) and are limited to no more than 20 hours per week.  For a full overview of eligibility requirements for employment as an international student click here or visit Student Employment Services in Rhodes Hall 143.