ON CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT!!
"The people we spend time with largely determine the opportunities that are available to us. Opportunities do not float like clouds in the sky. They are attached to people".
Many international students are employed on campus and earn enough to manage their living expenses and save some money as well. Almost all offices have student worker positions and campus services employ students as well. All of the positions open for a school year are posted on www.jobsatuc.com in early August and other vacant positions are on the website anyway.
Frequently Asked Questions on on-campus employment
1. How much do I get paid?
Depends on what your position is. I believe that the minimum wage in Ohio starting Jan 2015 is $8.10/hour International students can work for 20 hours a week during school year and 40 hours a week during the break. Assuming you get to do all 20 hours, you'll earn a minimum of $162/week or $648 a month, which SHOULD cover your living expenses unless you want to live like Kim Kardashian. $648 is minimum. Depending on the office you work for, your hourly pay can be anywhere between $12-$17 an hour. Graduate Assistantships at the CEAS pay you the most - $1900 a month, I believe.
All these numbers are prior to tax deduction.
2. What sort of jobs are usually open to students?
Most number of international students that I know are employed by the Electronic Classroom Support Services (ECSS) or University of Cincinnati -Information Technology (UCIT Services) - which entail making sure all the computers in the classrooms work fine. Students work with the NightRide, at the bookstore, libraries and desk jobs at residence halls. There are bunch of students that work at the college of nursing on the easat campus but I don't know what their role there is. Some of the students work at on-campus restaurants. Your best bet would be to find an GAship (working a research assistant also counts as a GA) in a research group. It pays really well, almost $2000. GAs also get $500 off on UC's health insurance. Pretty slick, huh?
3. I am an international student. Can I work off-campus?
No. Illegal. End of story.
4. Can I start applying for jobs before I leave my home country?
You can try and search for positions and maybe even apply, but I am not sure if that's going to help you a whole lot or give you an edge over the other students. Most of the jobs will require you to go through an interview process and you'll need to know your class schedule and flexibility to figure out your work schedule. You will not have this with you till you get here and register for classes. So, applying online before you leave isn't really going to help.
No matter what, nothing beats good ol' networking. You will NEED to know the right people at the right place to get to a referal. In my experience, for example, say a position at a residence hall opens up. The supervisor will ask the present student workers if they know somebody really good who can get the job done. He/She'll naturally recommend a friend. The hiring is complete even before the vacancy is posted online. So, get here and make friends. I don't get to know people with the sole intent to get a job, but please do network.
Drop your resume everywhere possible. You'll be asked to apply online and be told that hard-copies aren't accepted. Don't get disheartened. Keep trying. People eventually get a job.
5. I am an MS IS Student. How hectic can it get for me if I decide to work part time?
Most of my MS IS friends do not do a regular student worker job, not because they don't want to. They simply don't have the time for little money. That said, there are GA/TA positions that are offered to the students in the college of business. These are very few in number and are taken up by the students who make an effort to make sure the department knows they exist.
6. I am an MEng student. How tough can it get for me if I decide to work?
MEng students will be registered for 15-18 credits, that's 4-6 subjects depending on the no. of credits per subject. I was an MEng student back in my first sem and I couldn't find enough time with five subjects. That said, a girl I know was on 15 credits and did two campus-jobs because she didn't get 20 hours in one. (Yes, you can do more than A JOB, as long as the total doesn't cross 20) So, it's all about time management. If you think you can pull it off, you will.
7. How easy or tough is it to get an on-campus job?
You HAVE to network with people. Your own support group from the same state is surely important, but don't confine yourself to it and worry that you don't have an on campus job. If you try hard enough, you'll surely get one. But you need to know the right people at the right place.