Hi everyone, I hope you’re staying warm during this cold time.

I was recently allowed to work with the Performing Arts at Iowa as a Digital Media Content Creator as an on-campus job! I was really nervous to try to find a job on campus, especially one I know I would enjoy. It was really stressful and confusing at first to try to find a job through websites, databases, etc. In this blog, I’ll provide guidance on where to start and what to prepare if you’re looking for an on-campus job!

Job Finders & Websites

Firstly, the University of Iowa uses Handshake as its main job-finder. You’ll find on-campus jobs along with jobs matched to your preferences. For me, I put in that I wanted a part-time job in Iowa City, and was matched with recent openings in small businesses and on campus. It’s also a great place to find internships, either over the summer or during the semester. When using Handshake, I recommend setting up a good profile with traits, previous job experience, and a photo of yourself. Employers want to see who you are at a quick glance, and I noticed I got more interviews after setting up a good Handshake profile.

I also recommend making a LinkedIn when you’re interested in more professional work and/or internships. When it comes to getting a coffee shop or smaller job, your LinkedIn isn’t super important, but when you want to start finding more intense or directed jobs, employers want to see professionalism and will likely look you up on LinkedIn. Once you’re at UIowa, I guarantee one of your classes will go over how to make a LinkedIn Profile, so don’t worry about it too much.

For on-campus jobs, Uiowa has a student employment website to go directly into applying. This is where you’ll find housing and dining positions, administrator jobs, Cambus, etc. This website also has all the answers to what employment on campus looks like. From payment to scheduling, the website has it all. Click on this link to go to the website: https://hr.uiowa.edu/careers/employment-categories-and-classifications/student-employment

What to Prepare

Almost every job will ask for your resume. My resume is formatted in different categories: my contact info & college info (like my major and minors), previous internship experience, previous job experience, skills & traits, and Campus involvement (like clubs, groups, programs). Some tips I have to build your resume are, firstly, try to put all your information on one page. This makes the employer stay on your resume longer, and doesn’t overload them with information. Secondly, keep it simple. Don’t go crazy with colors, designs, etc. Just share your experience and information. Lastly, add some keywords to make it easy to show your skills. Things like “taught, led, designed, interacted with, etc” are all words that can catch the eye of the employer to see if you have what they need.

Most jobs will also ask for a cover letter. When I started applying for jobs, I had no idea what this meant. A cover letter is basically a letter to the job explaining why you’re interested in this position and why you’d be a good fit. When I write a cover letter, I put in my first paragraph who I am, where I found this job opening, and why I’m interested. In the second paragraph, I go into my experience and certain jobs that gave me experience that would be beneficial to this job. This is where you’re modest but also confident in your abilities. Lastly, you end your letter with a re-emphasis on how interested you are in this position and that you’re excited to hear from them in the future. Then you sign it off with your name and information! There are a lot of good examples of cover letters online, and I still reference them to this day.

Lastly…

Be confident! Employers love to see you as you, and sometimes your personality is what gets you the job. You want to find a job that wants to hire you for who you are, rather than who you’re pretending to be. It also sets the standard for you at a height you’re comfortable with, rather than the standard set that’s unrealistic. It’s okay if you never hear from a job or get denied. It’ll happen, regardless of your ability or who you are, and that’s okay! There are so many more opportunities; not getting one job doesn’t forecast your entire future. Also, take time to understand college life before committing to a job on top of classes. Your studies should be a priority. I didn’t get a part-time job till I knew I was able to put that on my plate comfortably. Lastly, you got this!! I hope this helped you a bit, and don’t hesitate to comment and let me know if you have any questions. Get to applying!