Tips for hiring student employees 

Employing student workers can be a win-win situation for a student, as well as for the Purdue department that utilizes the student's talents.  The student gets a great work experience to enhance his or her résumé and overall educational experience.  At the same time, the supervisor gets a source of relatively inexpensive but talented support.  Here are a few suggestions for finding quality student applicants and ensuring that those selected will be successful. 

How do you find student applicants?  Although the economy is improving, an abundance of students are still interested in working.  The primary resource for reaching Purdue students is the Financial Aid office.  Contact Financial Aid at 49-45056 or visit the Financial Aid Web site.  Postings can be made on the SSINFO Web site or on the Boiler TV cable channel.

What work needs to be done?  Generation Y people tend to work enthusiastically in teams, love to be assigned a challenge, want to use technology, need appreciation for their work, like to keep busy, and like diversity.  If your position has all these elements, it will be attractive to a wide variety of applicants.  If your position lacks these qualities, you will need to make an effort to sell the position on other merits.

How many hours do you need help?  Most students are interested in working 12-20 hours a week.  Working more hours may be financially attractive to the student but may affect the student’s ability to meet academic challenges.  In some cases, a restriction may exist on the number of hours a student may work relating to his or her age, the time of year, or the type of work authorization.

How flexible are you in scheduling?  Most students need time off for exams or other special academic issues and may want to leave town during holiday periods.  Often the students are more likely to be flexible for positions directly related to their career interests.

How much are you willing to pay for a student employee?  One way to encourage retention is to make sure the student employee is properly paid for the work.  Although wages for student employees tend to be lower than for regular and non-student positions, you need to make sure you are paying an equitable and fair wage to students.

Who will do the orientation, training, and supervising?  Generation Y students may be confident, but they also require training and the proper resources to do a good job.  If you don’t have the time to properly train and oversee their work, it is unlikely that the student will be successful.  If you have an ongoing need for a position, it might be useful to develop a desk procedures manual for the student position.

How much time do you have to make a selection?  With an abundance of applicants, you can be picky, so make sure you take advantage of the opportunity.  Many issues to consider are the same as for hiring non-student staff.  Give a realistic job preview.  What are your expectations regarding dress, behavior, and other environmental factors?   Are student applicants authorized to work in the United States?  You should ask students to submit a résumé or complete an application.  Be sure to ask whether the applicant has been convicted of a crime.  Plan on conducting reference checks, if possible. 

Good luck in your search for a student employee!