Monday, August 16, 2010
Casey Burkitt, a senior from Olathe, repairs books for the library as part of his student job. According to KU's library Communications Director, Rebecca Smith, the libraries employ between 200 to 300 student workers each year based on the library's need.
With 25 percent of the University of Kansas’ Federal Work Study funds set to expire, students could see a more constrictive job market as the school year begins. Making matters more difficult, August is traditionally the most competitive time of the year for on-campus job seekers.
Federal Work Study is a federally subsidized program that covers 75 percent of the salary for financially eligible students. Funds from the America Recovery and Readjustment Act increased the amount of funding last year and, consequently, work study positions. As that funding shrinks, University officials expect to see a drop in available jobs.
“We anticipate that those positions probably will not be offered again because those departments won’t have those funds to rely on,” said Todd Cohen, director of University Relations. “We anticipate that it will just go back to the pre-stimulus period.”
The University received an extra $284,667 in ARRA funds last year, bringing its total Federal Work Study allocation to $1.63 million, a five-year high. That increased the number of work study positions available from 514 to 576. However, the University saw a slight decrease in overall on-campus jobs — 3,711 in 2009-10 from 3,749 in 2008-09 — which is attributable to budget cuts.
Students still looking for part-time work can visit the Career Center’s part-time job fair Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Kansas Union. Hartley said that 23 on- and off-campus employers have agreed to attend and that she hopes for more to RSVP.
Kendall Riley, a sophomore from Lawrence, has worked the circulation desk at Watson Library for about a year. With a job off campus, Riley said that he wouldn’t expect the same flexibility with his studies that he receives at the library.
“Here I have a lot of extra time to do my homework and since you’re already at the library that’s the first step,” Riley said. “So I guess I just wouldn’t have extra money and I guess I wouldn’t study as much as I do.”
Riley said that the work study job allows him to pick up a few hours of work between classes, understands about class obligations and even allows employees to choose their schedules during finals week.
He found the position on the University’s jobs website, and while he applied for at least seven jobs, Riley said that only the library responded, calling him a week later.
Last year, 25,455 applications were received for 650 on-campus student hourly jobs, or more than 39 applications per job. Riley’s strategy is precisely what Ann Hartley, associate director of Career Services, recommends students use when seeking on-campus jobs.
“It will pick up a lot toward the middle of August, when the students come back to campus,” Hartley said. “You really do have to check every day and then just apply for everything that interests you that you’d at least be qualified for.”
More than 20 percent of all applications in the last three years have come in August. Last year, that number was 5,897 in the first month of classes.
Jeremy Horkman, Watson Library service desk supervisor, helps review applications and interview interested students. He said that chief among what the service desk looks for in an applicant was background in related work, interview performance, availability and, sometimes, a certain age and field of study. Like for the on-campus job market as a whole, this time of year is as busy as any for libraries. By the beginning of August, Horkman said the service desk has an idea of how many positions and hours it will need to fill due to graduation or transfers.
“We try to see at least see two times or three times more people than we are going to hire to really get the right person and get the right fit,” Horkman said.
For students that find themselves overlooked, Hartley said failing to complete a resume or cover letter is one of the primary causes.
“I don’t think people realize how important that is, but people really will use a cover letter and resume in addition to that application form to weed you out or to find out how interested you are in the job to take the time to write a letter,” Hartley said.
As an individual conducting job interviews, Horkman’s advice to students looking for jobs is similar to Hartley’s.
“When they’re looking for jobs, really try to align and pay attention to preferred and required qualifications,” Horkman said. “If they sort of apply selectively and meet the preferred requirements they’ll probably be at an advantage.”
— Edited by Dana Meredith
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Funding cut toughens campus job market
Its "AmericaN Recovery and REINVESTMENT Act". Just thought I'd clarify for you. You can access more information about it at Recovery.gov
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