Finding and applying for positions
To find and apply for student worker positions, all you need to do is view our listings of student worker positions, find a position you like, and follow the directions in each post to apply. Feel free to apply for as many positions as you'd like.
While instructions and requirements vary according to each position,
applications generally consist of a resume and cover letter. References or writing samples may be required, too. More details are provided in each student worker position.
Writing your cover letter
Think of your cover letter as providing a
context or story for your resume: as a way of introducing yourself to the organization and giving them a general sense of who you are, why you're interested in and applying for this position, what makes you a good candidate, and how it fits into your larger life goals.
When it comes to tone, we think the cover letter should be
relatively professional and formal, speaking directly to the job description and using language that is concise and clear. At the same time, feel free to let your personality or voice shine through. For the greeting, you can address the cover letter directly to the supervisor or the organization as a whole. For the document itself, try to
keep it under one page, and make sure it's formatted with single spacing in a legible, 11 or 12 pt font with standard margins.
Just remember:
people are busy--they're reading lots of different cover letters for a single position, not to mention all of the other work and responsibilities they have, too. Think about how you can make yourself distinctive, play to your strengths, and above all,
be honest and truthful.
If you have any questions about writing a cover letter, reach out to a writing tutor, academic success advisor, or other staff person at your institution.
Formatting your resume
Your resume is a
selective record or history of your experience that's relevant to the position you're applying for. While resumes almost always have sections for educational and professional experience, they can also have additional sections for volunteer commitments, clubs, or other relevant experience as you see fit.
For an educational experience, make sure you identify the schools you've gone to or are currently attending, the degree you're working towards, your major or areas of study, any honors or distinctions, and your GPA. For professional experience, make sure to include the name of the organization, the title of your position, and one to three bullet points explaining what you did. If you're including other sections such as clubs or volunteer experience, we suggest keeping it to a single line for each entry. Whatever you're listing, make sure to include locations and dates for each entry.
Oftentimes, resumes will list specific, concrete skills you've acquired--languages you may speak besides English, technologies you may be comfortable with, and even art. Some resumes will also include an objective at the top: a statement that characterizes who you are and what your general goals are for your professional life or career. While both of these sections can be useful, they're completely optional. Whatever you choose to include,
don't forget your contact information.
For the document itself, try to keep your resume to one to two pages. For the formatting, use headers and subheaders for each major section and each position within. If you have any questions about writing your resume, reach out to a writing tutor, academic success advisor, or other staff person at your institution.
