Navigating UIUC Student Jobs: A Comprehensive Guide to On-Campus Employment

For students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), balancing academic pursuits with part-time employment can be a crucial aspect of their college experience. On-campus jobs offer not only financial assistance but also valuable opportunities for skill development and professional growth. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding and navigating the landscape of UIUC student jobs on campus.

The Virtual Job Board: Your Gateway to On-Campus Opportunities

UIUC provides a Virtual Job Board designed to facilitate the search for part-time employment. This online platform allows students to search for positions based on their preferences using keywords. University departments are encouraged to post student employment positions on the job board, creating a centralized hub for available opportunities.

To post a position, departments can use the Virtual Job Board form. The first time they log in, they’ll need to create their own unique Employer ID and password that they’ll use in the future to post, edit, and delete their job postings.

Federal Work-Study (FWS): A Need-Based Program

The hiring department may classify any hourly position that you wish to fill with an undergraduate student as Federal Work-Study (FWS). FWS is a federally funded, need-based work program allowing students to earn money for their college education. FWS funds pay 60% of the student’s wages, while the department pays the other 40%. Once an FWS student employee has reached his or her maximum FWS earnings, employment may be continued at the discretion of the employing department or agency. You should ask students if they’ve been awarded FWS before you hire them.

Work-Study Self-Assessment: Finding Your Balance

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:

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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: Understanding the Factors

Where and how much you can work can depend on a variety of factors, including your:

Citizenship, residency or visa status
Federal student aid eligibility
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: Eligibility and Application

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.

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On-Campus Employment: Resources and Opportunities

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:

Urbana: Virtual Job Board
Chicago: Symplicity
Springfield: CareerConnect

These job boards include hourly graduate or undergraduate positions and will identify which positions are FWS-eligible.

Assistantships for Graduate Students: Funding and Experience

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:

Urbana: Illinois Assistantships
Chicago: UIC Assistantships
Springfield: UIS Graduate Assistantships, Illinois Legislative Staff Intern Program, & Graduate Public Service Internship Program

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: Expanding Your Horizons

Both undergraduate and graduate students may want to search for off campus employment to diversify their job search. 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.

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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: Protecting Yourself

Whether you're searching for on-campus or off campus employment, watch out for job scams. 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.

Leveraging Job Benefits: Enhancing Your Skills

For students looking to further improve their job search skills or learn more about understanding job offers, consider resources like the following: Earn course What's Your Job Worth?

Working at the Illini Union: A Foundation for Success

Illinois students enjoy working at the Union because it provides a foundation for their future success. As they gain leadership, organizational and networking skills, they develop into well-rounded individuals prepared to achieve their dreams upon graduation. Apply: Online Student Employment Application.

Benefits of working for the Union:

Learning to excel in a professional environment
Opportunity to attend professional workshops
Gain leadership experience
Regular opportunities for service recognition
Work at the Illini Union!

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