Work-Study Self-Assessment
Many students, whether undergraduate or graduate, work while in school. It can be both challenging and rewarding to juggle work and school, so before starting your search, assess your own needs for finding a sustainable work-life-study balance. Ask yourself:
- Do I have enough time to dedicate to a part-time job?
- What kind of workplace flexibility do I need to maintain my grades?
- Will this job give me experience that will transfer to my career?
- What will I do if I find that working while in school is more than I can handle?
You may have more questions, but these can give you a good idea for approaching the job search process and identifying an exit plan if the need arises.
For some students, working while in school feels more like a necessity than a choice, but it's important to recognize ways to advocate for yourself so that you are prioritizing your well-being while navigating the demands of your classes and employment.
Employment Types & Benefits Differ
Where and how much you can work can depend on a variety of factors, including your:
- Citzenship, residency or visa status
- Federal student aid eligiblity
- Student enrollment type (e.g., undergraduate vs. graduate)
- Program of study (e.g., medical residency, social work, etc.)
For example, international students may be limited to working on campus up to 20 hours per week depending on what their student visa says.
Medical, dental, or social work students may find it challenging to work while completing the requirements of their residencies or internships.
Federal Work-Study
If you qualify for Federal Work-Study (FWS), this can be a great opportunity to earn income through part-time employment on campus. To request FWS, you might need to contact your financial aid office as the process can vary between institutions.
It is your job as the student to find, apply for, and obtain a federal work-study eligible position after accepting the funds on your financial aid notification.
On-Campus Employment
Student-worker jobs are typically limited to 20 hours per week and provide flexibility with your class schedule. Below are resources for your on-campus job search at each of the universities in the System:
These job boards include hourly graduate or undergraduate positions and will identify which positions are FWS-eligible.
Assistantships for Graduate Students
Graduate students can apply for various assistantships, including Graduate Assistantships, Pre-professional Graduate Assistantships (Urbana only), Research Assistantships, and Teaching Assistantships. These positions often come with tuition and fee waivers as a benefit of employment, but it's important to note that different types of assistantships have different tax implications as we explain on our Taxability of Tuition Waivers page.
Each university has a different process for searching for and applying to assistantships and other types of graduate funding. You can learn more about assistantships at each university by following the links below:
It's important to note that you may have better luck finding Research and Teaching Assistantships by talking to faculty in your department rather than searching broadly for assistantship opportunities.
Off-Campus Employment
Both undergraduate and graduate students may want to search for off campus employment to diversify their job search. There are many tools you can use to search for jobs, including:
There are hundreds of job-listing sites out there. We've listed a few of the most popular ones above, but you may have luck elsewhere. Just be careful what you share when applying to jobs.
You can also apply in-person to many jobs near campus. Local businesses may have signs about open positions and employment opportunities if you inquire within. Similar to applying online, be careful with what information you share with potential employers.
Watch Out for Scams
Whether you're searching for on-campus or off campus employment, watch out for job scams. Some common job scams may target:
- Work-from-home opportunities
- Caregiver positions
- Mystery shopping roles
- Government and postal jobs
It's always best to go to the employer's website to research job listings before you submit your application materials. If a job is asking for payment in order to process your application, that is a red flag that it is a scam. If something seems too good to be true, run it by someone else you trust to see what they think before applying.
Learn More About Leveraging Job Benefits
For students looking to further improve their job search skills or learn more about understanding job offers, consider resources like the following:
