Parents
OFFICE GOAL
Student Employment is located within the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. The goal of Student Employment is to provide a centralized source of on-campus employment information and opportunities for Grand Valley State University students. We are providing an opportunity for practical work experience as a means of financial assistance while at Grand Valley. Student Employment provides an online resource, Handshake, so students can search for different employment opportunities, both on campus and off campus.
There are over 4,000 student employees that work over the course of the academic year on Grand Valley's campus. Most students work consistently over the course of the year and average fifteen hours a week. Students work on and off-campus, and are either hired as Federal Work Study or as Non-Work Study.
Student employees work in a wide array of departments and locations. It is recommended that students seek out employment opportunities on-campus first, as the on-campus department supervisors will understand that they are students first and are more likely to work around the student's class schedule.
Measurable Difference
- Studies show that students who work up to 15 hours per week do just as well or even better academically than students who do not work while in school.
- Students who work on campus become better acquainted with faculty, staff, and other students. This has been proven to help students stay on track for graduation, and helps provide mentors and references for students in the future.
- Part-time work allows students to perfect time-management skills necessary for academic success while reducing the need for student loans.
Student Employment is a referral service. We do not place students in jobs. We make every effort to make job postings available for both on-campus and off-campus positions for students to have the opportunity to work. However, the student must still take the initiative to search, apply, and interview for job postings.
Handshake
- At Grand Valley, students have access to the online database Handshake. Handshake contains both student and professional jobs in one convenient place, including on-campus, off-campus, Federal Work Study, part-time, internship, co-op, and full time career opportunities.
- To search for jobs, the student can login using their network ID and password in Handshake.
- Encourage your student to interview with three or four employers when looking for an on-campus position.
- While we make every effort to check the accuracy of job listings, we cannot guarantee that any opening will still exist, as posted, at the time a student inquires about it. We limit the time an employer can have a job posted but if that job closes before the listing expires, it is the responsibility of the employer to close the position.
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS
We'd love to speak with you on how we can help your student find a job on campus. Feel free to call our office at (616) 331-3238 or email us at [email protected].