Student Employment

The terms “student employment” and “work study” are used interchangeably at Emory & Henry College, but student employment is the overarching term for any job held by students.  Work study is a term used by the federal government and refers to the funding colleges and universities receive to provide work opportunities for students with financial need.

If you have received a work study award it will appear on your financial aid award, which you can access on MyHub.  The amount listed is typically the amount you have the opportunity to earn over the course of the academic year (fall and spring).  Questions about your financial aid award should be directed to the Financial Aid Office.

YES.  Any student at Emory & Henry College that wants to work can work regardless of whether or not they were awarded work study in their financial aid package. Please note, though, that preference for student employment jobs is given to students with a Federal Work Study award.

ALL student employment jobs will be posted and maintained on Handshake by the student employment program staff.  Every student has a FREE, LIFELONG account with Handshake, so to get started login to Handshake using your E&H credentials (example:  ehstudent21 and e-mail password)!  Please note that Handshake not only houses student employment jobs, but also internships, full- and part- time jobs, volunteer opportunities, AND so much more!

Each job description on Handshake will include its own application instructions.  Pay close attention to how the employer wants you to apply for the position. Some may ask you to submit a resume, others may ask you to email them with why you want to work with them, and others still might ask you to simply stop by their office to express interest.  If you need help with writing a resume, email or cover letter, visit the Career Center’s Applying for Jobs page linked here.

The number of hours you work really depends on your schedule, work needs and your student employment/work study award amount, but student employment is designed to offer up to 10 hours of work per week on average, but can fluctuate from week-to-week depending on the need of the employer.  You must communicate with your employer if you would like to work less or more hours per week.

YES.  Student employment is a job and can most definitely be an entry on your resume.  Like any job, student employment will provide students the opportunity to utilize and gain skills and abilities and a chance to grow professionally, so it can, and should, be on your resume.  Please take advantage of student employment as a real job experience!

Yes.  Students have the choice of receiving direct payment for the hours worked (direct deposit) or they can choose to have their earnings applied to their tuition or other college charges. Students will be asked to complete a form which denotes their preference concerning payment.

We suggest that you apply for at least five(5) student employment jobs at one time.  Why? Like any job search, you are competing with other candidates for the same job, so the more jobs you apply for the greater chance you have of receiving an offer.

Currently, Emory & Henry College is paying $11.00 per hour for student employment positions.

In most cases the answer is no, but it is up to the supervisor.  Supervisors may require students to re-apply each year, but if not, your supervisor will need to complete a new contract for the upcoming academic year renewing your student employment within their department.   Reach out to your supervisor before the semester starts to let them know you are interested in returning as their student employee for the coming semester (or year).

The main thing to keep in mind is time management!  Being a student athlete is like having a part-time job on top of full-time student responsibilities, so your time is limited, but you can still participate in student employment by managing your time wisely.  We suggest that you pursue student employment even when you are in-season, but to communicate with your supervisor that your time will be limited during your in-season semester, but you will be able to work more hours during your out-of-season semester.  For example, if you are a fall athlete, plan to apply for student employment opportunities at the beginning of fall and let your employer know that you can work only 2-5 hours a week during fall semester, but will be able to work up to 10 hours a week during spring semester when you are not in-season.  Most on-campus employers will be able to work with your schedule.

First, congratulate yourself for receiving an offer to interview!  That lets you know that you have the qualities they are seeking in a student employee.  Second, prepare for the interview by reading through sample interview questions and think about how you would answer the questions.  For example, if the employer asks you, “What are your strengths,” how would you answer this question. Visit the linked Interviewing Guide for sample questions and answers.  Also, when you go for the interview, be sure to dress up a bit to show the employer you are truly interested in the position.  Dressing up for a student employment job DOES NOT MEAN a suit, but a pair of nice pants and a button-up shirt or blouse can go a long way!  DO NOT wear short shorts, pajamas, tank tops, or your athletic gear to the interview. Oh, and one more thing, be sure if you are offered the job to ask the employer what you are expected to wear to work!

Students are paid on a biweekly basis. Students have the option of being paid via direct deposit or can have their pay applied to their student account.

We do not place students in student employment opportunities because we treat the process as an actual job search so the student has control of the jobs they apply for and the job(s) they accept.

Yes. The state of Virginia is an at will state which means an employee can be dismissed by an employer for any reason (that is, without having to establish “just cause” for termination), and without warning.     

No. Your work-study position is a real job just like any other job. As an employee of the college, you are needed to work the times you are scheduled to work and to complete the tasks you are assigned. If you need time off to study, talk with your supervisor in advance about scheduling time off from your job. Remember, you have made a commitment to be at work at scheduled times. Work study is a “real job” where the employer requires work in exchange for wages.  If you have down time at your job, be proactive and ask your employer if they have anything they need you to do.  If they say no, not at this time, you can ask them if you can work on school work until there is a project that needs completing.

Yes, you can wait to work until spring semester, BUT waiting until spring semester will dramatically reduce the number of job opportunities you can apply for.  Most students will pursue a student employment job in the fall and will keep it the entire academic year (fall and spring) so where there might be 80+ open jobs in the fall, there might be 10+ open in the spring.  If you feel more comfortable waiting until the spring to work on campus, we suggest that you apply for jobs in the fall and let the employer know that you are looking primarily for hours in the spring semester.

Yes, Bonner students are eligible to apply for student employment positions.

Unfortunately, no. Student employee positions are for undergraduate students only. Career Services is a wonderful resource that can assist Graduate Students in finding employment.

You are not required to disclose, unless you would like to request accommodation for a part of the application or interview process or for the job itself.  If you need help navigating student employment as a student with a disability, please know there are individuals and resources to help. Visit the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) web site for on-line resources. In addition, Emory & Henry College Human Resources staff members can meet with you to discuss your employment disclosure (or non-disclosure) and accessibility questions.  To schedule an appointment with Human Resources, please contact Kim Steiner, Human Resources Director, at ksteiner@ehc.edu or 276-944-6112, or visit the Human Resources office on the 2nd floor of Kelly Library.  

No, but there is one exception.  Only RAs that have been awarded Federal Work Study (FWS) are allowed to pursue a student employment job in addition to their RA position.

The terminology of “student employment (work study) award” can be a bit misleading. If you are “awarded” student employment in your financial aid package, this simply means that you have the ability to earn up to that amount by working on campus.  It is not an automatic amount deducted from your tuition/fees, but an amount that you can earn by working on campus in a student employment opportunity. There is no penalty for not earning the full amount of your student employment award.

Please work with your supervisor to arrange any time off that may be needed.  This is just good work protocol. Let your supervisor know ahead of time that you will need a specific date off to confirm it is convenient. Do not wait until the day of to request the time off.  Be sure to also have a conversation with your supervisor about if you are sick, need to be late, or have an emergency, how they wish to be communicated with.  For example, some supervisors may ask you to call them, while others may request an e-mail.

First things first, speak with your supervisor regarding the pieces of your job that you are not enjoying to see if any changes can be made. The worst thing that you can do is just stop showing up. If your concerns revolve around your supervisor then please partner with the student employment staff so that you can explore other options.  

Student employment jobs at the School of Health Sciences are primarily for current students at the School of Health Sciences (graduate students).

Financial Aid Questions? Contact Scarlett Blevins at ehfinaid@ehc.edu or by stopping by the Financial Aid Office (First Floor Wiley Hall_#101)

Required Paperwork Questions? Contact Anne-Louise Tunstall via email at antunstall@ehc.edu 

Questions About Being Paid?  Contact Courtney Thompson, Payroll Administrator, at cathompson@ehc.edu 

Need Help Finding a Student Employment Opportunity?  Contact Anne-Louise Tunstall at antunstall@ehc.edu or stop by the Career Center.