From working as an usher at the music school’s concert office to a barista at Starbucks, Swiss national Jacqueline Heinzelmann has taken full advantage of on-campus job opportunities at the University of Rochester in New York. She says while getting work can be tricky as an international student, working on campus is a rewarding experience.
Prospective international undergraduate students who want to work while studying at U.S. universities have the option of on-campus employment. While there are a variety of benefits, they should be aware of requirements they must fulfill to work on campus and understand that jobs and pay rates can vary at each institution.
[Read one international student’s tips for working on campus.]
— Requirements: Prospective international students interested in working on U.S. college campuses should first understand the relevant immigration rules.
Laura Spitz, vice provost and associate dean for international affairs at Cornell University in New York, says most undergraduate international students are enrolled with F-1 student immigration status, while some have a J-1 visa.
“Under U.S. immigration regulations, internationals in F-1 and J-1 student status are allowed to work on campus during regular enrolled semesters — up to, but not more than, 20 hours per week. During annual vacation periods when students are not enrolled, they may work full time on campus,” says Spitz.
Michael Pelley, director of international student services at the University of Portland in Oregon, says once students are offered employment, they are required by the U.S. Social Security Administration to obtain a Social Security number.
Mexican national Andrea Thompson Guiza says Pelley and staff assisted her with the requirements. “Within the first few months of being here, they helped me get Social Security so I could start working on campus,” says Guiza.
Experts say prospective international students should consult with schools’ international student and career services offices for guidance with on-campus work requirements before choosing and enrolling in a college.
[Check out 10 ways U.S. colleges work to support international students.]
— Job variety: Prospective international students may have a variety of on-campus job opportunities, ranging from serving as a student librarian to working in the science lab, and they do not have to work in their field of study.
“They can be employed in any role, ranging from resident adviser, peer mentor, tutor, office helper, dining hall assistant, etc. — basically, any non-work-study job that is available to all students,” says Parinaz Zartoshty, director of International Student & Scholar Services at the University of California–Santa Cruz.
Chinese national Tianyi Zhang, currently a senior, has worked at UC–Santa Cruz as a tutor for Learning Support Services, as a peer mentor and lead mentor for the International Mentorship Program and as a residential adviser.
“Besides the leadership activities, I was also a research assistant for the UC–Santa Cruz economics department in 2017. I wanted to develop more academic-related experience,” says Zhang, who found the positions through the university’s online Employee Request System .
Kim Reitter, director of career services at Saint Louis University in Missouri, says typical positions for international students are as a front-line employee in department offices where students answer phones, schedule appointments, direct students and visitors, and perform general office duties. She says career services hosts job fairs twice a year in the fall and spring to help all students find on-campus work.
“All positions are posted in career services’ database, Handshake, so students can easily complete an application and apply though this system,” says Reitter.
— Benefits: In addition to earning money that can help pay for school, international students who work on campus gain work experience and build a resume, among other benefits.
Guiza, a junior at the University of Portland, says working at the school as a general technician for an events company and as a campus connector — a student leader who helps support international students as they adjust to life in the U.S. — has helped her pay for living expenses. She started earning $9.25 an hour and then increased to $11 an hour due to a minimum wage increase.
“I feel lucky to go to a university where I can hold two jobs, make some money, grow my resume and learn how to be a better employee and leader,” says Guiza.
While many on-campus jobs are paid, prospective international students should understand that the work typically does not generate enough money to cover tuition or major expenses. However, Spitz of Cornell University says there are other advantages, such as the opportunity to become more conversationally fluent in English.
[Research U.S. universities’ international student career services.]
Jane Kalionzes, associate director and international student adviser at San Diego State University‘s International Student Center, adds that international students gain strong insight into U.S. work culture and can make new friends.
“Often the work on campus is an international student’s first job, and it gives them leadership experience they may not gain at home,” says Kalionzes.
Heinzelmann, a senior double majoring in international relations and East Asian studies at the University of Rochester, says along the way she picked up an additional on-campus job as a research assistant for a few of her professors. As an added bonus, the pay is typically above minimum wage, she says, such as one position in which she earned $15 an hour.
“Research is generally a good opportunity to make some money as well as gather some experience,” says Heinzelmann.
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International Students: Get Jobs at U.S. Colleges originally appeared on usnews.com
