Employment for education
Utah State University students sometimes face scheduling conflicts and sparse employment opportunities in the community, which make it difficult to earn enough money to support themselves through college.
USU Career Services helps students find employment on campus and in the surrounding community. The Center’s executive director, Donna Crow, said that Utah State offers many job opportunities, with over 3,300 student jobs offered on campus alone.
“We are obviously a major employer in town and are committed to employing as many of our students as we can,” Crow said. “During the month of March we have posted 332 jobs on careeraggie.com that are located in Logan. It is definitely picking up now as summer is getting closer.”
In addition to providing and posting job opportunities for students, the Career Service Center also helps students prepare resumes and for interviews. They provide students with counseling to help them showcase their abilities for employers.
“What we are discovering is that students just need a boost to help build their confidence a little and to understand that you do have something to offer your next employer,” Crow said. “Sometimes the process is just overwhelming for them.“
Paula Johnson, the student employment supervisor, said that the university’s internet services have drastically improved over the past few years, making it easier for students to apply for jobs through the University.
“Now on Career Aggie you upload your resume there to apply for the positions,” Johnson said. “Usually they just have to submit the resume and it goes directly to the employer. Then the employer will contact the student for an interview. Before students had to come in, get a referral, then walk it over to the employer and talk to the employer that way. Now it’s just submitting resumes.”
Cassidy Bybee has been a student employee at the Career Services Center for the past three years after applying for the position on careeraggie.com. She said she has learned a lot about how to get a good job in Logan during her time there.
“Don’t just send your resume. If you don’t hear back from them, then you need to keep asking them because they want people that want the job,” Bybee said. “If you want that job you need to let them know that you want it, or they’ll give it to someone who wants it more.”
Bybee said that the biggest reason students visit the center is to receive help with their resumes. She said a lot of students also receive help from their parents with the job process.
“There are a ton of parents that come in with their kids,” Bybee said. “I think you’d be more surprised at how much parents are involved, which is good I guess, but this is the time that you try and learn independence. It usually happens more with freshman. We get a lot of parents calling us on their kids’ behalf.”
Morgan Ruesch, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, said he has had well-paying jobs during the school year and summer, including being a math tutor, a research assistant in his department and paid internships. He advises his fellow students to go after jobs that will build their resumes and help them get better jobs in the future.
“The biggest thing to help me get through college has been working in the summer,” Ruesch said. “I do feel that a lot of college students take jobs that are beneath them. It’s good to work a minimum wage job, but I’ve seen that a lot of my friends keep getting minimum wage jobs over and over again. If that’s all you can find, then that’s great but you have got to keep looking.”
Crow and the Career Service Center staff expressed their astonishment at how students are able to balance work and school. She encourages all students who are struggling to find employment to schedule an appointment or come during their drop-in hours to get help.
“USU is an incredible community of people helping people,” Crow said. “If you are struggling, please ask for help. Ask for it early. I can assure you that there is plenty of help to go around.”
— christopherfarnes@aggiemail.usu.edu