Many students in the U.S. turn to part-time work as a way to help fund their college education. The Federal Work-Study Program, administered through the Office of Federal Student Aid, is a form of student financial aid that allows a student to work in exchange for a portion of their financial aid money.
Cooperative education is an increasingly popular type of program in which universities help match students with flexible, school-friendly jobs with organizations and business. Research shows that employers value job experience in new employees. Cooperative education is usually more long-term than the traditional summer internship, and can help students transition between school and work.
If you receive a Federal Work-Study award in your financial aid package, the first place to look is your college's work-study listings on its website. Colleges typically offer a variety of jobs for work-study students, ranging from managing sports equipment to working in the dining hall to taking care of lab rats. Work-study jobs are required to pay above federal minimum wage, but are not usually very highly paid or skilled jobs. Depending on the job, you may have to submit a resume or interview.
If you don't get a work-study job right away, ask your advisor and other professors if they know of any opportunities. Sometimes departments have extra work-study money and can create more skilled positions.
Some colleges arrange with local nonprofit organizations to offer off-campus jobs for work-study students. These jobs are usually more skilled than on-campus jobs and offer a great opportunity to build your resume while earning money for college. They are also more competitive and may require previous volunteer or work experience.
No work-study award? You'll have to wait until after the work-study students have had a chance to find jobs, usually about a month into the semester. Unfilled jobs are then opened to all student applicants.
If your college or university offers a cooperative education program, this may be the best way to gain valuable work experience while attending school. Cooperative education jobs are particularly common for technical students, such as engineering majors.
There are two common types of cooperative education program. One involves alternating a semester of school with a semester of work, repeating the cycle until graduation. The parallel model requires spending equal amounts of time on school and work in a given semester. In the parallel model, seminars and other programs can be used to connect school and work.
Only a few colleges offer full cooperative education programs, but internships are an important experience for many college students. Unlike normal jobs, internships rarely pay more than a small stipend, but a summer internship can be an invaluable experience.
College career centers, professional organizations, and nonprofits like the Student Conservation Association all provide internship lists, and your career center advisors can help you find appropriate internship opportunities. If you have a list of organizations you're interested in, check their websites for internship openings. Even if no intern positions are listed, you may be able to create a position for yourself.
Work-study, cooperative education jobs, and internships are more than just a way to help pay for your college education - they're valuable sources of work experience that will help you find a job after college. They can also help you choose or confirm your major and future career goals.
By Mark B. Allen
Cooperative education is an increasingly popular type of program in which universities help match students with flexible, school-friendly jobs with organizations and business. Research shows that employers value job experience in new employees. Cooperative education is usually more long-term than the traditional summer internship, and can help students transition between school and work.
If you receive a Federal Work-Study award in your financial aid package, the first place to look is your college's work-study listings on its website. Colleges typically offer a variety of jobs for work-study students, ranging from managing sports equipment to working in the dining hall to taking care of lab rats. Work-study jobs are required to pay above federal minimum wage, but are not usually very highly paid or skilled jobs. Depending on the job, you may have to submit a resume or interview.
If you don't get a work-study job right away, ask your advisor and other professors if they know of any opportunities. Sometimes departments have extra work-study money and can create more skilled positions.
Some colleges arrange with local nonprofit organizations to offer off-campus jobs for work-study students. These jobs are usually more skilled than on-campus jobs and offer a great opportunity to build your resume while earning money for college. They are also more competitive and may require previous volunteer or work experience.
No work-study award? You'll have to wait until after the work-study students have had a chance to find jobs, usually about a month into the semester. Unfilled jobs are then opened to all student applicants.
If your college or university offers a cooperative education program, this may be the best way to gain valuable work experience while attending school. Cooperative education jobs are particularly common for technical students, such as engineering majors.
There are two common types of cooperative education program. One involves alternating a semester of school with a semester of work, repeating the cycle until graduation. The parallel model requires spending equal amounts of time on school and work in a given semester. In the parallel model, seminars and other programs can be used to connect school and work.
Only a few colleges offer full cooperative education programs, but internships are an important experience for many college students. Unlike normal jobs, internships rarely pay more than a small stipend, but a summer internship can be an invaluable experience.
College career centers, professional organizations, and nonprofits like the Student Conservation Association all provide internship lists, and your career center advisors can help you find appropriate internship opportunities. If you have a list of organizations you're interested in, check their websites for internship openings. Even if no intern positions are listed, you may be able to create a position for yourself.
Work-study, cooperative education jobs, and internships are more than just a way to help pay for your college education - they're valuable sources of work experience that will help you find a job after college. They can also help you choose or confirm your major and future career goals.
By Mark B. Allen
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