The first week of classes is coming to an end and the next hurdle for many students may be searching for a part-time job.
The good news is there is help available — and it’s on campus.
Peg Bucksky works for the Job Location and Development Program in the Career Center. Her job is to give that exact kind of help.
According to Bucksky it is better to start soon.
“Students will have more of a selection to choose from and more job vacancies if they start their job search early,” she said.
“Because we have contacts with hundreds of employers throughout the country, we can help students connect with organizations looking to recruit students for co-ops, internships and career employment.”
Jobs are available on and off campus through the Career Center.
Last year 4,500 students were employed on campus, earning more than $8 million. Bucksky also helped 1,550 students to find off campus jobs earning over $4 million, she said.
Bucksky works with many off campus employers including Molten Inc., UPS, and doctor David Shilling’s optometry office. All three employers said the Career Center has been a great way for them to find employees.
Steve Eich, human resource recruiter, said UPS has been working with people in the Career Center for six years and last year they had 45 students working with them from BGSU.
“It’s so streamlined for us to work with people like Peg because we get right in front of the students,” Eich said. “We are able to capture an audience we don’t normally get — it is easy access to the students.”
He has been entirely pleased with the employees referred by the Career Center, Eich said.
The students at UPS usually start out at $8.50-$9.50 an hour loading and unloading trucks.
There is also an opportunity to become part-time supervisors and receive tuition assistance through their Earn and Learn program, Eich said.
Many of the jobs found through the Career Center cater to the students’ class schedules by having short shifts.
At one such place, Molten Inc., located on the corner of North Enterprise and Ridge Streets students work three hour shifts and can walk from campus.
Jeremy Keller, operation manager at the assembly plant, worked at Molten when he was a student and said the hours are perfect for students.
Because the jobs are posted online by staff of the Career Center, students can find jobs in different ways, Keller said.
“(The office) pretty much gets them in here and they get a job,” Keller said. “It’s almost like a stress reliever — it gets your mind off school for three hours.”
Another employer, David Shilling, a local optometrist, said the time saved by student employees has relieved a burden in his office.
“It frees up our other staff to do those duties that take a lot more training,” Shilling said.
At the office, students do pre-testing and clerical work, sending out letters and getting things ready for billing, Shilling said. “It has worked out really well,” Shilling said.
Many other jobs are available through the Career Center, Bucksky said. The first step is to get registered on WorkNet, the Internet-based directory of employment openings, www.bgsu.edu/offices/sa/career.
“They can also use WorkNet to upload resumes, and apply for co-ops, internships and career employment online,” Bucksky said.
The office also offers individual career counseling to assist students with nearly any career-associated topics like resume writing and career exploration, Bucksky said.
Any Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday students can stop in between 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. during the scheduled drop-in hours for 15-minute consultations, Bucksky said.
It is important, she said again, to start early in your job searching.
“Remember, the more you put into your career development plan, the better prepared you will be upon graduation,” Bucksky said. “Start now — dream it, experience it, get it. We are here to assist you.”