On-Campus Student Employment

• Develop the 8 Career Readiness Competencies employers look for, including critical thinking, professionalism, and leadership.
• Work close to your class locations with flexible hours.
• Studies show that students who work on campus 20 hours or less each week actually do better academically than those students who work off campus, or do not work at all.
• Make lasting connections with Kent State University staff.

Part-time On-Campus Hourly Student Employment

• If you are an undergraduate or graduate student, you are eligible for part-time on-campus hourly student employment positions.
• There are a limited number of on-campus student employment positions, and these positions are primarily for undergraduate students. 
• Both undergraduate and graduate students must meet the Credit Hour Enrollment Requirement to work as a student employee. 
• Domestic students may not work more than 28 hours per week in all jobs combined. 
• International students may not work more than 20 hours per week in all jobs combined during the semester.
• The “Work study: Eligible students only” label appears on all on-campus job postings in Handshake. This is not a requirement for application as indicated by Handshake for Kent State University job postings. Please disregard that label. However, some on-campus jobs require a student to have a Federal Work Study award to be hired for the position. If this is the case, this will be indicated in the job description.

Federal Work Study

• Federal Work Study (FWS) is a type of self-help aid that must be earned. The FWS award will not be deducted from the student's bill. A student will receive a bi-weekly paycheck based on hours worked.
• A student that has been awarded Federal Work Study may view their award in FLASHline.
• To request consideration for Federal Work Study, first, apply for student aid by completing the FAFSA. Then, Kent campus students can request an eligibility review by completing the Kent Campus Federal Work Study Request Form on the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center website. 
• Regional campus students should contact the financial aid representative at the campus where they intend to work.
• International students are not eligible for Federal Work Study. · Learn more about Federal Work Study here on the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center website and here in the Student Employment Handbook.

Graduate Assistantships

• If you are a graduate student, you are eligible for part-time on-campus hourly student employment positions AND for graduate assistantship (GA) positions, but not at the same time.
• Each department at Kent State University manages their own hiring for graduate assistantships. If you are looking for a graduate assistantship position, first contact your academic department for your major directly to inquire about any open opportunities.
• For more information about graduate assistantships please review the following: 
  • Graduate Aid & Assistantships 
  • Guide to Graduate Assistantships
• Please direct any additional questions you have about graduate assistantships to Graduate Studies at graduatestudies@kent.edu.

Note: International students DO NOT need to have a Social Security Number (SSN) to apply for a job. Once you have been offered a job, you will apply for an SSN during the hiring process, if you do not already have one.

Step 1: Create Your Handshake Profile

Kent State uses a job search platform called Handshake for the posting and application of all on-campus positions. Handshake is also the #1 place where students find jobs, internships and other opportunities, such as Kent State University career-related events, career fairs and more. Completing your Handshake profile increases your chances of getting noticed by employers.

Setup Your Profile:

      1. Login to Handshake using your Kent State University email address and password.

      2. Click on the circle in the top right corner of Handshake and select “My Profile.”

      3. Be sure to include all relevant information in your Handshake profile, especially:

         a. Major

         b. Anticipated graduation date

         c. Skills

         d. Work and volunteer experiences

         e. Industry interests 

      4. You can also follow these steps to get started.

Manage Your Notification Preferences:

• It is important to note that clicking 'unsubscribe' in any Handshake email will unsubscribe you from ALL Handshake emails. Don't do this! Instead, manage your email notification preferences through Handshake.
• Click on the circle in the top right corner and select ‘Notification Preferences’ to do this.

Step 2: Build Your Resume and Cover Letter

Resumes & Cover Letters: For many positions, you will need a resume and cover letter to apply. You can read about resumes and cover letters here. Tailor your resume for student employment positions and not for your industry. Make sure your application materials only showcase skills that you have and are confident about.

Meet with a Career Advisor: If you do not have a resume or need help improving your current resume, you can click here to schedule an in-person or virtual career advising appointment through Handshake to meet with a Career Advisor. Be sure to note the time zone you are viewing in Handshake when selecting an available appointment time. Alternatively, attend a drop-in Career Advising session.

Upload Materials to Handshake: Be sure to upload your new resume to your Handshake profile under ‘My profile.’

Step 3: Search and Apply for On-Campus Jobs!

Once you have your resume and Handshake profile ready, you can begin searching for jobs. New opportunities are added daily with peak hiring occurring at the beginning of each semester. Login to Handshake and follow these steps:

To filter for On-Campus Student Employment Jobs in Handshake:

      1. Click on ‘Jobs’ at the top of the page

      2. Click on the ‘All filters’ button

      3. Select the ‘On-Campus’ filter and then click ‘Show results’ to view available on-campus student employment jobs only

      4. You can also select other filters if desired

To filter for Graduate Assistantships in Handshake:

      1. Click on ‘Jobs’ at the top of the page

      2. Click on the ‘All filters’ button

      3. Under ‘Job Type’ click ‘+More’

      4. Select the ‘Graduate School’ filter and then click ‘Show results’ to view available graduate assistantship positions

      5. You can narrow your search further by typing “Kent State University” in the search box. Graduate Assistantships are rarely posted in Handshake, so you may see zero results.

Tips & Reminders

• Do not apply to every job posting in Handshake. Focus on QUALITY, not QUANTITY. Mass applying to on-campus positions will not help you.
• Job Location: Check the campus location for the job posting! Kent State has eight campuses, so make sure to look for jobs on the same campus where you take classes.
• Required Qualifications and Certifications: Do you have the required qualifications? Only apply for jobs you meet the qualifications for and that you know you can do.
• Graduation Date and Class Standing: Does the job ask for a certain graduation date or class standing? For example, you might need to be a student for a year before you can apply for some positions.
• Required Hours: Consider your other responsibilities and ensure that you can fulfill the work hours per week requirement for the position before applying. Some positions require 28 hours of work per week; international students may only work 20 hours per week during the semester.
• Federal Work Study (FWS): The “Work study: Eligible students only” label appears on all on-campus job postings in Handshake. This is not a requirement for application as indicated by Handshake for Kent State University job postings. Please disregard that label. However, some on-campus jobs require a student to have a Federal Work Study award to be hired for the position. If this is the case, this will be indicated in the job description. Please see the “On-Campus Job Types & Eligibility” tab for more information on FWS.
• Application Status: Applying for a job will not guarantee that you will get a call back. Once on campus, do not go to an employer’s office or class to ask about the status of your job application. Instead, follow up with the employer through Handshake messaging or via email.

Other Ways to Learn About Job Opportunities:

• Visit department websites for information on positions and/or online applications. Some examples include: Recreation and Wellness Services, University Libraries, University Housing and University Culinary Services.
• Network with fellow students who are employed on campus.
• Speak with academic advisors and faculty/staff who are familiar with university services and departments that employ students.

Step 4: Attend a Student Employment Fair

Career Exploration and Development hosts a Student Employment Fair at the beginning of each fall semester. This is a great opportunity to:

• Learn about all on-campus student employment opportunities
• Meet and establish connections with employers from a variety of on-campus departments · Receive a FREE professional headshot for your Handshake and LinkedIn profiles
• Get immediate feedback on your resume from a Career Advisor · Learn about the Career Closet containing FREE professional attire
• Ask questions of Career Exploration and Development staff in person

To view details and register for any upcoming Student Employment Fairs: 

      1. Login to Handshake

      2. Click on the ‘Events’ tab

      3. Search for ‘Student Employment Fair’ in the search box

      4. Click on the event if there is one

      5. Click the ‘+Join Event’ button to register

Step 5: Interview

If you are contacted by an on-campus employer about an interview, use these resources to learn more about the interviewing process and to prepare for your interview.

You can also schedule a 60-minute appointment with a Career Advisor for a mock interview to prepare, practice and receive constructive feedback.

Once You Have Received a Job Offer:

• Follow the steps in the Student Checklist for On-Campus Employment. International students should follow the steps in the International Student Checklist for On-Campus Employment.
• These checklists will walk you through the hiring process, including instructions on completing employment paperwork and identification verification.

The Student Employment Handbook contains and clarifies student employment procedures and will answer many questions you may have about student employment.

For further assistance, please email us at campusworks@kent.edu or call us at 330-672-2360.