HOW TO: Get an on-campus job

<p><em>Samantha Brammer // DN File</em></p>

Samantha Brammer // DN File


The best way to not be a poor college student is to get a job.

On average, there are 5,000 student employees on Ball State's campus every year, according to Career Center director Jim McAtee. This guide, provided with advice from McAtee, will take you step-by-step to go from unemployed to a top employee on Ball State’s campus.

1. Go to the Career Center

The Career Center is on the second floor of Lucina Hall in room 220. Once you arrive, speak with a receptionist at the desk and tell them that you’d like to have an on-campus job. They will then direct you to a computer where you can search for a job on Cardinal Career Link.

2. Find a job on Cardinal Career Link

Cardinal Career Link is a Ball State website made to help students become employed. Once logged in with your Ball State credentials, you can click on a list titled “On-Campus Jobs” and search for a job you would like. Most jobs are open to students of any major.

Sophomore musical theatre major Natalie Shea works in the dance office in Ball Gymnasium. She chose to work there partially because of proximity to her residence hall.

“It’s so convenient to have an on-campus job, especially for me living so close to campus. In DeHority, it’s been just very easy to get there and to put as many hours possible in as I can,” Shea said,

She also loves meeting new people at the dance office.

“Everybody’s individual major… puts them in like a box. It’s nice to be able to take a job somewhere on campus and meet the others, the different boxes we have. It’s kind of cool,” Shea said.

Evan Bell, a sophomore communications major, chose his job at the Kinghorn front desk for social reasons as well.

“I really like working up here. It can be stressful at times but it’s a really great way to meet new people and kind of like, interact with people in the building and especially if you live in the building that you also work in,” Bell said.

When you’ve found the job you want, write down the job number listed and bring it back to the desk receptionist. He or she will then give you more information on the job you chose and a referral slip.

3. Take the referral slip to the job’s department

You’ll then be directed to take the referral slip to the office of the department you want to work for. There, if an interview is required, an employee will help you set up a job interview with the department. When you complete the interview, the interviewer will let you know when you are hired and when to begin work.

4. Return to the Career Center to fill out paperwork

Once hired, you must return to the Career Center to complete the necessary paperwork for your job, such as I9 and direct deposit forms. This is the final step in the hiring process.

5. Be amazing at your job

If you want to stand out as an employee, McAtee suggests developing your problem-solving skills. According to him, problem-solving is the number one transferable skill employers look for in their employees.

“Identify a problem, come up with a few solutions, decide which one is your best, and present that to your supervisor. That will set you apart,” McAtee said. “Take it very seriously because, as with most things, you’re going to get out of it what you put into it.”

McAtee also advises that students use their jobs on campus to learn how to socialize in a professional work environment since that is what their jobs will be like out of college.

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